No. 10 TCU vs. Texas: What to know about the Horned Frogs and Longhorns | The Star-Telegram

It doesn’t matter how good or bad the Horns are, this game always means a little more to TCU because of how many kids got passed over by the flagship university of the state. Recently, it’s been all Horned Frogs, though.

Texas leads 62-24-1. TCU has won the last three, one shy of its longest win streak from 1935 to 1938. The teams have been playing since 1897 and played every year from 1927 to 1995, the last season of the Southwest Conference. They played a non-conference game in 2007 in Austin, won 34-13 by Texas. In Big 12 meetings, TCU is 4-1. TCU’s 50-7 victory two years ago in Fort Worth marked its series-high point total. In the last three meetings, TCU has outscored Texas 129-26.

TCU’s Patterson: Blame goes around in Iowa State loss | The Star-Telegram

Sounds like we will have a re-focused TCU team Saturday, including the coaching staff.

“Well, No. 1, everybody’s struggled throwing the football against Iowa State,” Patterson said Monday during the Big 12 coaches conference call with reporters. “Bottom line to it, we need to put him in better situations. You can’t get inside the 5-yard line and — we probably needed to run the football. We turned the ball (over) down there. We didn’t find ways to win. It wasn’t so much Kenny’s deal as everybody’s. I think you can put the load on everybody.”

Iowa State has given up the second-fewest passing yards in the league, trailing only TCU’s league-leading defense. The Cyclones’ 10 interceptions are second-most in the league, tied with Texas and Texas Tech.

Hill entered the game not having thrown an interception in 100 pass attempts covering three games, his best stretch at TCU.

“Kenny’s fine,” Patterson said. “He probably took it as hard as anybody with the loss. It was a very quiet bus ride and plane ride home.”

Herman keeping QB situation under wraps with wicked TCU defense up next | San Antonio Express News

Who will start under center Saturday for UT? Sounds like we might not know until game time.

Herman would love to stick with one quarterback for the remainder of the year beginning with this matchup. He also understands that type of permanence might not be in the cards this season given the glut of injuries not only at quarterback but on the offensive line. Luck is a considerable factor when it comes to continuity, and right now Herman is in desperate need of a rabbit’s foot swathed in four-leaf clovers.

“It has been hard. It’d be foolish of me to say otherwise,” Herman confessed. “I do think there is a rhythm, there is a continuity factor especially in the throw game with the receivers and timing and all of that.

“To say that we’d like one to ride out the next four games, yeah, I think that’s pretty accurate. Now is that realistic? I don’t know. Recent history tells me it’s not. But I think that would be ideal.”

Iowa State climbs into 4-way tie atop Big 12 | USA Today

There is a lot at stake Saturday for TCU, as they have a chance to take sole possession of first place in the conference with a win. Iowa State has a tricky game against WVU and OU and OSU play their annual bedlam game, where a Cowboys’ W could put TCU atop the leaderboard with just three games to play.

That leaves the one-loss Horned Frogs, Sooners and Cowboys desperate to win out and hope for some outside chaos that would open the door for a team from the Big 12 — which missed the playoff a year ago — to nab one of the four coveted postseason spots.

Things should clear up fairly quickly.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State square off next week in Stillwater in what essentially will be an elimination game for each program's playoff hopes.

Should the Cowboys survive and then topple Iowa State on the road, they'll be in a strong position to reach the conference title game. Oklahoma State finishes with Kansas State and Kansas at home.

Frog fans have enjoyed watching Turpin take off down the field in a variety of roles for the team since his Freshman year in 2015. His speed and agility make him a fun player to watch and equally frustrating for defensive players to catch. In 2015, Turpin had 45 receptions for a total of 649 yards, with an additional 729 yards in kickoff returns. In 2016, he suffered an injury to his knee early in the season. He only played in 8 games, but he still managed to rack up 295 receiving yards on 30 receptions and 482 yards in kickoff returns. He’s had over 300 yards in punt returns the past two years combined. In 2015, he had 181 yards over 13 games, and in 2016 he totaled 125 yards in just 8 games, extending his average from 10.6 yards/return to 12.5 yards/return.

Turpin was unable to practice this past Spring due to academic issues. In a press conference back in April, Gary Patterson said he was happy to have Turpin rejoin the team. He also noted how difficult it can be for a player to be great as a freshman. “He just needs to keep doing what he’s supposed to do. We have standards here on and off the field,” he told reporters..

We’re looking forward to watching Turpin take off down the field this season, evading defenders and racking up yards as the Frogs take on a challenging season. His speed and agility can be especially useful this season when the Frogs travel to Norman, Stillwater, and Manhattan. Congrats, KaVontae, and good luck this season!

The Frogs picked up a JUCO commit for 2017, and a WR for the class of 2020.

TCU football added immediate depth along the defensive line, while also landing a player who won’t be on campus for a few more years.

Tyler Junior College defensive end Michael Epley committed to the Frogs on Friday evening.

He has two years of eligibility remaining, and can play immediately, meaning he’ll be able to step in for the departed Josh Carraway and James McFarland, adding some much needed depth along the outside of the defensive line.

Standing at 6’3”, 255 pounds, Epley has an outstanding motor and great hands, something that allows him to dominate on the edge. He should come in and have an immediate impact for the Frogs.

Epley was also being pursued by Arkansas, Texas Tech, and a handful of other schools.

While Epley will be an immediate addition to the team, TCU got another commitment that they’ll have to wait on a while.

Wide receiver Jacobi Bellazin, the No. 1 receiver in the state of Louisiana, gave his pledge to the Horned Frogs. It’s a big commitment, but the Frogs will need to be patient, as Bellazin is just a freshman; part of the recruiting class of 2020.

While the Frogs have to wait three years for Bellazin to get to campus, he’ll be worth the wait, according to SB Nation recruiting expert Bud Elliott.

247 Sports’ Barton Simmons also had good things to say about Bellazin, while the receiver participated in the The Opening New Orleans, saying he was arguably the “best route-runner” at the event. That even included the No. 1 receiver for the 2018 class, Terrace Marshall (another TCU target), as well as a bevy of other elite receivers.

Bellazin currently holds offers from Georgia, Utah, Purdue, Kansas, and a few others, but he’ll likely start seeing more offers come in after his performance at The Opening.

What comes after a mauling? We’re not really sure.

Jamie and guest host J.T. chat about TCU’s loss to West Virginia, and will take your calls so you can suggest how to fix the team. 657-383-1319. Let’s hear your best ideas!

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Jalen Reagor, a one time Sooner pledge, verbals to TCU.

Waxahachie wide receiver Jalen Reagor has decided to stay close to home, and that’s great news for Frog fans. The 5’11” burner will bring his 4.40 speed to Fort Worth next fall, as he announced Thursday evening via twitter.

Reagor, who committed to Oklahoma back in March, boasts 21 offers, including Texas Tech, Alabama, Texas, A&M, Baylor, Notre Dame, and a host of others. A four star prospect who is the 14th ranked receiver in the country and a top 20 recruit in Texas, Reagor will join current high school teammate Kenedy Snell and former QB Jordan Kitna in Funky Town. Recruited by superstar coach Curtis Luper, Reagor was also undoubtably influenced by those he knows on the team as well as the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends for the next four years.

Reagor becomes the highest rated recruit in the Frogs’ class, narrowly edging out his likely future QB, DeSoto’s Shawn Robinson. That combination will give opposing defensive players and coaches nightmares for the foreseeable future, while igniting the scoreboard often for TCU. An exceptional route-runner with speed to burn, Reagor has a chance to be special in Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham’s high flying offense. He has great ball-skills and sticky hands, with enough size and strength to handle physical coverage, though those that press tend to get beat. He is the fourth four star commit in the class of 2017, and should be a great recruiter in his own right for the program.

Reagor, an Under Armour All-American, made his official visit on October 1st, watching the Frogs take on the Sooners. Though TCU ultimately lost that game despite mounting a furious comeback, they won a different battle - on the sideline. Welcome to the Frog Fam, Jalen. This is going to be fun.

Kirk Herbstreit will recognize one fanbase for their support this weekend.

TCU has started the season 4-2, falling out of the rankings at the midpoint of the year. But just because the Frogs are unranked doesn’t mean they can’t still earn some street cred... or in this case, #StreitCred.

Throughout the regular college football season, each week @KirkHerbstreit and @Allstate will announce on social media the winning recipient of #StreitCred, giving schools and fans the ultimate badge of honor and bragging rights. Fans are encouraged to follow along the conversation on social media using hashtag StreitCred and campaign for which teams they think are most deserving. Herbstreit will make his weekly Allstate #StreitCred pick taking into account the strongest team performances and standout moments, regardless of individual school rankings.

TCU is one of the teams nominated for this weekend’s slate of games, as the Frogs travel to Morgantown, WV to take on the twelfth ranked Mountaineers. Fans can support their team in this competition by using the hashtag #StreitCred throughout the coming days.

"#StreitCred is all about celebrating the fans and the moments that make college football great," Kirk Herbstreit said. "I'm looking forward to working with Allstate again to recognize the most deserving teams and help tell the story beyond the rankings."

The program is yet another to be sponsored by Allstate, the company that has had a major impact on college athletics already, through their Good Hands Field Goal Nets, the Allstate Tailgate Tour, and the Good Works Team, which is in it’s 25th year. Earlier this month TCU defensive back Caylin Moore was honored as a member of that group.

You can read more about #StreitCred here, and be sure to follow the action through the hashtag all weekend long.

The former Texas A&M dual-threat supernova will start week one against South Dakota State on Sep. 3 in Fort Worth.

Gary Patterson has named Kenny Hill the week one starting quarterback against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, per Carlos Mendez (Fort Worth Star Telegram) and Jeremy Clark (HornedFrogBlitz.com). Hill, now a redshirt junior, transferred to TCU from Texas A&M prior to the 2015 season and sat out a year per NCAA transfer rules, but played a key part on the practice squad. He had been locked in a quarterback battle with redshirt sophomore Foster Sawyer through spring and most of fall practices, which was “50-50” as described by co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sonny Cumbie.

The Southlake Carroll product Hill started his career backing up Heisman winner Johnny Manziel as a true freshman in fall 2013, seeing limited time in four games and compiling a 72% completion rate along with a touchdown and no interceptions.

2014 was the year of the Trill- at least for the first five or so games of the season. Kenny “Trill”© had a coming out party in one of the first games of the season against preaseason #9 South Carolina, amassing 511 yards through the air on 44(!) completions and a ridiculous 73.3% completion percentage. He threw for three touchdowns on the day with zero interceptions and continued the success through games two and three against FCS team Lamar and Rice, combining for a 65% completion rate and an 8-0 touchdown-to-pick ratio over that span. The nickname was trademarked and the Heisman hype was real.

But then, after a series of three mid-season losses in which Hill’s play suffered (at least in comparison to his first five games) and an embarrassing off-the-field incident involving an arrest for public intoxication, the embattled QB dropped A&M and left College Station. At the suggestion of Gary Patterson, who had recruited Hill out of high school, Hill dropped football altogether and enrolled at Tarrant County College during the spring of 2015.

"I just told him he needed to get out of the limelight, and to just get back to being Kenny Hill -- the kid I knew when I recruited out of high school," Patterson told WFAA8’s Joe Trahan.

After spending all of 2015 as the practice squad quarterback, Hill was tabbed as the 2016 preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the year by the conference media at the start of media days, seemingly solidifying a foregone conclusion that he would be the Horned Frogs’ starter well before a team decision had been made. While this was going on, the hometown kid Foster Sawyer was continuing to quietly state his case to be the primary signal-caller for the Frogs in 2016. Presumably, Sawyer will again be relegated to a backup role, but if history is any indication there is an outside chance he may still start at least one game this year, and almost certainly, see playing time along the way.

The fact that he was tabbed for a preseason award at all speaks volumes about Kenny Hill’s talent and fit within the Meacham-Cumbie scheme. In a sense, Hill will have his work cut out for him in trying to spread the ball around to all of the weapons the Frogs have on the outside this year. Despite the loss of record-breaking TCU receiver Josh Doctson, the wide receiver corps is as talented as it’s ever been across the board with the return of Ty Slanina and Deante Gray, as well as the incoming and breakout talent such as freshman Isaiah Graham and sophomore Jaelan Austin.

With the use of his redshirt coming in his transfer/sit-out year, Hill still has two years of eligibility left to play with the Horned Frogs. TCU opens its season on Sept. 3rd against FCS foe South Dakota State at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

In the final game of the regular season, TCU faces the “other” purple.

For whatever reason, of all the Big 12 teams besides TCU, I always have my hopes high for Kansas State in particular.

Kansas State is like the Goldilocks of the Big 12 — not “elite” necessarily, but not straight-up “bad” either, typically hanging around the middle tier of the Big 12. To me, if there’s a team that I’d like to see rise above the middle tier and have a surprisingly spectacular season (finishing No. 2 to TCU, of course), it would be Kansas State.

I thought last season would be the year. Instead, last season ended up being a bit brutal. The team ultimately finished 6-7 on the year, but not before losing six straight games mid-season.

So how will the Wildcats bode this year? And more importantly, how will they play against the Frogs? Kansas State certainly has all the pieces — they just need to be put together.

Offense:

Kansas State is the one Big 12 team that’s not tossing passes one after the other and getting the ball to the end zone in, like, three plays (okay, that’s an exaggeration but...). Rather, the Wildcats have been better known for their run game. In fact, one of their most prolific rushers is their quarterback, Joe Hubener. Hubener worked the Frogs’ defense last season, scoring four touchdowns on his own feet. He’d rush for a total of 13 touchdowns in 2015.

But then again, this is the Big 12. And the teams that are on top are the ones passing the ball and getting to the end zone in, like, three plays. The Wildcats’ run game can only get them so far, so unless their passing game improves, the Frogs may have their work cut out for them in terms of what to prepare for.

Defense:

Kansas State’s defense will be interesting to watch, mainly due to defensive end Jordan Willis, who wreaked major havoc last season. Willis was among the top defensive players in the Big 12 in 2015, ranking No. 2 in sacks, No. 4 in tackles for loss and No. 1 in a four-way tie in forced fumbles.

Other than Willis, the Wildcats have some decent players on defense like defensive tackle Will Geary, linebacker Elijah Lee and safety Dante Barnett. The key for Kansas State, though, is consistency.

Special Teams:

The Wildcats shouldn’t have too many worries for special teams. They’ve built somewhat of a kick return dynasty in recent years with Tyler Lockett and Morgan Burns. Dominique Heath looks like the next man for the job, so expect him to be explosive this season. Kicks and punts should be standard as well.

Final Thoughts:

Kansas State has potential to be great -- maybe even enough potential to put up a fight against TCU like last year’s tight game that ended with TCU winning 52-45. Though the game was a battle, Trevone Boykin essentially saved the Frogs with a stellar performance that got him back into the Heisman conversation. The Frogs don’t have that luxury this year. But who knows? Maybe Foster Sawyer or Kenny Hill will find a way to be their own spotlight.

Kansas State will be TCU’s final game of the regular season, hosted at home on Dec. 3. You’d think the Frogs would have their quarterback situation and “team maturity” situation sorted out by then.

That’s why it’s tough to say how the Frogs will play at this point. I will say this — get ready to see a battle-tested team that will be a completely different group by the end of the season. And by “different,” let’s hope it’s a good kind of different.

The Frogs’ head coach is inked through 2022.

A very deep defensive line is a major strength for TCU’s defense in 2016.

One of the defenses thinnest units last year may be the deepest and most talented in 2016

Josh Doctson may be gone, but the deepest system in TCU's offensive arsenal could be even more exciting in 2016...

Let's just get this out of the way: JOSH DOCTSON IS GONE AND HE'S NEVER COMING BACK. And guess what? That's okay. It's also a little exciting. With Doctson gone, the playbook is going to open up. While there's probably no real guaranteed starter other than Turpin and maybe Slanina and Deante' Gray, there's going to be a lot of touches on the ball this year.

In the post-Doctson era, any of these receivers, unlike Lord Kerwin, who refused the call, can add something; and all of them working together, in a more diverse playbook, could mean something special.

Deep Ball Playmakers (X): Deante' Gray, Isaiah Graham

KaVontae Turpin may have muscled Deante' Gray out of his old position, but Gray missing the 2015 season may have been a blessing in disguise for him and Turpin alike.

Getting to emerge as one of the most elusive players in the Big 12, KaVontae Turpin had his coming out party against Texas, and after that, he never really looked back. Whereas the fifth-year senior, Gray--who was the first person to ever score in the renovated Amon G. Carter and the first Horned Frog to score in the Power 5 era--returns in Kolby Listenbee's position and is primed for what could be his biggest season yet.

*Andre Petties-Wilson is just a suggestion. His frame and presumed speed--he returned punts and kickoffs in high school--should be a great third option in the split end.

If Elusiveness Could Kill (H): KaVontae Turpin, Desmon White

Not a lot of size here, but there's a helluva lot of shiftiness, and also...FUN.

Interesting enough, Desmon White seemed to have his games when TCU was on the road and struggling. You could say Iowa State wasn't a sloppy game; and sure, while the Cyclones didn't score after the first quarter, behind Mike Warren, the 21 points they did put up in that quarter, still forced TCU's hand to dig themselves out of a hole. White helped get TCU out of that 1st quarter mess after catching a 40+-yard strike from Boykin that help set up an eventual Kyle Hicks touchdown that put TCU up 10.

Big strikes in big situations is where you're likely going to find White in 2016.

KaVontae Turpin is probably the most hyped returning offensive player for TCU in 2016. Hell, you may even be the most hyped player and it's easy to see why. Coming out of high school the 3-STAR recruit didn't even have a picture on Rivals, that is until the Texas game. Now with a year under his belt, he's mastered the return at a young age and has the ability to run a wheel route and shift dudes out of their trousers so bad (SEE BELOW) it transcends time from skinny jeans to parachute pants.

Turpin--like Baker Mayfield, Pat Mahomes, or Malik Jefferson--should be one of the most exciting players to watch in 2016, regardless of who you pull for.

CREDIT: RYAN BRIDGES (@RYANBRIDGESCFB)

Dynamos (Y): Ty Slanina, John Diarse, Jarrison Stewart

The Y receivers mix size and strength together like an art. They're not the fastest, their sizes aren't as monstrous, but their diverse mix of the two makes them the most underrated unit of the team.

After suffering a broken collarbone in Lubbock, heavy fan favorite Ty Slanina will be the anchor in the position that also features LSU-transfer John Diarse and Jarrison Stewart. While Josh Doctson was certainly the MVP of the Texas Tech game, Stewart might've won TCU the game by filling in immediately and unexpectedly when Slanina went down.

Though John Diarse played the X role under Cam Cameron's multiple-set offense while in Baton Rouge, he'll mostly stick to Y in 2016. I say mostly because, at least in my opinion, a logical case can be made for Diarse to play on the outside in the red zone. While he's not extremely tall for an outside receiver--just right at 6-feet--Diarse adds some strength, and thus can double-up with a similar match on the other, very deep, (Z) side consisting of Taj Williams, Jaelan Austin and Emmanuel Porter.

From a personal #FrogsOWarPodcast standpoint, Diarse is my, and my loyal cohost's new Ja'Juan Story. Who'll be the next recipient of the Ja'Jaun Story Award? Only time will tell considering the very specific nature of the award: SEC Wide Receiver Transfer.

Endzone Menaces To Society (Z): Jaelan Austin, Taj Williams, Emmanuel Porter

*JUCO Stats

Filling in Josh Doctson's shoes will be a quite the task, but on paper, this is the most exciting aspect of TCU's receiving arsenal. What he may've lacked in designing plays and serving as an OC, Rusty Burns is a tremendous asset to this team. Now, perhaps, even more then when Doctson and Listenbee were on the field at the same time, Burns has more toys to play with. While this was a fairly exclusive position the past two years, something that tends to happen when there's a first rounder on the field, this could be the most liberal position in terms of rotation.

Taj Williams, who was referred to by Jeremiah Glenn as a "faster, more athletic Josh Doctson", has every TCU fan counting down the days until kick off. Williams, the Iowa Western (JUCO) transfer opted for the Frogs over his hometown Florida State Seminoles. To re-emphasize the point I made above above Kenny Hill's arm leading to potentially wildfire-like consequences with Deante' Gray on the outside, the same applies to Williams. He led all JUCO in receptions (77), and like most players in Meacham's system, his average catch exceeds 11 yards (12.3). He may not bring the intangibles Doctson had--at least not right away--but his speed and athleticism, added with what should be a stronger arm for up-field plays, Williams could be a real superstar in the Big 12 sooner than later.

Emanuel Porter and Jaelan Austin also have the perfect skill set for a quarterback like Hill. Both had established their names in the Alamo Bowl, each coming up with big touchdowns--they were also the Frogs' only receptions for scores in a 47-point game.

Is Emanuel Porter really a third stringer? No. But on any given Saturday, he could be the third guy in line; and another Saturday, he could be first in line. Still, it should rotate quite frequently and I wouldn't be surprised if any of these guys got reps at the X as well.

Slotback: Replacing Nixon

Shaun Nixon got the ball more as a receiver than he did as a running back. Now, it looks like whatever Meacham and Cumbie were going to do with Nixon will have to wait until 2017 as it was announced that Nixon will sit out the 2016 season with injury.

It isn't the end of the world, and even with Aaron Green's departure, the addition of former Michigan Wolverine, Derrick Green, now really comes in handy. Hard to say if Green can serve in that slotback position or if he'll serve as a third down back alongside Trevorris Johnson, or just a first down back when Hicks needs a rest. Probably likely the latter as Green has about 40 pounds on Nixon.

We know that Nixon made for an exciting receiving threat. While a lot of his yards came as running back essentially playing the slotback position, his lone touchdown against Kansas came on a second down sneak route, playing more in the truer, book definition of the slotback position in an empty set.

So can anyone fill that position? It make things a lot more interesting, but it could change the course for someone like Desmon White or one of the younger players. Using a these shorter routes with potential big play capabilities with his skill set; routes like a crease/wheel or a shoot, under presumably Kenny Hill, could have big payoffs in the pseudo back position Meacham and Cumbie love to use.

In Closing:

What could end up making this such an exciting arsenal this year is that there isn't one, particular standout. Turpin could be all Big 12 and beyond come next January. However, in addition to taking into consideration his kickoffs into his hype calculus, his frame simply won't allow for a Doctson-number (7.2 receptions per game, 2nd for a P5 player) of catches. What Doctson was able to was incredible; that being literally everything. No matter how hard logic would want to set in, because of how off a certain throw could be, or how tightly he was being defended; Josh Doctson made things happen even when everyone knew who the ball was going to.

That's a tough call to answer for one kid in 2016, and it likely won't happen. The good news? Not only does that not really matter, but the more socialistic distribution of passes, could make TCU even harder to defend than it was in the Doctson era.

Mystery can be advantageous for TCU in 2016, but being mysterious doesn't really matter until we know the biggest remaining mystery, which if you're in my house, it's known as the worse kept secret since than R+L=J; and that's whether the guy throwing to this arsenal will be Kenny Hill or Foster Sawyer. Without an effective starter (cough, Hill), it's just meaningless exposition. But knowing every part involved--The Meacham design, the Cumbie tutelage, the assumed quarterback, and the receivers themselves--it likely won't be.

Pollercoaster Baby, Baby:

Which unit is the strongest

The redshirt junior, who could start at left guard this season, is listed as one of the 20 most freakishly athletic athletes in college football.

One of the favorite rites of summer is Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks List", where the Fox Sports writer reveals the 20 most unusually athletic athletes in college football. It has been a pretty normal occurrence to see Frogs on the list - Kolby Listenbee made the cut in 2015 - but this year's honoree, guard Patrick Morris, stands alone for TCU.

Morris, who stands 6'3" and clocks in at a solid 300 pounds, made this year's list as the 16th most outlandishly-athletic athlete in the sport.

The offensive lineman, who has seen significant action in his three years on campus and two on the active roster, is known for his ridiculous weight room antics and unbelievable stats.

BEST feeling: “We always stop whatever we’re doing when he’s about to lift,” said TCU senior DE Josh Carraway said about OL Patrick Morris.

— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) July 27, 2016

With a 500 pound bench press, a 720 pound squat, and a 450 pound clean, it's no wonder that he has impressed his teammates in addition to drawing national praise. But he's no one trick pony - the Denton, TX native is also an Academic All-American.

Joined on the list by fellow Big 12 athlete Derrick Willies, a wide receiver at Texas Tech who came in at 19, Morris is one of only two offensive linemen to make the cut, and the only guard. Two other Texas players were also named, Houston cornerback Brandon Wilson, at 13, and the biggest freak of all, Texas A&M Myles Garrett, a 6'5", 262 pound defensive end who runs a 4.45 40 and led the SEC in sacks and TFLs last year,

You can see the list in its entirety here, and it's always worth a read.

TCU picked up a promising tight end commit in the 2016 class, and they have a few upperclassmen on the roster who could make an impact as well. Will this year see an uptick in the utilization of the position?

TCU's offense gets a lot of credit for being one of the most innovative in college football and for good reason. However, the tight end position has not been one of the great benefactors of this innovate approach to offensive game planning and I can't help but think that's a little humorous. If anything, it's at least a little ironic.

If Cumbie and Meacham had coached TCU 50 years ago in the Southwest Conference, they probably would have used the tight end all the time. Taking a player who had the skills of an offensive lineman and a receiver and utilizing them as both? How innovative! Think of the possibilities! Right? Anyway, I think 1960s Cumbie and Meacham would agree with me.

Tight Ends: 2015

Last year the tight ends did have their moments, at least more than the previous year. I hear they call that a trend and that it's a useful way to predict future performance. Last year Dominic Merka and Charlie Reid saw most of the action. Even combined, their performance didn't make for an impressive stat line, but it did seem like the ball went to the tight end in important situations more than in 2014.

Dominic Merka was the starter last season at tight end, and he saw most of the action. He caught a total of four passes for 54 yards and scored a touchdown against SMU. That touchdown mattered, but mostly because that SMU game got waaaay closer than any of us would have liked. His biggest catch of the year came in the Monsoon Bowl against Baylor, when he brought in a seven yard reception on 2nd and 13 to set TCU up with a manageable third down. The Frogs would end up scoring on that drive, and, you know, winning the game.

Tight Ends: 2016

Charlie Reid backed up Merka for most of last year, but he saw action in nine games, recording three receptions for 24 yards and one touchdown. Again, it was a touchdown that mattered. TCU was down to Iowa State 21-14 in the second quarter, and Reid's touchdown tied things up. That was Reid's second career touchdown, after catching one against SMU as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Catching touchdowns against SMU is nice, but when Cumbie and Meacham are drawing up plays to the tight end in the first half of a Big 12 game on the road, well that's something else entirely.

Reid was listed as the starter on TCU's post-spring depth chart, but there are three other tight ends on TCU's roster heading into the fall. Cole Novak is a junior who came to the Frogs from Texas State and saw action in one game last year, making him the most experienced backup on the roster right now. Cole Hunt, a fellow junior, joins him as a graduate transfer from Rice. Hunt made a few starts for the Owls during his career, so he may be capable of challenging for some snaps as well.

Probably the most physically gifted tight end on the roster is a freshman signee from the class of 2016, Artayvious Lynn. He's listed on TCU's roster at 6'6", 247 lbs, making him already the second biggest tight end on the team. Even more amazing than that, the freshman clocked in at a 4.55 second 40. We won't know until much later if he's ready to make an impact this fall, but with measurables like that, he might just have Cumbie and Meacham getting innovative with the tight end here in the next few years.