FWST: TCU takes committee approach to kicking duties

TCU coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday that he plans to open the season with a committee approach to his kicking duties while projected starting kicker Jonathon Song is sidelined by an injury. Song, a sophomore, is expected to miss at least the first two games, Patterson said, leaving the kicking duties to be divided between Brandon Hatfield, Ryan Graf and Cole Bunce until further notice.

Patterson raised the possibility that the team could travel as many as three kickers to road games if the situation does not sort itself out quickly. The first opportunity comes in Saturday’s opener against South Dakota State in Amon G. Carter Stadium, with Patterson acknowledging there is no clear favorite about the front-runner at this point.

“It’ll probably be by committee, to be honest with you,” Patterson said. “There’ll be a kickoff guy. There’ll be a short field-goal guy and there’s got a chance to be a long field-goal guy.”