Transfer Wide Receiver Shines in Horned Frog Debut

Jordan Dwyer shined in TCU's dominant win vs North Carolina. Have the Frogs found another game-changing receiver in the Idaho transfer?

Sep 7, 2024; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Idaho Vandals wide receiver Jordan Dwyer (6) stiff arms Wyoming Cowboys nose guard Wrook Brown (2) during the first quarter at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images | Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images

On Monday night in TCU Football's season-opener, the Horned Frogs ruined what was supposed to be a resounding success for the Tar Heels in Bill Belichick's debut. A large reason why the scoreboard looked so lopsided was because of transfer wide receiver Jordan Dwyer.

With all the national attention that Belichick's collegiate debut was getting, there wasn't much discussion about this TCU team and what the offense would look like. That ambiguity about the roster was amplified when the news came out that neither team would be releasing a depth chart before the primetime matchup.

Behold, UNC’s depth chart from the press-box flip card. pic.twitter.com/aMIeiw2qrN

— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) September 1, 2025

ESPN’s pregame coverage left much to be desired. While the arrival of a coach like Belichick to the college game was treated as a spectacle, TCU seemed to take that narrative personally, dominating North Carolina 48-14 and briefly silencing the Chapel Bill hype.

Dwyer, a player who most likely flew under the radar by many outside of the TCU sphere, seems to have taken the most offense to the disrespect by putting up 136 receiving yards on nine catches with a touchdown. For his impact on the game, he has been elected as my Week 1 Player of the Game.

What Dwyer’s Emergence Means for TCU Moving Forward

Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; TCU Horned Frogs players celebrate after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Before coming to TCU, Dwyer spent three years at the University of Idaho. After redshirting his first year with the Vandals, Dwyer saw more action as a redshirt freshman, appearing in all 13 games, totaling 20 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns.

Finally, in his sophomore year, Dwyer had a breakout year. He appeared in all 14 games and totaled 78 receptions for 1,192 yards while finding the endzone 12 times.

Now, Dwyer's breakout with the Frogs means a multitude of things for the already dangerous TCU attack. In the offseason, most Horned Frog fans likely expected the Josh Hoover and Eric McAlister connection to be the most potent part of the team's offense. With McAlister getting the double-team treatment from the Tar Heel defense for the majority of the night, the duty to get the ball downfield had to fall to someone.

While Kevorian Barnes certainly caught the attention of many in the ground game, Dwyer's ability to find open space and extend plays proved to be extremely valuable for Hoover and the rest of the offense.

On the second drive of the season, Dwyer introduced himself to Chapel Hill, and the rest of the country, for that matter, when Hoover connected with the wide receiver for a 27-yard touchdown pass in the 1st quarter. From then on, the Hoover-to-Dwyer connection terrorized the Tar Heel defense all night.

That Hoover to Dwyer connection 🤌 pic.twitter.com/IonmVK1jjw

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) September 2, 2025

Dwyer’s breakout gives TCU’s offense another dynamic weapon, forcing defenses to pay attention to multiple game-changing receivers. With a seasoned quarterback in Hoover distributing the ball, and threats like McAlister and Dwyer stretching the field together, opposing secondaries will have their work cut out for them in the future. Add in the Frogs’ already proven ground attack, and you’re looking at one of the most dangerous and balanced offenses not just in the Big 12, but across the nation.