Since last week, we’ve been examining the most indispensable player for every team in the Big 12. In other words, who is the player each team could least afford to lose to injury?
We’re knocking on wood before we turn in these posts, so no need to worry about a jinx.
We continue with the TCU Horned Frogs.
Most indispensable player: Center Joey Hunt
Why TCU can’t afford to lose him: The Horned Frogs will need their offensive line to provide consistent, quality play this fall if TCU hopes to make noise in the Big 12, and Hunt will be in the middle of it all.
Hunt enters his junior season after starting games at guard and center in 2013. He was the anchor of TCU's offensive line with his 11 starts at center, and he brings plenty of experience to the Horned Frogs O-line in 2014. A member of the Rimington Trophy watch list, Hunt promises to be a critical piece in TCU’s offense.
New offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham are looking to bring explosiveness and plenty of points to Fort Worth, Texas, but it won’t happen without a quality offensive line. Hunt should be the leader of the group as one of the most experienced linemen on the roster.
Without Hunt, TCU would be looking at an offensive line full of inexperience and unproven talent. Junior tackle Aviante Collins would be the only other offensive lineman on the roster with double-digit starts (22). Junior Halapoulivaati Vaitai (7), junior Jamelle Naff (2) and sophomore Patrick Morris (1) are the only other TCU offensive linemen with career starts under their belts.
Hunt brings a certain amount of peace of mind for the Horned Frogs offense as they can count on him being the centerpiece of the offensive front. His presence and productivity makes him the hardest TCU player to replace in 2014.
