TCU head coach Sonny Dykes at Big 12 Media Days said former Decatur running back Nate Palmer is a player to watch for the Horned Frogs in 2025. COURTESY | TCU ATHLETICS
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes is feeling optimistic about the Horned Frogs’ run game this season, and a former Decatur playmaker is one of the reasons why.
Redshirt freshman Nate Palmer, Decatur’s two-year starter that helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back appearances in the state semifinals in 2022 and 2023, is one of the program’s returning backs giving Dykes excitement about the TCU offense headed into 2025.
“We have some young running backs, you know, Nate Palmer really asserted himself in the spring. He got some carries in the bowl game last year,” Dykes said at Big 12 Media Days on Wednesday. “I’m very excited about him. He’s a young player that I think has a tremendous opportunity.”
Free story access provided by TexasBank.
Palmer saw limited action in two games for the Horned Frogs last year. He had 10 carries for 30 yards in TCU’s 34-3 win against Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl to cap off a 9-4 season.
Palmer was also a popular name during TCU’s spring camp.
While working with the first team offense in the spring, Palmer’s burst out of the backfield and breakaway speed caught the attention of Fort Worth Star Telegram beat writer Steven Johnson. Johnson also commented on social media about Palmer’s effectiveness as a passing target out of the backfield.
Palmer has also reportedly put on 10 pounds in the offseason.
TCU struggled to run the ball last year, ending the season with a cumulative 1,481 yards and falling to the bottom quarter of the conference in rushing statistics.
Dykes said a key to a successful offense, and successful season, is improving the run game.
“Our offense works at a really really high level when we can run the ball,” he said.
The fourth-year TCU head coach also mentioned returners Jeremy Payne, Trent Battle and UTSA transfer Kevorian Barnes as players he expects to contribute to an improved run game.
Loading Comments