The ever evolving class of 2008

Posted on August 5, 2008

Usually once the coaches get their Letter of Intents faxed in and signing day is complete, they are ready to put that class to bed and go on to the next year.  Of course they end up dealing with qualification issues, but usually they use those opened scholarship slots in the following recruiting class.

But for TCU coaches this year, the class of 2008 is still a work-in-process.

Since the 2008 was such a small class to begin with and coaches had decided not to over-sign for the class of 2008, and since there were some important gaps to fill in playing positions, as it became apparent certain players would not qualify it was necessary to fill those spots immediately rather than carry them over to 2009.  What hurt even worse was that 2 of the non-qualifiers (Justin Moreaux and Marques Parker) both were counted on to fill a huge void in the wide receiver spot and Edward (Bud) Patterson was looked at for either the WR spot or thinning CB spot.

This put the staff in a big bind and the coaches were very fortunate to find three extremely high quality replacements after signing date, which is almost unbelievable. 

First came the signing of a pair of freshmen JUCO players from Tyler Junior College: Alonzo Adams and Jason Teague.  Both will have three years to play which is also unusual and Adams will have 4 years to play 3 since he was fully qualified out of high school which is even more unusual.  Teague was highly recruited out of high school and originally signed with LSU.  Adams, despite huge numbers and lots of recognition and awards did not get much attention and decided not to take a late offer from Tulane, though TCU gave him a good long look.  The Houston area athlete excelled in his first season at Tyler and the coaches grabbed him once the slot opened. Teague took his red shirt season at Tyler to get his academics straightened out and played one season.

Finally under some of the oddist of circumstances that could have occured and never happened before or will again, High School All-American Antoine Hicks from Mansfield Timberview, a UT signee, was released by the school before enrolling over admissions issues, became qualified and signed with TCU.

How is that for finding replacements?

Unfortunately the saga of the class of 2008 is not yet complete as coaches wait on the final word about Jason Teague from the NCAA Clearinghouse.  This should come soon and maybe then, almost six months after signing date the coaches can put the class of 2008 to bed.

Player profiles:

Alonzo Adams 6-1/175/4.5 Tyler Junior College originally from Houston Westside.  Offered by Tulane.

2007: Totaled 27 receptions for 607 yards (22.5 average) and five touchdowns in his lone season at Tyler Junior College … added five carries for 45 yards … earned All-SWJCA honors … a Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston selection as a senior at Westside High School … was the second-leading receiver in the Houston area with 71 catches for 1,286 yards and 10 touchdowns … a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club’s Offensive Player of Year … played in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game and the East-West All-American Game.

Jason Teague 6-2/190/4.48 Tyler Junior College, Originally from Carthage, TX-1st team all-state and east Texas MVP player out of Carthage, TX.  Signed with LSU in 2006 over offers from OU, TAMU, TCU and others.  Redshirted his freshman year at Tyler and was named All-SWJC his RSFR season.  Will have 3 years to play 3 left.  Rated #2 JUCO CB and #53 overall JUCO player by Rivals for the class of 2008.  Fills a huge depth need at CB for the Horned Frogs

2007: Ranked by Rivals.com as the 53rd-best JC player in the nation… named the Texas 3-A Defensive Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2005… Rivals.com tabbed him as the 30th-best cornerback in the nation and the 65th-best player in the state of Texas during his senior campaign… was utilized at running back, receiver, safety and on special teams… totaled eight interceptions and blocked five punts in being named All-State as a senior… also totaled 15 touchdowns as a running back and wide receiver… all-district selection as a junior, when he totaled three interceptions and two fumble recoveries… also rushed for 432 yards and six touchdowns on a 6.6 per carry average.

Antoine Hicks 6-2/193/4.6 Mansfield, TX (Timberview) Originally signed with Texas over TAMU

High School: Prep All-American and all-district performer … versatile four-sport letterman who saw action at RB, WR, QB, CB, S, P/PK and on special teams … participated in the 2008 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game … a member of ESPN’s top 150 national prospects and ranked as the seventh-best athlete on the list … compiled 4,044 yards of total offense (1,688 rushing/1,922 passing/434 receiving) and accounted for 37 TDs during his prep career … rushed for 1,688 yards and 18 TDs on 285 carries (5.9 ypc), threw for 1,922 yards and 15 TDs and caught 27 passes for 434 yards (16.1 ypc) and four TDs over his final three seasons … tabbed district 4-5A Utility MVP as a senior … led the Wolves to a 9-4 record (6-1 district) and the third round of the state playoffs … notched 712 yards and 10 TDs on 99 carries (7.2 ypc) … threw for 516 yards and five TDs and caught 17 passes for 248 yards (14.6 ypc) and two TDs … also served as the team’s punter, punting 22 times for an average of 35.0 yards … named all-district 4-5A as a junior … helped Timberview reach the state playoffs in its first season of 5A football … rushed for 617 yards and five TDs on 125 carries (4.9 ypc) and threw for 1,116 yards and seven TDs … also caught five passes for 65 yards … added 359 yards and three TDs on 61 carries (5.9 ypc) as a sophomore … also threw for 290 yards and three TDs and caught five passes for 121 yards (24.2 ypc) and two TDs … played for coach Terry Cron … a three-year letterman in track and field … competed in 4×200 and 4×400-meter relays … holds personal bests of 21.8 in the 200 meters and 49.5 in the 400 meters … also ran hurdles with personal bests of 15.1 in the 110-meter hurdles and 40.8 in the 300-meter hurdles … is the school record holder in both the long jump (23 feet, 8 inches) and triple jump (46 feet, 3.5 inches) … also a three-year letterman in baseball and basketball.

Personal: Born in Fort Worth, Texas … also lived in Duncanville, Wichita Falls and Irving

The rest of the class of 2008

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