Josh Hoover wanted to play for a Power Five program. That was bad news for Sonny Dykes, who was leading the SMU Mustangs of the AAC while recruiting Hoover at Rockwall-Heath High School. Hoover also wanted to commit before his senior season, and that was bad news for then Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. 

“When push came to shove, Indiana was the only willing to (take his commitment,” Hoover’s father, Alex, said. “His only other (P5) offer was from Kendal Briles at Arkansas, but he told us they had six quarterbacks in the room at the time and there wasn’t a spot for (Josh).” 

Getting recruited amid the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t easy. Indiana was burned a year earlier when it took a quarterback without watching him throw in person. The Hoosiers made a policy – no quarterback offers without an in-person visit. Then head coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan couldn’t figure out why Hoover wasn’t flush with offers.  

They wanted a closer look and asked Alex if he and his star son would take an unofficial visit to Bloomington so the duo could watch Hoover throw in person. Alex used some air miles and the two flew to Indiana to throw in front of Allen and Sheridan. By throw five, Allen looked at Alex and asked if he wanted to tour the facilities while Sheridan finished the workout. The head ball coach had seen enough. He was sold. 

So was Dykes. He understood why Hoover stiffed him at SMU. He wanted to be a head coach at the P5 level again, too, after all. Dykes won a conference title at La Tech and built the Ponies into a 10-win team for the first time since the Death Penalty, but failings at Cal still left a sour taste in his mouth. Coaches are competitors, too. 

Dykes switched allegiances in the Iron Skillet from SMU, where he had beaten TCU twice in a row, to the Frogs weeks before the early signing period. One of his first calls after his introductory press conference was to Mike Spradlin, Hoover’s head coach at Heath. The Hawks were in the third round of the state playoffs, thanks in large part to the arm of Hoover. 

Dykes asked Spradlin if Hoover had any interest in TCU. While his commitment to Indiana was solid, a poor 2021 on offense due to injuries meant Allen moved on from Sheridan as his quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. Rockwall is roughly 65 miles east of Fort Worth, past Dallas. Hoover drove past Dallas on the way to his visit to TCU nine days before national signing day. 

It is safe to say he’s more Cowtown than Cosmopolitan. Hoover was offered on that Dec. 6 visit in 2021 and he flipped from the Hoosiers to the Frogs that day. He signed on Dec. 15 and moved to campus three weeks later as an early-enrollee. 

“I told coach Dykes this when I wasn’t coming to SMU,” Hoover told 247Sports in the summer. “I told him, ‘I just don’t really like (SMU). I don’t like the fell of Dallas. It’s nothing against you guys. ’...I just didn’t want to go to school at SMU. Now that I’m here I can say that proudly.” 

The pair walked out of Ford Stadium in Week 4 defeated. Dykes was ejected shortly after halftime for two unsportsmanlike penalties due to arguments with the officials. Hoover, who entered the game without an interception, threw two to the Mustangs. His 396 yards and three touchdowns weren’t enough to overcome the SMU onslaught. 

Hoover has lost before. Whether it be deep in the Texas high school playoffs for Rockwall-Heath or the quarterback battle to Chandler Morris in 2023. Spradlin knew Hoover would rebound from his first true setback of 2023. He saw it time and time again as Hoover cut his teeth as a prep prospect.

“Josh is one of the best leaders and competitors I’ve ever coached,” Spradlin said. “The moment was never too big for him and he’s always looked towards the next challenge. It was a pleasure coaching him.” 

Dykes now knows the feeling. TCU traveled to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas in an early must-win for the Frogs after suffering consecutive defeats to UCF and SMU. Lose to the Jayhawks and any hopes of a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth evaporated before TCU reached the halfway point of the season. 

Instead, TCU beat Kansas, 38-27, as Hoover completed 28 of 37 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in nine of his first 11 career starts. He’s thrown for at least two scores in all five of TCU’s games in 2024. Hoover ranks third nationally in passing yards with 1,774. Some questioned TCU’s decision not to take a sure-fire starting quarterback in the portal. Now, no one does. 

“Hoover is playing out of his mind,” wide receiver Jack Bech said after catching 10 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Kansas. He’s gone for over 100 yards receiving in four of five games in 2024. “In my opinion, he is the best quarterback in the country. I wouldn’t want to be catching passes from anyone else.”