So What’s Next - JUCOs
Posted on January 10, 2007
Over the next few days I will highlight potential recruits at each position and hopefully provide some insight as to how this class will shape up. Instead of a position, today I will look at potential junior College transfers, especially since the early signing date ends Monday (January 15th) and classes begin on that date also. If they are going to get a player in for Spring drills this is the final weekend.
Coach Gary Patterson has stated that the 3 positions they would most like to fill with JUCO players are QB, WR and S, in addition they have looked at bringing in a DT from the JUCO ranks. Players at other positions have expressed an interest in attending TCU, but I will focus on those 4 spots.
QB:
Three of the bigger names we have heard about, John David Weed from Tyler, Brian Savage from Coffeyville and Mike Greco from Pearl River have decided to attend other schools (BU, Hofstra & UCF) and that has narrowed the options. Of the more highly rated quaterbacks left, Billy Bob Orsagh has been mentioned with TCU. Orsagh at 6-1/185 is from Eastland, Texas and played at Highlands CC in Kansas last season where he was the KJCCC Offensive Player of the year. In nine game he threw 272 times completing 162 of those passes for 2100 yards and 13 TDs, he also rushed for 372 yards on 62 attempts. Overall Orsagh looks like a good fit for TCU except he also threw 12 interceptions to go with the 13 touchdowns. I think the coaches would have liked to see more of him in a Div I setting (walk-on) before commiting to an offer, but look for Orsagh to take his skills to a Div II team. So with all these names gone, what does that leave for TCU?
Brad Guidry-(6-7/235) played at Blinn College after graduating from Rusk High School. Helped lead Blinn to a National Championship with a 12-0 record. Guidry completed 62.4% of his passes (128 of 205) for 1525 yards, 17 TDs and only 4 interceptions. Coach Brad Franchione has called Guidry the best kept secret in junior college football.
Paul Eck of Butler County CC in Kansas. Eck is 6-4/200 with a 4.65 time in the 40. He completed 123 passes in 249 attempts for 1774 yds, 17 TDs and 9 ints.
Brice Beck 6-4/235/4.65 transferred from Iowa State to Northeast Mississippi College. Brice has a good arm but had a difficult season at NE Mississippi.
Jarred Wallace 6-3/210 played for Kilgore College and completed 53% of his passes in 9 games with 8 TDs, 3 ints and 1186 yards. Played sparringly to start the season and was the 4th starting QB for Kilgore when he finally took over the reigns. Finished strong and is a good looking prospect.
WR
Demetrious Byrd from Pearl River is probably the biggest name left on the board however TCU doesn’t appear to be in his plans. Lots of wide-outs left, but many are difficult to judge, kids such as John Knox and Wallace Franklin have committed elsewhere and of the leading receivers in the NJCAA only a few sophmores worth looking at are left. One name is:
Brandon Dixon 6-5/203 played at Highland CC with Orsagh. Good speed at 4.5 in the 40 and had 30 receptions for 503 yards and 5 TDs. 2nd Team all-conference and originally from Glynn Academy in Georgia.
Safety
Nevin McKenzie from Trinity Valley CC in Athens, TX is the name most mentioned. At 6-2, 201 pounds with 4.4 speed McKenzie is a highly coveted prospect. Gene Anderson from Pearl River is a strong safety with 4.5 speed to go with his 6-1 and 208 pound frame. Anderson is another prospect with lots of offers. Others in the mix include:
Derrick Raymer (6-1/215/4.65) Garden City athlete and all-american punter.
Scooter Rogers (6-1/190/4.5) Fort Scott CC
Walner Leandre (6-2/230/4.6) Blinn JC all-american
Javorris Jackson (6-4/210/4.5) Vermillion CC 1st Team all-american
Defensive Tackle
It appears that Nebraska decided to take all of the JUCO defensive tackles it could handle and what is left could be bare. Ben Gugler is a hard working interior lineman for Butler CC. At 6-3 and 290 pounds he has good size and was an all-state DT in Kansas (Salina). He was a 235 pound linebacker as a junior in high school so he has really grown, but has maintained good speed. Others to watch are:
Chris Weir (6-3/270/4.75) Independence CC-good strength & speed. 52 tackles, 10 TFL, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Michael Jordan (6-6/280/4.8) DE from Eastern Arizona CC has the size and strength to move inside.
John Olie (6-3/320) from Navarro. Originally an OL in high school at LD Bell in Hurst.
I am sure the coaches have many others in mind but will be interesting to see if the will be able to fill some of the gaps this weekend and here’s hoping they do!
Comments
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I’m not sure why the coaches think we need a juco receiver or safety with what we have returning. Noseguard would seem to be the most critical position for immediate help due to the loss of Jones. Olie was all-conference and seems to have the right body for the position.
QB - have you heard of any interest in Ben McMahan of Trinity Valley? He seemed like a good prospect last year (MVP of the Pilgrim’s Pride game) and finished second to Weed in passing stats this season, but his interceptions were up.
This blog rocks!
This is very slick!
The QB from Eastland - we must have him - Can you hear the TV “talking heads” going off about BILLY BOB from TCU? He’s great from a PR standpoint, and it sounds like he may even be able to play the game!
Later, when I’ve been “blessed” by the appropriate folks - I can use Opintel as my name, yes?
I know Wes, I’ll do better next time I promise.
Burner:
I think they feel there is too much of a gap in the experice level, but those freshmen sure look promising. Still think Young will standout starting this spring. Personally, with the WRs still out there that are JUCO I would pass unless you get one of the top few remaining.
On McMahan, don’t know if TCU interested but you are correct on the ints, 11 ints to only 8 TDs.
Opintel:
Not sure how it works. Check with Wes or Matthew.
If you don’t improve the quality, I am giving Endzone his blog on dating tips that he asked for.
Possible guest blog entry?????
Nice entry.
Feisty: why are some sames in purple on your list of recruits?
Edit: because their links.
-Admin
Those are the ones with links to videos, just double click the name to view the video. This is for the names in the new format. I think it was Matthew who started to put the list in a table format which is really nice, but he left it in a mess (kids these days). Anyway, I have been slowly cleaning it up and getting it organized. Expect to be done bu signing day
Who do we have coming in for visits this weekend? Thanks for the great work on this!
Ben McMahan signed with Midwestern State. Trinity Valley came out highly ranked and ended up with less than 5 wins. Tough year for the whole TVCC team.