TCU QB Max Duggan represents one thing greater than soccer

There's a purpose to root for Max Duggan, and it has nothing to do with being a TCU soccer fan or his lengthy, flowing locks.

Duggan is a senior who has began all 4 years on the similar college. He's additionally a star. Nowadays, these issues go collectively as typically as "zero energy" and "chocolate scorching fudge sundae."

But right here is Duggan, contemporary off main his workforce to a formidable 43-40 double-overtime victory over beforehand unbeaten Oklahoma State, and now getting ready to tackle No. 17 Kansas State with sole possession of first place within the Huge 12 on the road.

He's not flashy by any means, and he doesn’t throw the ball 75 yards down the sector or run a sub 4.4 40-yard sprint. He does, nevertheless, symbolize one thing greater than faculty soccer. He's a shining instance of a person who battled adversity, stayed the course, and got here out on prime.

"[Duggan] is among the causes I really like faculty soccer," FOX Sports activities faculty soccer analyst Joel Klatt stated on a latest airing of his podcast, "The Joel Klatt Show."

The story of TCU QB Max Duggan

Hear why Joel Klatt is a big fan of QB Max Duggan, and why he is among the causes he loves faculty soccer.

To totally perceive Duggan's journey, one should return to August 2020. In preparation for the beginning of the upcoming season, Duggan made a routine go to to the physician. Due to COVID-19, nevertheless, further workforce protocols have been put in place that 12 months, together with EKG testing, which is a recording of the guts’s electrical exercise.

Throughout that point, docs found that Duggan had a uncommon abnormality in his coronary heart. It turned out he had the situation since start, and it required a process if he was going to have the ability to proceed taking part in soccer.

Questions started to come up about Duggan’s future and if this discovery would put his season — and presumably his soccer profession — doubtful.

That was not the case, nevertheless, as Duggan returned to the sector within the Horned Frogs’ season-opener in opposition to Iowa State and ended up beginning each sport beneath heart that season. He threw for 1,795 yards with 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions whereas main TCU to a 6-4 mark, which included two top-15 wins and a spot within the Mercari Texas Bowl.

It gave the impression to be an unimaginable comeback story for the Horned Frogs’ signal-caller, however adversity struck as soon as once more halfway by the 2021 season. Following a 31-12 loss to Kansas State in late October, TCU and head coach Gary Patterson made the choice to half methods. After beginning the primary eight video games of the season, Duggan was benched in that loss to the Wildcats, and the college introduced that Patterson was out the next day.

Chandler Morris, who transferred to TCU after spending his freshman season at Oklahoma, took over the beginning QB function following Patterson’s departure. Duggan would begin the ultimate two video games of the 2021 marketing campaign, however the workforce completed 5-7 and did not make a bowl sport for simply the second time in eight years.

"Have you learnt what number of gamers in faculty soccer, as quickly as that occurs, would have entered the switch portal?" Klatt questioned. "Not Max Duggan."

As an alternative, Duggan selected to stay it out at TCU and compete with Morris to be the workforce’s starter heading into the 2022 marketing campaign. The employees finally determined to call Morris the starter within the workforce’s season-opener in opposition to Colorado, however the Oklahoma switch left the sport late within the third quarter after a defender landed on his left leg, and didn't return.

It was that second when every little thing modified for Duggan. For the primary time in what actually felt like a very long time, he was totally wholesome and didn’t must look over his shoulder for one more QB coming for his job. This was Duggan’s workforce, it was his time to shine, and that's precisely what the senior QB has executed in 5 begins this season.

Since taking on beneath heart, Duggan has thrown for 1,591 yards with 16 touchdowns and only one interception. He's finishing 70% of his passes, which might break the college's single-season completion proportion report.

This previous weekend in opposition to Oklahoma State, Duggan totaled 343 yards and three scores whereas rallying the Horned Frogs from a 17-point deficit. He was named the Huge-12 co-offensive participant of the week for his efficiency.

"Final week’s sport in opposition to Oklahoma State encapsulated his complete profession arc in a single sport," Klatt stated. "They have been down a number of scores, and the man by no means quits."

When the Horned Frogs take the sector Saturday beneath the lights at Amon G. Carter Stadium, all eyes will probably be on Duggan as he makes an attempt to guide TCU to its first 7-0 begin since 2017.

Can he preserve his magical run going?

"He simply retains taking part in, and he retains taking part in as arduous as he presumably can," Klatt stated of Duggan. "I really like that he has the fortitude as a younger man to cope with adversity and are available by with it on the opposite facet."

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