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Assessing the Frog Needs for 2007

Posted on January 8, 2007

Always big questions each year is how many scholarships can TCU offer and what are the areas of most need. The number of available slots is generally easy to figure just by looking at the returning players. The Frogs have 62 or 63 returning players on scholarship based upon last year’s roster (the question being Robert Merrill). However, Coach Gary Patterson has said that they can offer between 23 to 25 recruits this year so there are possibly some players not returning due to injury or other circumstances. Not going to speculate on those players, but several on the roster have had chronic injuries and may decide they have had enough.The positions of need is a little trickier. I use a 3 deep roster and make adjustments in cases where there may be heavy experience or little experience at those positions. Her is my basic position analysis using those guidelines:

RB: require 3 and return 4 (Brown, James, Turner & Watts). Position is adequately filled by returning players, but is a position with high injury rates. Staff will take at least 2.

Fullback: Require 3 and return 2 (Smith & Jackson). Several of the RBs can be moved here and position is not used heavily in games. Would think they need 1 and may take an athlete who can play here or another position.

Quarterback: Require 3 and return 3 (Jackson, Dalton & Eskridge). Position appears to be adequately filled, but this is an extremely young group so a JUCO QB may help. Also another position with high injury rate so look for at least one QB recruit.

WR: Require 9 and return 9 (Christian, Johnson, Renfro, Young, Brock, Dickerson, Massey, Moore & Bryant). Again it looks like we are fine at WR, but 4 of the returning 9 are currently freshmen and 4 will be seniors next year. A JUCO WR would really help close the experience gap. Also the 4 freshman are all 6-0 and this being another high injury position look for at least one incoming freshman, a bigger body freshman.

TE: Require 3 and return 4 (Frosch, Englert, Cunigan & Reagan) Position is filled but insurance may be needed. Look for at least an athlete versatile enough to fill this position if needed.

OL: Require 15 and return 14 (Lindner, Montgomery, Phillips, Schlueter, Cannon, Kirkpatrick, Newhouse, Vernon, Sefton, Marrou, Richmond, Sisk, Clark, Raetz) In addition several walk-ons have added great support so look for only 1 OL in this class.

DL: Require 12 and return 10 (Blake, Ortiz, Leatch, Christopher, Hughes, Daniels, Grant, Niutei, Vess & Moore) Need 2 but because of the youth at DT look for possible support from a JUCO. Also this is a critical position with heavy rotation so they will bring in additional freshmen as available.

LB: Require 6 and return 6 (Henson, Hawthorne, Washington, Ingram, Panfil and Phillips) At least one Lber will be taken to add support.

CB: Need 6 and return 4 (Ibiloye, Sanders, Priest and Stewart) need 2 and should get at least 2.

S: Need 9 and return 6 (Jones, Roach, Hunter, Coleman, Hodge & Bonner) Need 3 and they cannot seem to catch up at this position. Look for at least 4 taken.

So the needs are most at safety (3), cornerback (2), defensive line (2), offensive line (1) and a big wide receiver. In addition support at safety, defensive line, linebacker, quarterback, wide receiver and running back bring the needs of this class to 15 players. This should allow the coaches to take 8 to 10 players who are versatile athletes and the best players available which is a luxury they have not had in the past to this degree.

Finally, how do the 13 announced commits fill the needs so far:

Safety (4): Thomas, Fobbs & Johnson

Cornerback (2): None

Defensive line (2): Fitch, Griffin & Gardner

Offensive line (1): Thompson

Big wide receiver (1): None

Linebacker (1): Shivers

Quarterback (1): None

Wide receiver (1): None

Running back (1): Caveness & Hunter

Of the missing pieces, Jeremey Kerley can play either WR or fill a S position, and Kendall Hunter & Joseph Banyard can move to CB. To fill the big wide receiver spot the coaches are looking at Jonathan Jones from Everman and Sam Roberson from Sommerville. The wide receivers available include Ron Brooks from Irving MacArthur, William Cole from Cedar Hill and Alonzo Adams from Houston Westside. The cornerbacks left are some of the best recruits still out there and include Marcus Ellis from Everman, Derrious Bell from Hillcrest, Greg McCoy from Woodrow Wilson and Tim Hayter from Tyler. Joseph Leary from Copperas Cove, Quinn Ashley from Paris are a few of the safeties still being considered. Don’t ask me who they want as a quarterback.

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