Posted on January 13, 2010
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Three new football frogs have enrolled:
Dwight Pernail Smith, Jr. 5-11/220/4.32 Carthage, TX MVP of 3A Championship game in 2008, rushed for 2,820-yards and 41-TD’s on 239-carries, caught 2-TD passes, and broke single season school records for rushing yards and TD’s, he was the District Co-MVP, All-State, TSWA All-State Offensive Player of the Year, and All-Smoaky.com Player of the Year along with 1st-Team All-Smoaky.com. Signed in February 2009 but transfer grade issues kept him away until spring 2010.
http://community.prepticket.com/video/vide…3AVideo%3A87621
DB Travaras Kavaughn Battle-Smith 5-10/175/4.4 San Antonio, TX (Jay) All district and SA all area, speedster had 67 carries for 635 yards & 8 TDs rushing, 5 rec for 96 yards & 1 td receiving. On d had 2 Ints and 69 tackles. 200M best 21.5. Transferred from Forsyth Parsons in Georgia after sophmore year.http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-f…hlights-1-51764
DT David Allen Johnson, II 6-2/270/4.7 Argyle, TX 2009 1st team 3A All-State, 9-3A MVP, a rare for a defensive player, led the team with six sacks and a staggering 25 tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season, while collecting 102 total tackles. 2008 9-3A Defensive lineman of the Year, HM 3A All State DL, 12 sacks in 2008. TCU is his dream school.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vob3u7mzo_8…player_embedded
Scout Inc Evaluation Johnson is one of those kids that is going to lace it up and make the dude lined up across from him earn his scholarship. He is a high motor and physical kid and can be disruptive in the trenches. He has solid size, but is a bit tough to place position wise. He moves around the defensive line now and will likely do the same in college mainly settling in as a bit of an undersized defensive tackle. While you wish he was a little bigger you do see the kid can be productive. He can be explosive off the ball. While lacking ideal bulk he is tough because he can fire off the ball low and win the leverage battle. He can derive power from his lower body and strike a blow and stand a blocker up and at times knock him back. You wish he was more consistent at shooting his hands and creating better separation. He flashes the ability to quickly press a blocker off of him and slip to half-a-man and rip and shed from the block. He displays good football instincts. He hustles to the ball and displays solid speed. With his motor he can offer support on the perimeter. He is no textbook tackler, but he can punish and throw down ball carriers. As a pass rusher he keeps it simple but seems to have a solid plan. He can create some initial push with a bull rush and displays the ability to slip to the shoulder and clear the blocker by being active with his hands. Johnson is a fun kid to watch. He is able to combine a motor, a physical style, and some smarts to be productive. Bit of a sleeper at the defensive tackle spot and though he will likely be a little undersized should be a disruptive college defender.
Became TCU’s First Class of 2010 commitment shortly after the Class of 2009’s national siging day.
Posted on January 5, 2010
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With the Fiesta Bowl behind the Horned Frogs and signing day and the spring drills looming there are several key questions that need to be addressed before the start of the 2010 season. Here are a few of those questions:
Who is returning: We know 13 seniors will be leaving after a tremendous 4 & 5 years of particiation and all will be missed. However, Coach Gary Patterson has said he expects to sign up to 18 or 19 for the incoming class of 2010 and with the number of underclassmen who can return filling about 71 if the 85 scholarship limit, there must be a few besides the seniors not returning. No speculation here on who may or may not return but all underclassmen on the current 2-deep are expected to return.
Who fills the remaing few sots in the class of 2010: 14 commits so far and Dwight Smith enrolling in this group means there are only 3 or 4 spots left to fill. The current group of commits are highlighted by tremendous speed at their positions and fills the needs at cornerback very nicely. There are no glaring holes to fill but it would be nice to address areas of quarterback depth and get another defensive tackle, but options in those areas are limited. I expect another linebacker along with another wide receiver and an athlete type who can play multiple spots. At least 4 of the recruits along with Dwight Smith are expected to go through spring drills, including defensive tackle David Johnson, defensive back Travaras Battle-Smith, linebacker Marcus Mallett
Schedule: One spot yet to fill and though not finalized yet, TCU and Oregon State are expected to open the season at Cowboy Stadium. This could give the Horned Frogs a tremendous boost in the potential title run in 2010.
What to do with all the runningbacks: Returning underclassmen with experience include Matthew Tucker, Ed Wesley, Jai Cavness and Jercel Fort. Also in waiting are: Aundre Dean, a former high school all-american and transfer from UCLA, along with Waymon James who was one highlight reel run after another in high school and has shown very well in practice during his fresman year as a redshirt. And finally in the group may be the best of the bunch in Dwight Smith of Carthage who is expected to enroll this week and go through spring drills. Will there be some position changes? Will all the the runningbacks return?
Cornerback depth: Losing two 4-year starters in Nick Sanders & Rafael Priest to graduation would generally be a huge hit to most programs, but in waiting are two very good corners in their own right, Greg McCoy and Jason Teague. However, key to the 2010 campaign will be the development of depth behind those two players. Walk-ons Brian Alexis & Devin Johnson have shown some promise and coaches may move Alex Ibiloye back to the corner at least part-time, but a good portion of the depth most likely from the current class and at least one of those recruits, Travaras Battle-Smith is expected to be in the spring drills.
Who replaces Daryl Washington: Tank Carder has solidified his position at the MIKE and along with Tanner Brock it appears that TCU will continue its strong linebacker tradition at least in the middle. The big queston will be whether Tank or Tanner can move outside or will someone such as Kenny Cain, Greg Burks or Justin Isadore show well enough to take over that spot. Burks has tremendous speed and both Cain & Isadore have shown well enough that replacing Washington may not be as huge of a task.
Can the team shake the Fiesta Bowl: The BCS spotlight was great experience for this group and how they respond to the loss and especially the surprising nervousness they exhibited will be an area to keep an eye on this spring.
