Walking-on for 2007
Posted on March 28, 2007
Even though the Horned Frogs have had some recent success with walk-on players and not just in the traditional areas of kickers and punters, the TCU coaches have never emphasized walk-ons in the past. However this year appears to signify an big change in approach for the program in regards to those potential players. The change may be due to the fact that walk-on players such as Ryan Christian, Tyler Luttrell, Derek Moore, Tony Savino, William Cage, and Prince Bynum are competing for playing time on the field for the Frogs and the expected incoming group of walk-ons may have an even more impact.
Many Frog fans have already heard of the potential arrivals of quarterback Erick Herbel from McKinney North and Kyle Dooley from Papillion, Nebraska, but several other high quality walk-ons are expected to arrive over the summer. Some of these players have been over-looked for a particular reason and others leave you shaking your head how they slipped through without an offer for a full scholarship, but either way the TCU football program will see a huge benefit from them in the fall.
One last comment before discussing the players: The walk-on candidates are not bound by any letter-of-intent and can elect to enroll at or transfer to another school without notice or penalty, thus any of the expected walk-ons may choose another opportunity if it arises.
The two we have heard much about:
Eric Herbel is a kid that I have liked for a long time and is one of those head shakers. A completion percentage of 69.9% with over 2,500 yards, 31 touchdowns and only 6 interception in 246 attempts has to boggle the mind on how he ended up as a walk-on, but thankfully he has chosen TCU. A teammate of TCU recruit Jeff Olson at North, the two will room together and expect him to provide stiff competion for playing time soon after his arrival at TCU. Eric chose TCU as a preferred walk-on over similar offer from Oklahoma State.
Kyle Dooley is a 6-3, 285 pound offensive lineman from the heart of lineman territory, Pappilion, Nebraska. A high ankle sprain which has hobbled the young man for quite some time is the reason why the offers never came despite heavy early recruitment. Coming to TCU Dooley needs to do little except prove he has recovered from the injury before getting a full ride in the future. Kyle chose TCU over Nebraska.
The ones you may not have heard about:
Cole Knuth was offered opportunities at Oklahoma State, Colorado, Illinois and other schools but has elected to attend TCU. Cole was a former tight end rated as high as number 16 in the state at that position, but with a change in offense came a position change his senior season at Prosper. Being originally recruited as a 6-4, 280 pound tight end with 5.0 speed in the forty after his junior year, he was overlooked by many programs though he seemed to be a perfect fit on the offensive line. His father, Ken said TCU seems to be the perfect fit for him and with his agility (30″ vertical) Coach Williamson has him slotted as a potential center for TCU.
Geron Flowers is a speedster out of noted Tyler John Tyler who played out of position according to the coaches at TCU. His speed and agility makes him a perfect fit for the defensive backfield despite spending most of his time in high school as a wide receiver.
Rufus Hardy is a kid that had all kinds of potential as a running back, safety and linebacker at Flower Mound High School until a severe knee injury ended his senior season almost as soon as it started. Now, more than a year later and hard work at recovering Rufus is in school and working hard to make the 105 man roster.
The expected walk-ons:
Kyle Dooley OL 6-3/285/5.2 Papillion, NE
Geron Flowers DB 5-10/170/ 4.4 Tyler, TX (John Tyler)
Rufus Hardy DB 5-11/190/4.5 Flower Mound, TX
Eric Herbel QB 6-3/195/4.9 MCKinney, TX (North)
Cole Knuth OC 6-4/280/5.0 Prosper, TX
Many more player will attempt to walk-on at TCU including another highly regarded quarterback and I will try to bring any information to light as soon as available on those players. I personally admire these kids tremendously and wish each and every one of them the best of luck.
Comments
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Great report!!
What a great report. Walk on’s are fertile ground for a diligent reporter, so little is known about ‘em.
The term “preferred walk-on” is beginning to have serious meaning. If you understand the ability of Dooley and Knuth and Herbel, you will begin to understand.
gunner
Great stuff. Very enlightening.
Feisty, what do you know about these QB’s, like the 6′4 guy from Chapel Hill. BTW, thanks for picking up these before unknown prospects. There a couple more tall guys we know nothing about. Hear anything?
gunner
Thanks for the report, Fiesty.
Thanks, guys, for walking on. I admire your taking the challenge.
It is really gratifying to those of us that personally experienced a decade or so when TCU had little hope of seeing anyone on campus that received an equivalent offer from a school like Nebraska (unless of course our boosters were a little too involved), and to a lesser extent Oklahoma State.
I was acquainted with a football walk on back in the day, and the time and effort required to avoid being cut from the squad was substantial. All with the hope of a scholarship, but certainly no guarantees.
The kid from Chapel Hill is more of an athlete than a QB, but how can you not recruit a kid named Chris Mass? He is a much better TE/DE prospect than a QB. Also plays Safety for Chapel Hill and he is huge back there.
great update. thanks feisty!
How about someone to handle kickoffs? At one of the summer camps, Matthew Abola of Irving Cistercian reportedly put 75 percent in the end zone - from the 35, of course. Was injured his senior year. He was reported to have walkon interest from Notre Dame, SMU and TCU.
Feisty, I done got banned. Email me to stay in touch.
Birds of a feather….
Feisty..
We have a quarterback commitment from Yogi Gallegos and
have recently made an offer to Robert Griffin, a 6′3″ 200/4.4,
quarterback from Copperas Cove. Two fine young prospects.
What are our chances of getting a commitment from Griffin?
Pure Purple:
I know CGP is personally involved in his recruiting along with Coach Glascow so that tells you how much importance they are placing on Griffin. A key may be the reputation of our track coach (Anderson) as being one of the best hurdlers coaches in the country.
The odds still look to be long at this point but never under-estimate what these guys can accomplish.
How did we do with these possible walk-ons enrolling this summer? Do we know of anyone that we lost?
Barry:
We lost Cole Knuth bit picked up a kicker who is highly regarded.
Bit of data in the Kicker (from kicking.com):
Ryan Casano Dripping Springs (Texas) 8/8 9/9 17/17 53 129 Should be a top recruit out of the Austin region; can also punt very well; deep kickoffs, very consistent and competitive, money under pressure.
Thanks for the positive comments on walk-ons. My son, Jason Lewis from Churchill High School in San Antonio, will walk on as kicker. He is hoping to win a position as a kick-off specialist. He was 26-AAAAA 2nd Team All-District, averaged 60 yards on kickoffs and has a 43-yard game winning FG vs. the Judson Rockets in 2OT in front of 10,000+ screaming fans. 70% of his deep kicks were into the end zone.
Rob, thanks for the comments & info on your son and hope he does well! Saw him mentioned in the FS paper and sounds like he progressing well. Chris M is such a great kicker from inside the 40, but will nice if they can find a long-range kicker, especially for KOs so will be following how your son & the others do.
Any word on the walk-ons this week?
have you heard of a walk-on named tony baiyeri? a friend told me he would be playing this week…
I just know he is a RB from Mission Sharyland.