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| TCU head coach Gary Patterson has experienced some trying times over the last four years. |
Since guiding the TCU Horned Frogs to a share of the 2014 Big 12 Championship with an 8-1 league record and finishing tied for second in the league standings at 7-2 in 2015, the last four years have had their ups and downs for TCU head football coach Gary Patterson and his Horned Frogs.
And even before the first kickoff of this season, Patterson and the Frogs have had to deal with controversy.
Patterson evidently used the "n-word" when talking to a football player about the player discontinuing use of the word in football team meetings.
The subject flared on social media and reportedly some football players boycotted practice because of the incident.
During the evening of Monday, August 3, Patterson met with the team's seniors and Leadership Council. Patterson issued this public apology on Tuesday, August 4:
"I met with our seniors and Leadership Council last night about how we move forward as a team, together. We are committed as individuals and as a program to fight racial injustice of any kind. I apologize for the use of a word that, in any context, is unacceptable. I have always encouraged our players to do better and be better and I must live by the same standards. Our players, past and present, have always been the strength of our program. These men are, and always will be, my motivation and driving force."
How this matter affects TCU's 2020 football season and the program remains to be seen. In any regard, this sort of incident was the last thing the Horned Frogs needed, especially considering everything that has transpired in the country and at TCU over the past six to seven months.
The Frogs ended the 2019 season with two consecutive, disappointing losses, at Oklahoma, and at home against West Virginia, to finish 5-7 and miss a bowl game for only the third time in Patterson’s then 19-year TCU head-coaching career. The other two times were after the 2004 and 2013 seasons.
In addition, last season’s 3-6 mark in league play was Patterson’s worst since going 2-7 in 2013 during the Horned Frogs’ second year in the Big 12.
The 2019 season was one of many frustrations. In particular, six of the seven losses TCU suffered in 2019 were by a touchdown or less.
TCU was inept at red zone (inside its 20-yard line) defense last year, allowing offenses to score 90 percent of the time. And in several games, the defense broke down at key times to allow scores that led to a loss for the Frogs.
In 2018, in their final two regular-season games, Patterson and the Frogs had to beat Baylor in Waco and Oklahoma State in Fort Worth to finish the regular season 6-6 and earn a bowl berth against Cal in the Cheez-It Bowl. In an infamous game, TCU beat the Bears 10-7, in overtime.
In 2017, the Frogs finished 11-3, 7-2, to finish in second place in the Big 12. TCU played in its first Big 12 Championship Game. The Horned Frogs lost to Oklahoma, 41-17. TCU beat 13th-ranked Stanford 39-37 in the Alamo Bowl, to earn a ninth-place national ranking.
In 2016, TCU lost is final regular-season game, at home, to Kansas State, to finish 6-6, 4-5. The Frogs lost to Georgia, 31-23, in the Liberty Bowl, to end the season with a losing record.
As challenging as the 2016, 2017 and 2019 seasons were for Patterson, the 2020 season, which will be his 20th as head coach of the Horned Frogs, may be his most challenging yet.
Not necessarily because of football games against tough opponents, wins or losses, or Xs and Os, but because of day-to-day uncertainty.
Because of the unknown.
Because of the unseen.
Because of the coronavirus.
COVID-19.
Even though fall football practice has started, the 2020 TCU football schedule has not been finalized.
The Frogs’ season-opening game, on September 5, against Cal, in Berkeley, California, has been canceled because the Pac-12, of which Cal is a member, has said that if there is a fall football season its member schools only will play conference games.
TCU’s home-opener, September 12, against Prairie View A&M, in an enhanced Amon G. Carter Stadium, has been canceled because the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), of which Prairie View is a member, has said there will be no fall sports for its member schools.
And the Horned Frogs’ Iron-Skillet game against SMU, scheduled for September 26, in Dallas, has been canceled.
The Big 12 has announced that all Big 12 schools will play 10 games if there is a 2020 season; nine conference games and one non-conference game at home.
Under that scenario, TCU needs to schedule a home game against a non-conference opponent, before playing its nine Big 12 Conference games.
A TCU-SMU game this year would have been the 100th meeting between the teams, who used to be members of the Southwest Conference.
The TCU-SMU rivalry dates to 1915. TCU leads the series 51-41-7. The schools have played each other every season this century except for 2006. The teams also didn't play in 1987-88, 1925 and 1919-20.
Over the next several weeks, it should be determined if there will be a college football season this fall, or if at least the season will start this fall.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic paralyzing the United States in March, Patterson and the Horned Frogs certainly had prepared for a 2020 season, for which in the Big 12’s media 2020 football preseason poll, TCU has been picked to finish sixth in the league.
The preparations for a bounce-back season began early in 2020, with enhancements to Patterson’s staff.
Staff
Co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Curtis Luper left the Frogs to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Missouri.
Offensive line coach Chris Thomsen left TCU to become the deputy head coach at Florida State.
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| Jerry Kill |
Bryan Applewhite joined the staff as the running backs coach.
Doug Meacham rejoined the program as inside receivers/tight ends coach.
Jarret Anderson moved from inside receivers/tight ends coach to offensive line coach, a position he coached for the Horned Frogs from 2014-16.
Paul Gonzales was promoted from safeties coach to defensive passing game coordinator. Gonzales has established himself as a rising star in the coaching industry since joining TCU as a graduate assistant in 2012. He’s worked his way from graduate assistant to cornerbacks coach to safeties coach to passing game coordinator/safeties coach.
Sonny Cumbie returned as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Kill served as special assistant to head coach Justin Fuentes at Virginia Tech during the 2019 season. Fuentes was a former offensive coordinator on Patterson's TCU staff.
Among his many coaching accolades, Kill was the consensus 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading Minnesota to the Citrus Bowl for the school’s first New Year's Day game since 1962. He was head coach of the Golden Gophers from 2011-15.
While at Southern Illinois (2001-07), Kill was the FCS Eddie Robison National Coach of the Year in 2004 and the 2007 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. He led the Salukis to five straight NCAA playoff appearances.
He served as head coach at Northern Illinois from 2008-10, earning the Grant Teaff FCA Coach of the Year Award in 2010 when he guided the Huskies to a 10-3 record and a berth in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game.
Following his time at Minnesota, Kill, who has a form of epilepsy that previously caused him to collapse on the sidelines, stepped away from coaching in 2016. He served as associate athletics director for administration at Kansas State, before returning to the sidelines as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Rutgers in 2017. He was director of athletics at Southern Illinois in 2018.
Kill, who has beaten cancer multiple times, recently contracted, and recovered from, the coronavirus.
Applewhite served the last five seasons as running backs coach at Colorado State. In February 2018, he was promoted to the additional duties of recruiting coordinator.
A 21-year veteran of the coaching ranks, Applewhite served five years at ULM (2010-14) before his arrival at CSU. He also spent one season at Montana State (2009) and six at Wyoming (2003-08) as running backs coach. Prior to joining the Wyoming staff, he coached at his alma mater, Northern Colorado, from 1999-2002.
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| Doug Meacham |
In each of his first two seasons at TCU (2014-15), the Horned Frogs' offensive attack ranked among the nation's best.
In 2015, for the second straight year, TCU set single-season school records in several major statistical categories. Additionally, the Horned Frogs ranked third nationally in total offense (562.8 yards per game) and seventh in scoring (42.1 points per game).
In his first season at TCU, Meacham helped the Horned Frogs become the nation's most improved offense in total yards (+188.2 yards per game) and scoring (+21.4 points per game). TCU's 21.4 points per game improvement broke the Big 12 record of 19.1 set by Oklahoma in 1999 and was the largest improvement by any team since Northwestern went up 24 points between 1999-2000.
The 2014 Horned Frogs ranked second in the nation in scoring (46.5 points per game) and tied for fifth in total offense (533 yards per game). TCU set 26 school records for offense in winning its first Big 12 championship and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Meacham was a 2014 finalist for the Broyles Award, recognizing the nation's top assistant coach.
Anderson has been with Patterson for 23 years, serving in a myriad of roles. Anderson, who spent the last two seasons as inside receivers coach, has coached running backs and offensive linemen. He was co-offensive coordinator in 2009 and 2010.
Former TCU quarterback Kenny Hill was promoted from graduate assistant to offensive analyst. He replaced Tony Savino.
Hill, who was TCU’s quarterback from 2016-17, was a student assistant for the Horned Frogs’ coaching staff in 2018, and a graduate assistant in 2019.
Former TCU safety Eric Buchanan has been hired as a defensive analyst. He takes over for Darrell Patterson.
Buchanan joins the staff after spending the past three seasons at Lamar University. He coached running backs in 2017, and safeties in 2018-19. Buchanan had an internship at TCU in 2015, working with defensive backs and special teams. He played at TCU from 2003-06.
Recruits/Transfers
The Horned Frogs have elevated all phases of their team with recruits and transfers.
TCU has finished third in recruiting (behind Oklahoma and Texas) in the Big 12 for the last five years.
In just the last four years, the Horned Frogs have signed 19 four- and five-star recruits.
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| Zach Evans |
Evans is the Frogs’ first five-star commit in the modern recruiting era. He was the No. 16 player in the nation in the 2020 class and the No. 1 player in Texas. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder helped lead Houston North Shore to two consecutive Class 6A state championship games. For his career, Evans rushed for 4,867 yards with 76 touchdowns.
During recruitment, Evans compiled over 40 offers, including from Texas A&M, Tennessee, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn, Baylor, Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and USC.
Evans originally signed with Georgia during the early signing period but was released from his National Letter of Intent with no restrictions.
In addition to Evans, TCU added a ton of talent in the class of 2020, including: four-star receivers Quentin Johnston and Savion Williams; four-star linemen Patrick Jenkins, Michael Nichols and Garrett Hayes; four-star safety Bud Clark; four-star cornerback Keontae Jenkins; and promising receivers Blake Nowell and Caleb Medford.
Also, promising quarterbacks Eli Williams and Stephon Brown, running backs Dominic Richardson and Kendre Miller, and defensive lineman Jaquaze Sorrells, who out of the 2019 class was a four-star recruit and top 150 overall player out of Orlando, Florida (he originally signed with South Carolina, but did not play anywhere last season). He is the ninth-highest recruit signed by TCU.
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| Mark Jackson |
Jackson played “jack backer” at Oklahoma, but will play defensive end for the Frogs. Jackson was a four-star prospect out of Cibolo, Texas, and ranked as the No. 13 weakside defensive end in the nation out of the 2016 class. At Oklahoma, he played in 32 games, with seven starts. Jackson will have one year of eligibility remaining and as a graduate transfer will be able to see the field immediately.
Storment started all 12 games at left tackle for Colorado state last season. He is 6-7, 320 pounds.
Through the NCAA transfer process, TCU has added three notable transfers: Marcel Brooks from LSU; JD Spielman from Nebraska; and Wilson Long from Princeton.
Brooks was a five-star prospect and the No. 32 overall player and No. 5 recruit in Texas in the Class of 2019. He was the third-highest ranked signee from LSU's 2019 class. A 6-foot-2, 194-pound hybrid linebacker/safety, Brooks saw action in 11 of LSU's 15 games en route to the College Football Playoff National Championship, recording eight tackles and 1.5 sacks as a freshman.
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| J.D. Spielman |
Long played quarterback at Princeton. A former top 25 player at his position and top 100 player in the state, the three-star quarterback out of the Regents School of Austin signed with Princeton last September as a member of the class of 2020 after being committed to Texas Tech previously. When the Ivy League canceled fall sports due to the virus, Long decided to transfer.
Offense
The Frogs had one of the worst offenses in the Big 12 last year, averaging just over 400 yards per game and ranking seventh in the Big 12 in yardage and points per game.
Going into this season, TCU has the new offensive coaches, and a talented, experienced quarterback, along with five other returning offensive starters.
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| Max Duggan |
Duggan has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Award annually is given to the most outstanding player in college football. Duggan is one of 15 sophomores named to the watch list.
Last season, Duggan threw for 2,077 yards, with15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed only 53.4 percent of his passes. The dual-threat signal-caller ran for 555 yards and six touchdowns.
After his freshman season, Duggan is on pace to have a better career than successful TCU quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Trevone Boykin, both of whom had a redshirt year to prepare and went on to National Football League (NFL) careers.
Duggan must avoid the coronavirus and injury in 2020. There is limited experienced support behind him.
Other quarterbacks on the roster are: Georgia transfer Matthew Downing; JUCO recruit Stephon Brown; three-star freshman recruit Eli Williams of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; freshman Christian Gelov of Noblesville, Indiana; sophomore Carter Bir of Flower Mound; and sophomore Jake Neufeld of San Diego, California.
The 6-foot-5 Brown arrived at TCU as the No. 1 rated JUCO dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 recruiting class. He has two years of experience.
Downing, a redshirt sophomore, didn’t see action for the Frogs in 2019.
Williams suffered an injury midway through his senior season in high school, but arrived at TCU as the No. 24 dual-threat recruit in the country. In five games his senior season, Williams threw for 459 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 509 rushing yards and eight scores.
Where have all of the other experienced, familiar-named quarterbacks gone?
Ohio State transfer Matthew Baldwin withdrew from the program and ended his career for medical reasons.
Alex Delton retired.
Justin Rogers transferred to UNLV.
Shawn Robinson transferred to Missouri.
Mike Collins transferred to Rice.
Last season, TCU finished third in the Big 12 with 204 rushing yards per game.
TCU’s offense lost its top two running backs, seniors Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, and its best player and most explosive receiver/returner, junior Jalen Reagor. The trio signed professional football contracts after the 2019 season.
The Frogs return an experienced running back in junior Emari Demercado, who faithfully spent his first two seasons as a Horned Frog backing up Anderson and Olonilua.
Highly talented and coveted running backs Darwin Barlow and Daimarqua Foster signed with the Frogs in 2019. Both were top-30 running backs coming out of high school. They will be redshirt freshmen this season. Barlow saw action in three games in 2019. Foster appeared in one game.
And, of course, there is the five-star freshman running back, Zach Evans, who should challenge for a starting role.
The Frogs also lost just about their entire offensive line, with the exception of center Coy McMillon. Offensive linemen Cordel Iwuagwu, Anthony McKinney and Lucas Niang signed professional football contracts.
Guards Kellton Hollins and Quazzel White are experienced backups.
Hollins started all 11 games in which he played in 2018 and was a team captain in each contest. His playing time in 2019 was limited.
Hollins has been named to the 2020 Wuerffel Award Watch List. The Wuerffel Award is presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on community service.
Hollins was a 2019 semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and was TCU's 2019 Big 12 Champions for Life representative.
Newcomers on the offensive line most likely will include Storment at left tackle and redshirt junior guard Wes Harris and redshirt senior tackle Austin Myers playing bigger roles.
With Reagor now a Philadelphia Eagles receiver and wide receiver TreVontae Hights also in the pros, junior Taye Barber leads TCU’s receiving corps. The 5-9 speedster had 372 receiving yards last season, but didn’t catch a touchdown pass. His productivity and reliability needs to improve in 2020.
Junior wide receiver Te’Vailance Hunt also had over 300 yards receiving last year and is a big target at 6-3, 200 pounds.
Senior wide receiver Dylan Thomas returns, after being sidelined by an injury he suffered in last season’s fourth game.
Junior tight end Pro Wells returns. He caught 17 passes for 196 yards and five touchdowns last season. He was named to the All-Big 12 Offense Second Team. He also is an asset to the Frogs’ offensive line. He is an excellent blocker.
Wells has been named to the 2020 John Mackey Award Watch List, which is given to the nation's top college tight end.
Thus, there is room, and a need, for somebody to emerge among the TCU receiving corps this season.
Stepping up could be speedsters Derius Davis (junior wide receiver) and Mikel Barkley (sophomore wide receiver).
Or that player who makes a difference could be prized-recruit Quentin Johnson, a wide receiver who chose TCU over Texas. He was a star at Temple (Texas) High School. He can beat defenders deep and he has excellent leaping ability and good body control, enabling him to win jump balls.
At least early in the season, expect the TCU offense to focus on the run. But with the new offensive minds on the TCU coaching staff, and with offensive firepower that should develop as the season progresses, expect this year’s TCU offense to surpass last season’s output.
Last season, TCU finished third in the Big 12 with 204 rushing yards per game.
TCU’s offense lost its top two running backs, seniors Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, and its best player and most explosive receiver/returner, junior Jalen Reagor. The trio signed professional football contracts after the 2019 season.
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| Emari Demercado (#3) |
Highly talented and coveted running backs Darwin Barlow and Daimarqua Foster signed with the Frogs in 2019. Both were top-30 running backs coming out of high school. They will be redshirt freshmen this season. Barlow saw action in three games in 2019. Foster appeared in one game.
And, of course, there is the five-star freshman running back, Zach Evans, who should challenge for a starting role.
The Frogs also lost just about their entire offensive line, with the exception of center Coy McMillon. Offensive linemen Cordel Iwuagwu, Anthony McKinney and Lucas Niang signed professional football contracts.
Guards Kellton Hollins and Quazzel White are experienced backups.
Hollins started all 11 games in which he played in 2018 and was a team captain in each contest. His playing time in 2019 was limited.
Hollins has been named to the 2020 Wuerffel Award Watch List. The Wuerffel Award is presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on community service.
Hollins was a 2019 semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and was TCU's 2019 Big 12 Champions for Life representative.
Newcomers on the offensive line most likely will include Storment at left tackle and redshirt junior guard Wes Harris and redshirt senior tackle Austin Myers playing bigger roles.
With Reagor now a Philadelphia Eagles receiver and wide receiver TreVontae Hights also in the pros, junior Taye Barber leads TCU’s receiving corps. The 5-9 speedster had 372 receiving yards last season, but didn’t catch a touchdown pass. His productivity and reliability needs to improve in 2020.
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| Te'Vailance Hunt |
Senior wide receiver Dylan Thomas returns, after being sidelined by an injury he suffered in last season’s fourth game.
Junior tight end Pro Wells returns. He caught 17 passes for 196 yards and five touchdowns last season. He was named to the All-Big 12 Offense Second Team. He also is an asset to the Frogs’ offensive line. He is an excellent blocker.
Wells has been named to the 2020 John Mackey Award Watch List, which is given to the nation's top college tight end.
Thus, there is room, and a need, for somebody to emerge among the TCU receiving corps this season.
Stepping up could be speedsters Derius Davis (junior wide receiver) and Mikel Barkley (sophomore wide receiver).
Or that player who makes a difference could be prized-recruit Quentin Johnson, a wide receiver who chose TCU over Texas. He was a star at Temple (Texas) High School. He can beat defenders deep and he has excellent leaping ability and good body control, enabling him to win jump balls.
At least early in the season, expect the TCU offense to focus on the run. But with the new offensive minds on the TCU coaching staff, and with offensive firepower that should develop as the season progresses, expect this year’s TCU offense to surpass last season’s output.
Defense
This year’s TCU team is the type that Patterson likes. Its foundation is built on defense. Smash-mouth defense.
Despite the losses of three key players, the Frogs’ defense in 2020 is expected to be the best in the Big 12 and one of the best, if not the best, in the nation.
Eight starters return for a TCU defense that was number one in total defense in the Big 12 for 2019. TCU’s defense also achieved that status in 2018 and 2017.
TCU finished with the 27th-ranked pass defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision last year (199.7 yards per game) and 16 interceptions (tied for ninth).
Defensive stalwarts Jeff Gladney (cornerback), Vernon Scott (safety) and Ross Blacklock (defensive line) are gone to the pros, but there is no shortage of talent on this year’s defense.
The trio of senior linebacker Garrett Wallow, junior safety Trevon Moehrig and sophomore safety Ar’Darius Washington are the standouts of the defensive unit.
Wallow has been named to the 2020 Lott Impact Trophy Watch List. The trophy is given to the nation’s top defensive player and community leader.
He also has been named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 first team.
He has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The award is given to the nation's best defensive player.
And Wallow has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List and the Wuerffel Award Watch List.
The Butkus Award is given to the nation's best linebacker.
The Wuerffel Award is presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on community service.
Wallow was the Big 12’s leading tackler last season. He made 125 tackles, with 3.5 sacks and 18 tackles for lost yards. He had one interception and two quarterback hurries. Against SMU, Wallow, a converted safety, recorded 19 tackles, the most for a TCU defender since Travin Howard in 2016.
Moehrig has been recognized as the Best Defensive Back in Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
He also has been named to the 2020 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The award is given to the nation's best defensive player.
Moehrig also has been named a Walter Camp Preseason All-American. He received second-team defensive honors.
And Moehrig has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. The award is given annually to college football's best defensive back.
Pro Football Focus has named Moehrig as the most valuable safety returning to college football in 2020.
Pro Football Focus has graded Moehrig and Washington as the top two returning safeties in college football.
Last season, Moehrig had 62 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He also forced two fumbles.
Washington had five interceptions and 46 stops as a redshirt freshman in 2019.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has named Wallow, Moehrig and Washington to the first team of its All-Texas team.
In addition, Wallow and Moehrig have been named by the Big 12 media to the 2020 preseason All-Big 12 football team.
Plus, Wallow and Moehrig have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List. The award is given to the nation's defensive player of the year.
Even with Blacklock anchoring the defensive line, TCU only totaled 22 sacks last year. Thus, there is a need for players to step up on the defensive front and create pressure on the opposing offense, especially since there are such quality quarterbacks in the Big 12.
Senior Corey Bethley (6-2, 290 pounds) has been a starter at defensive tackle for the last two seasons and will likely start at tackle again. He had 2.5 sacks last year and was Honorable Mention All-Big 12.
Junior Terrell Cooper (6-2, 286 pounds) played in all 12 games last year and probably will start at the other tackle position. He had 21 tackles and two sacks last season.
One of the defensive ends should be sophomore Ochaun Mathis (6-5, 247 pounds) who started all 12 games last season as a freshman and had 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Other notable returning TCU defenders include: junior cornerback Noah Daniels; sophomore defensive end Colt Ellison; sophomore linebacker Wyatt Harris; sophomore cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson; sophomore cornerback Kee’Yon stewart; junior safety La’Kendrick Van Zandt; junior linebacker Ben Wilson; sophomore linebacker Dee Winters; and senior defensive end Parker Workman.
Two newcomers who could break into the starting defensive unit are Mark Jackson and Patrick Jenkins.
Jackson (6-1, 236 pounds), a graduate transfer from the University of Oklahoma, should see time at a defensive end position. Jackson was a four-star prospect out of Cibolo, Texas, and ranked as the No. 13 weakside defensive end in the nation out of the 2016 class. At Oklahoma, he played in 32 games, with seven starts.
Jenkins (6-2, 285 pounds), a prized 2020 recruit, was a standout on the defensive line for John Ehret High School in Louisiana. He has the ability to provide a boost as a pass rusher on the defensive interior.
Even with the tremendous amount of defensive star power that the Frogs lost from last season, this season simply is a reload, instead of a rebuild. In fact, this season’s defense could be one of Patterson’s best.
Special Teams
The Frogs’ special teams lost two key players, placekicker Jonathan Song and Reagan, who as a returner was a threat to go all the way every time he had the football in his hands.
Also gone is kicker Cole Bunce, who announced his decision to transfer to Villanova earlier this year, after being limited the previous season at TCU due to a scooter accident suffered on report day last fall.
There will be competition to replace Song, who was a highly accurate kicker.
The favorite may be sophomore Griffin Kell, who as a freshman last year hit three of four kicks, including a 52-yarder against Texas and a 47-yarder against Baylor. His only miss was from 57 yards.
Other place kickers on the team include sophomore Dawson Gordon, redshirt freshman James Koshakji, redshirt freshman Cole Sayre, and senior Ray Thomas.
Punter Jordy Sandy returns, as a sophomore. Last year, as a freshman, he punted 61 times for 2,340 yards.
Junior Dillon Jones likely will back up Sandy.
There is no shortage of speedy receivers and running backs to return kickoffs and punts, but it will be difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate Reagor’s production while he was a Horned Frog.
This year’s TCU team is the type that Patterson likes. Its foundation is built on defense. Smash-mouth defense.
Despite the losses of three key players, the Frogs’ defense in 2020 is expected to be the best in the Big 12 and one of the best, if not the best, in the nation.
Eight starters return for a TCU defense that was number one in total defense in the Big 12 for 2019. TCU’s defense also achieved that status in 2018 and 2017.
TCU finished with the 27th-ranked pass defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision last year (199.7 yards per game) and 16 interceptions (tied for ninth).
Defensive stalwarts Jeff Gladney (cornerback), Vernon Scott (safety) and Ross Blacklock (defensive line) are gone to the pros, but there is no shortage of talent on this year’s defense.
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| Garrett Wallow (#30) |
Wallow has been named to the 2020 Lott Impact Trophy Watch List. The trophy is given to the nation’s top defensive player and community leader.
He also has been named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 first team.
He has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The award is given to the nation's best defensive player.
And Wallow has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List and the Wuerffel Award Watch List.
The Butkus Award is given to the nation's best linebacker.
The Wuerffel Award is presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the premier major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on community service.
Wallow was the Big 12’s leading tackler last season. He made 125 tackles, with 3.5 sacks and 18 tackles for lost yards. He had one interception and two quarterback hurries. Against SMU, Wallow, a converted safety, recorded 19 tackles, the most for a TCU defender since Travin Howard in 2016.
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| Trevon Moehrig |
He also has been named to the 2020 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The award is given to the nation's best defensive player.
Moehrig also has been named a Walter Camp Preseason All-American. He received second-team defensive honors.
And Moehrig has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. The award is given annually to college football's best defensive back.
Pro Football Focus has named Moehrig as the most valuable safety returning to college football in 2020.
Pro Football Focus has graded Moehrig and Washington as the top two returning safeties in college football.
Last season, Moehrig had 62 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He also forced two fumbles.
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| Ar'Darius Washington (#27) |
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has named Wallow, Moehrig and Washington to the first team of its All-Texas team.
In addition, Wallow and Moehrig have been named by the Big 12 media to the 2020 preseason All-Big 12 football team.
Plus, Wallow and Moehrig have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List. The award is given to the nation's defensive player of the year.
Even with Blacklock anchoring the defensive line, TCU only totaled 22 sacks last year. Thus, there is a need for players to step up on the defensive front and create pressure on the opposing offense, especially since there are such quality quarterbacks in the Big 12.
Senior Corey Bethley (6-2, 290 pounds) has been a starter at defensive tackle for the last two seasons and will likely start at tackle again. He had 2.5 sacks last year and was Honorable Mention All-Big 12.
Junior Terrell Cooper (6-2, 286 pounds) played in all 12 games last year and probably will start at the other tackle position. He had 21 tackles and two sacks last season.
One of the defensive ends should be sophomore Ochaun Mathis (6-5, 247 pounds) who started all 12 games last season as a freshman and had 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
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| Corey Bethley (#94) |
Two newcomers who could break into the starting defensive unit are Mark Jackson and Patrick Jenkins.
Jackson (6-1, 236 pounds), a graduate transfer from the University of Oklahoma, should see time at a defensive end position. Jackson was a four-star prospect out of Cibolo, Texas, and ranked as the No. 13 weakside defensive end in the nation out of the 2016 class. At Oklahoma, he played in 32 games, with seven starts.
Jenkins (6-2, 285 pounds), a prized 2020 recruit, was a standout on the defensive line for John Ehret High School in Louisiana. He has the ability to provide a boost as a pass rusher on the defensive interior.
Even with the tremendous amount of defensive star power that the Frogs lost from last season, this season simply is a reload, instead of a rebuild. In fact, this season’s defense could be one of Patterson’s best.
Special Teams
The Frogs’ special teams lost two key players, placekicker Jonathan Song and Reagan, who as a returner was a threat to go all the way every time he had the football in his hands.
Also gone is kicker Cole Bunce, who announced his decision to transfer to Villanova earlier this year, after being limited the previous season at TCU due to a scooter accident suffered on report day last fall.
There will be competition to replace Song, who was a highly accurate kicker.
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| Griffin Kell (#39) |
Other place kickers on the team include sophomore Dawson Gordon, redshirt freshman James Koshakji, redshirt freshman Cole Sayre, and senior Ray Thomas.
Punter Jordy Sandy returns, as a sophomore. Last year, as a freshman, he punted 61 times for 2,340 yards.
Junior Dillon Jones likely will back up Sandy.
There is no shortage of speedy receivers and running backs to return kickoffs and punts, but it will be difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate Reagor’s production while he was a Horned Frog.
Summary
Yes, three of the last four years have not been up to Patterson’s standards and the expectations of TCU fans.
But Patterson and his coaching staff are not strangers to success and they know how to get things back on course.
The 2020 NFL Draft marked the first time the program has produced four draft picks through three rounds of the draft. TCU's five draft picks were the most of any Big 12 team. It was the 14th straight draft a defensive Frog has been selected.
Reagor and Gladney were first-round selections. The Philadelphia Eagles made Reagor the 21st overall pick. The Minnesota Vikings made Gladney the 31st selection.
TCU now has 16 first-round draft picks in its history and seven under Patterson. Six of those first-round draft picks with Patterson have come in the last 11 years.
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| Gary Patterson (right) and Sonny Cumbie |
Patterson produces winners and he doesn’t accept losing seasons.
After the Frogs went 5-6 in 2004, they went 11-1 in 2005.
After the Frogs went 4-8 in 2013, they went 12-1 in 2014.
After the Frogs went 6-7 in 2016, they went 11-3 in 2017.
On June 13, Patterson released his debut song, "Take A Step Back."(listen here)
Patterson said he wrote the song in April during the peak of COVID, to remind people to enjoy the time with their families, get to know their neighbors and be kind to each other through it all.
The Frogs know their Big 12 neighbors quite well. Don't expect them to be too kind to them, and certainly don’t expect the Frogs to take a step back in 2020.
Instead, expect the Horned Frogs to bounce back … if there is a season.
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