TCU Signs 15 Football Recruits for 2021 Class

 

The Horned Frogs football program announced the signing of 15 student-athletes Wednesday, which was the early signing date for 2021 football recruits.

For its signees falling under the 2021 designation, TCU's recruiting class is 26th nationally in player average rating by 247Sports.

The Horned Frogs have five four-star signees: wide receiver Quincy Brown (Destrehan, Louisiana); quarterback Sam Jackson (Naperville, Illinois); tight end D'Andre Rogers (Sammamish, Washington); athlete Ahmonte Watkins (Houston, Texas); and defensive end Landyn Watson (Hutto, Texas).

Seven of the 15 signees are from Texas. Seven states are represented, in addition to Europe. Quarterback Alexander Honig is from Bavaria, Germany. Two players are from Louisiana and one each are from Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Washington.

Nine signees are on offense, including three quarterbacks, three wide receivers, two tight ends and an offensive lineman. TCU's five defensive signees include two defensive ends, a cornerback, a linebacker and a safety.

Jackson is ranked by 247Sports as the nation's No. 13 dual-threat quarterback. ESPN rates him the No. 1 player in Illinois and No. 204 in its Top 300. Jackson was originally a wide receiver at Naperville Central High School before being moved to quarterback. He chose TCU over Notre Dame, Purdue and numerous other Big Ten programs.

Honig played for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns, one of the top American football youth teams in Germany. He is rated the No. 1 quarterback and overall player in Germany as well as the No. 27 pro-style quarback in the 247Sports composite.

ESPN ranks Trent Battle (Daphne, Alaabama) as the nation's No. 15 quarterback prospect with 247Sports listing him No. 1 overall at the position in the state of Alabama. He passed for 1,868 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 10 scores as a junior.

Joining Brown at wide receiver are Chase Jackson (Choctaw, Oklahoma) and TJ Steele (Lubbock, Texas).

Brown, who was also offered by Alabama and USC among many others, is ranked as the No. 14 overall player in Louisiana and No. 55 wide receiver in the nation.

Chase Jackson is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 receiver in Oklahoma and No. 10 overall player in the state. He totaled 1,342 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

Steele had over 1,000 receiving yards and 500 rushing yards with 18 combined touchdowns as a senior at Estacado High School. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 11 receiver in Texas and No. 69 in the nation. He's also the No. 62 overall player in the state.

Rogers is the nation's No. 8-ranked tight end with Rivals rating him the No. 6 overall player in Washington. He caught 33 passes for 452 yards and six touchdowns as a senior.

Jasper Lott (Argyle) also comes to TCU as a tight end. ESPN rates him as the No. 22 player in the country at that position.

TCU's lone offensive line signee is Noah Bolticoff (Rose Hill, Kansas). He's from the same Rose Hill High School that produced former TCU offensive line standouts Blaize Foltz (2008-12) and Brady Foltz (2011-15).

Bolticoff is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 offensive guard in Kansas and No. 33 in the nation at that position as well as the No. 3 overall player in his state.

In its composite rankings, 247Sports has Watkins as the No. 1 all-purpose running back in Texas and No. 4 in the nation. He was a running back and safety at Klein Forest High School and rushed for 503 yards while leading his team in touchdowns as a senior.

Watson and Chris Murray (Wichita Falls, Texas) are the defensive end signees.

Watson, an ESPN four-star recruit, concluded his career at Hutto High School with 143 tackles and 19.5 sacks. 247Sports rated him the No. 5 weakside defensive end in Texas and No. 32 in the nation. Watson was named the 2019 Texas District II-5A D-1 Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Murray is the No. 4 strongside defensive end in Texas and No. 25 in the country. 247Sports also lists him as the No. 56 overall player in the state. He was a middle linebacker at Hirschi High School before moving to defensive end.

Marvin Covington (Mansfield, Texas) is rated by ESPN as the No. 28 cornerback nationally with 247Sports tabbing him No. 3 at the position in the state of Texas. He recorded three interceptions in five games as a senior for Lake Ridge High School.

Linebacker Jayhvion Gipson (Houston, Texas) totaled 68 tackles with 3.5 for loss, a sack and interception as a senior at Langham Creek High School. The 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 8 outside linebacker in Texas and No. 76 in the nation.

Da'Veawn Armstead (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), the lone safety signee, was rated as the No. 23 overall player in Louisiana and the country's No. 65 safety. He had 10 interceptions the last two seasons and also played wide receiver and cornerback.

Here is additional information on each signee:

Da'Veawn Armstead (S, 6-0, 180, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Central High School): Three-star recruit … rated by 247Sports as the No. 23 overall player in Louisiana and No. 65 safety in the nation … totaled six interceptions as a senior with three coming in a 21-12 win over Plaquemine … had a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown in a victory over rival Denham Springs … first-team All-District 4-5A as a junior … totaled 50 tackles and four interceptions … played wide receiver, safety and cornerback … helped lead Baton Rouge Central to an 8-3 record and Louisiana 5A first-round playoff appearance … chose TCU over Mississippi State and Boise State.

Trent Battle (QB, 6-1, 200, Daphne, Alabama; Daphne High School):  Consensus three-star recruit … rated by ESPN as the No. 15 quarterback in the 2021 class … ranked in the 247Sports composite as the No. 1 quarterback, pro or dual threat, in Alabama … also the nation's No. 23 dual-threat quarterback and No. 31 overall player in the state … threw for 1,868 yards and 21 touchdowns in his junior season while rushing for 10 scores … selected as a Sports Illustrated All-America candidate in 2020 … participant in The Opening Regionals camp … three-sport athlete who also played basketball and baseball … son of Allen Battle, who was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics … chose TCU over Texas A&M, Kentucky, Tennessee and Nebraska.

Noah Bolticoff (OL, 6-5, 265, Rose Hill, Kansas; Rose Hill High School): Rated as the No. 1 offensive guard in Kansas and No. 33 in the country by 247Sports … also listed by 247Sports and Rivals as the No. 3 overall player in Kansas … consensus three-star recruit … selected as a Sports Illustrated All-America candidate … three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track and field (shot put, discus, javelin) … his dad, Scott Bolticoff, played safety for Cal Lutheran … chose TCU over Kansas State.

Quincy Brown (WR, 6-4, 175, Destrehan, Louisiana; Destrehan High School): Four-star recruit by 247Sports ... rated in the 247Sports composite as the No. 55 wide receiver in the nation and No. 14 overall player in Louisiana … totaled 24 receptions for 660 yards and 10 touchdowns his junior year as Destrehan finished 11-4 and advanced to the LHSAA 5A state championship game … helped lead Destrehan to a 12-2 record and the state semifinals as a sophomore ... chose TCU over Alabama, USC, Mississippi State, Auburn and Arkansas.

Marvin Covington (CB, 5-11, 180, Mansfield, Texas; Lake Ridge High School): Three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN … ranked by ESPN as the No. 28 cornerback nationally and the No. 68 player in Texas … 247Sports has him as the No. 3 cornerback in Texas and No. 31 in the country … also rated by 247Sports as the No. 58 overall player in the state … recorded 12 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in five games during his senior season … also competed in track and field … ran a 10.84 in the 100-yard dash … selected TCU over Baylor, Miami, Texas Tech and Mississippi State.

Jayhvion Gipson (LB, 6-1, 205, Houston, Texas; Langham Creek High School): Ranked as the No. 8 outside linebacker in Texas and No. 76 in the nation in the 247Sports composite … also the No. 183 overall player in Texas … three-star recruit … recorded 68 tackles with 3.5 for loss, one sack and one interception as a senior … first-team All-District 14-6A as a junior in 2019 … totaled 56 tackles, including seven for loss with two sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games … chose TCU over Washington State, Kansas State, Arizona and Houston.

Alexander Honig (QB, 6-6, 230, Bavaria, Germany): Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … the No. 27 pro-style quarterback in the 247Sports composite rankings … rated the No. 1 quarterback and overall player in Germany … excelled for the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, one of the top American football youth teams in Germany ... chose TCU over Baylor and UMass.

Chase Jackson (WR, 6-2, 170, Choctaw, Oklahoma; Choctaw High School): Consensus three-star recruit … rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 receiver in Oklahoma and No. 61 in the nation … also the No. 10 overall player in Oklahoma … totaled 1,342 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior in the 2019 season … helped Choctaw reach the Oklahoma 6A-II state semifinal game … chose TCU over Texas, Indiana and Minnesota.

Sam Jackson (QB, 5-11, 170, Naperville, Illinois; Naperville Central High School): Four-star dual-threat quarterback … the No. 13 player at the position nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings … ESPN's No. 1 player in Illinois … rated in the 247Sports composite as the No. 1 quarterback in Illinois and No. 6 overall player in the state … ranked 204th in the ESPN 300 … had 50 receptions for 847 yards and 14 touchdowns as a wide receiver before being converted to quarterback his junior year … passed for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019 … chose TCU over Purdue, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Oregon and Minnesota.

Jasper Lott (TE, 6-5, 243, Argyle, Texas; Argyle High School): Three-star recruit … listed by ESPN as the No. 22 tight end in the country … the 247Sports composite rankings have him as the No. 9 offensive tackle in Texas and No. 69 in the nation … also the No. 108 overall player in Texas … ranked as the No. 1 tight end recruit in the state by Dave Campbell's Texas Football … a 2020 Sports Illustrated All-America candidate … earned Texas District 7-4A-I first-team honors at tight end as a junior … totaled 222 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on the season … helped lead Argyle to a 13-1 record and a Texas 4A D-1 state quarterfinal appearance … a multi-position player at Argyle, lining up at tight end, tackle and defensive end … chose TCU over a multitude of schools that included LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Chris Murray (DE, 6-3, 240, Wichita Falls, Texas; Hirschi High School): Ranked by 247Sports as the No. 4 strongside defensive end in Texas and No. 25 in the nation … the No. 56 overall player in the state of Texas … three-star recruit from the same Hirschi High School that produced current TCU running back Daimarqua Foster … a Texas Associated Press Class 4A second-team all-state selection as a junior, totaling 61 tackles, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles … switched from middle linebacker to defensive end after his sophomore season, despite being a first-team all-district selection at his former position … chose TCU over Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Colorado, among others.

D'Andre Rogers (TE, 6-3, 230, Sammamish, Washington; Eastside Catholic High School): Rated by 247Sports as a four-star recruit and the No. 8 tight end in the country … Rivals rated him as the No. 6 player in the state of Washington … received an invitation to play in the 2020 Polynesian Bowl … caught 33 passes for 452 yards and six touchdowns midway through his senior year before being sidelined for the season by injury … chose TCU over a multitude of offers that included Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, and USC.

TJ Steele (WR, 6-0, 180, Lubbock, Texas; Estacado High School): Consensus three-star prospect … rated as the state's No. 11 wide receiver and No. 69 in the nation by 247Sports … ranked as the No. 62 overall player in Texas … had over 1,000 receiving yards and 500 rushing yards with 18 combined touchdowns his senior season … recorded six catches for 236 yards and three touchdowns in Estacado's 2020 first-round playoff game … faced off against current TCU wide receiver Blair Conwright in 2018 when Estacado played Coronado High School … two-sport athlete who also competed in track and field … chose TCU over North Texas.

Ahmonte Watkins (ATH, 5-10, 173, Houston, Texas; Klein Forest High School): Four-star recruit …  the No. 1 all-purpose running back in Texas and No. 4 in the nation in the 247Sports composite rankings … also the No. 44 overall player in Texas and No. 287 in the country … played both running back and safety at Klein Forest … had 503 rushing yards in six games and led the team in touchdowns as a senior … a participant in The Opening Regionals camp … Sports Illustrated All-American Finalist … chose TCU over a multitude of offers that included Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas Tech and Mississippi State.

Landyn Watson (DE, 6-3, 235, Hutto, Texas; Hutto High School): An ESPN four-star recruit … rated by ESPN as the No. 54 player in the state of Texas … the No. 5 weakside defensive end in Texas and No. 32 in the nation in the 247Sports composite rankings … also the No. 70 player in Texas by 247Sports … concluded his high school career with 143 tackles and 19.5 sacks … selected to the Texas preseason all-state second team heading into his senior year … named the 2019 Texas District 11-5A D-1 Defensive Lineman of the Year … finished his junior season with 50 tackles, seven sacks and two fumbles returned for touchdowns … earned first-team all-district honors in 2018 … chose TCU over LSU, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Michigan State, Penn State and many others.