TCU Horned Frogs 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: TCU is in a situation where the team can swing in either direction this fall. Only 8 total starters return combined on offense and defense, but they still have Gary Patterson coaching a football team that is coming off 11 wins and a win over Stanford in the Alamo Bowl. There is plenty of talent to go around, and there is no reason to firmly believe that the Horned Frogs cannot make a run for a top 3 spot in the Big 12 race, but do they have enough to push their way into the Big 12 title game in 2018?
Breakdown Offense: Kenny HIll has moved on at QB for the Frogs, and the job is being handed over to dual threat specialist Shawn Robinson. Robinson has serious ability as a runner, as he averaged 6.91 yards per carry in limited duty as a runner last season, but his passing work needs some work, as he completed just 48.1% of his attempted passes, again, in limited duty. If he gets bottled into a one dimensional role, that will really put a damper on what TCU is able to do offensively, and the ride ends before it has had a chance to begin. Penn transfer Michael Collins is available as the backup, but nobody believes that he will push for the starting job at any point.
Darius Anderson is back at RB, and led the team last fall with 768 yards and 8 scores, and averaged 6 yards per carry. He missed 3 games last fall, so keeping him healthy will be paramount to success this fall, especially with a developing QB situation on hand. He was available for the Stanford game, or was thought to be, but did not play. Sewo Olonilua is back as well, and is expected to have an expanded role in the offense beyond goal line work. He rushed for 330 yards, but scored 7 times, and averaged 5.16 yards per carry. Kenady Snell, who has serious speed and pass catching ability, carried 25 times as a freshman last fall, and is the 3rd back.
Jaelin Austin is back to start at WR, but he will be joined by 3 new starters at the position in fall camp. Jalen Reagor, Jarrison Stewart, and KaVontae Turpin are all heading into camp with the edge for those jobs. Austin caught just 15 passes last fall, but averaged 16.13 yards per catch. Reagor actually led the team in receiving, as he caught 33 passes for 576 yards and 8 scores as a rotational receiver last fall. Having him back is exactly like having a front line starter returning. Turpin caught 41 passes, while Stewart caught just 9 as a junior. Omar Manning and Dylan Thomas are top flight backups who could actually start, and Taye Barber and Ni"Jeel Meeking add solid depth.
The line could be a bit shaky, as only 2 starters return in Cordel Iwuagwu (LG) and Lucas Niang (RT). Anthony McKinney and Austin Myers will battle more in fall camp at LT. Kelton Hollins looks locked in at C as of now, but the RG spot is a battle between Chris Gaynor and Trey Elliott.
Breakdown Defense: Defense is always a priority under Patterson, but the entire unit returns just 5 starters this season, with 2 on the line in DE Ben Banogu and DT Ross Blacklock. Banogu is one of the best in the Big 12 and nationally, as he totaled 16.5 TFLs in 2017, and added 8.5 sacks. He also totaled 7 QB hurries and 3 forced fumbles to go with 49 tackles. Blacklock added 6.5 TFLs as a freshman, with a pair of sacks. LJ Collier is expected to start at DE, while Corey Bethley is penciled in at the open DT spot. Bethley totaled 3.5 TFLs last fall as a freshman inside, while Collier added 4.5. Brandon Bowen, Joe Broadnax, George Ellis, and Michael Epley all add some depth up front.
Ty Summers will return at LB, but will have a new partner in crime in the middle, most likely in Garret Wallow. Summers totaled 64 tackles last season, and added 8 TFLs. Wallow is a converted Safety, and will see a ton of competition in fall camp from big time Northern Illinois transfer Jawuan Johnson, who totaled 98 tackles last fall for the Huskies. he added 18 TFLs last season, and added 4 sacks. Johnson will likely overtake the job in fall camp. Arico Evans and Montrel Wilson are the depth. Alec Dunham brings up the rear of the depth chart for now.
The secondary returns just 2 starters in the 4-2-5 set in CB Jeff Gladney and FS Nico Small. Gladney is in his 3rd year on the job, and totaled 5 PBUs, while Small also totaled 5 PBUs last season. Julius Lewis will likely start at the open CB spot, but played in just 3 games last season. Markel Simmons is the S or ROV guy, and missed 2 games last fall. Innis Gaines returns at SS, and forced 2 fumbles last season. Lewis was still injured and was unavailable for spring ball, so look for Tony James to maybe push him out in fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: The Frogs have the rare luxury of having 2 high quality PKs return in Cole Bunce and Jonathon Song. Bunce took over when Song was injured last season, but they combined to hit 14/15 FG attempts as sophomores last fall. Bunce has the edge, but I could see both getting opportunities to get work in this fall.
Adam Nunez returns at Punter, and he is a field position punter extreme, but still averaged just 39.34 yards per punt. Andrew David punted 6 times last fall, and is available if needed after averaging 42.83 yards per punt.
Turpin is one of the most dangerous KR men in the Big 12 and in the country after averaging 30.8 yards per return with one score last fall. He also averaged a whopping 16.25 yards per return with one score on punt returns.
Final Analysis: The Frogs are one of those rare teams where perceived weaknesses are strengths, and that is because of a coaching staff that largely sticks together and develops the hell out of every single player they get into camp. There is on expectation of stepping back this season, as all holes are being filled with experienced players who know their jobs. TCU should absolutely be in the thick of the chase for the Big 12 title in 2018, and will surprise some doubters early, They have a huge early season attention grabbing opportunity when they take on Ohio State on 9/15 in Arlington. A win there puts them on a path that many would not otherwise see coming.
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