TCU has officially parted ways with co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach A.J. Ricker, according to multiple reports including HornedFrogBlitz. The decision comes in the wake of a disastrous 24-20 home defeat to West Virginia, marking the latest coaching change in a turbulent weekend for Big 12 rivals. While NC State and Baylor replaced their head coaches, TCU opted to retain head coach Sonny Dykes but make a significant adjustment to his offensive staff. Ricker, who has worked under Dykes since their time at SMU and joined TCU in late 2021, will be replaced by offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis and assistant offensive line coach Ryan Swingle, who will now oversee the position group.
Horned Frogs shake up staff as O-line struggles and QB Jaden Craig faces relentless pressure
The firing is a direct response to the offensive line’s catastrophic performance this season, which has severely hampered the Horned Frogs’ competitiveness. TCU is averaging a dismal 3.3 yards per carry, a statistic that underscores the unit’s inability to establish a consistent ground game. The pressure on quarterback Jaden Craig has been equally suffocating; he has been sacked 20 times over just seven games. In the loss to the Mountaineers, Craig was sacked three times, including a critical final-drive sack that resulted in a fumble recovered by West Virginia, sealing the upset against a TCU team that was a 10.5-point favorite.
Ricker’s departure highlights the urgent need for TCU to stabilize its front five before the season spirals further out of control. His coaching resume includes stints at Kansas, Oklahoma State, Houston, Missouri, Illinois, and Western Michigan, but his tenure in Fort Worth has been defined by a lack of production at the line of scrimmage. With Sammis and Swingle taking over, the focus will shift immediately to improving pass protection and run blocking, aiming to salvage the remainder of the campaign and restore confidence in Dykes’ offensive scheme.
Source: Yahoo Sports
