TCU is just over two weeks away from opening its first season in the Big 12 and college football fans are eager to see whether the Horned Frogs have enough depth to withstand the rigors of a BCS conference schedule.
The program's momentum has continued to spill over into recruiting as the Horned Frogs have already secured 14 verbal commitments for their 2013 class, their second group since announcing the Big 12 move."TCU fans should be very excited, this class is very good from top to bottom," said Jeremy Clark of FoxSportsNEXT.com. "They are filling in some defensive needs with some really good guys."Of the 14 commits, nine are from schools in the area, something the Horned Frogs put an extra emphasis on with the move."They have always tried to recruit the Metroplex for as long as I have been covering the team, but the biggest thing now is that they really have the Big 12 label," said Clark, who has covered TCU since 2005.Mansfield senior safety George Baltimore, who holds several offers from top programs around the country, said the combination of TCU's move to the Big 12 and proximity sealed the deal for him. He committed in June."The Big 12 is one of the best conferences, other than the SEC. I mean the Big 12 is where it's at and where I always saw myself playing," Baltimore said. "It came down to Arkansas and TCU and I wanted to stay close to home, stay close to my mom and all the people I know in the Metroplex."TCU had Fort Worth All Saints tight end Charlie Reid at hello. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior committed to the Horned Frogs over offers from Mississippi, Mississippi State, Oregon State and UCLA, among others."It's hometown, that's great and I have been a TCU fan my whole life," Reid said. "They were the first team to take a chance on me because I'm kind of a tweener between a tight end and a slot receiver so that meant a lot to me."TCU should get a jolt in 2013 from four high-profile transfers in running back Aaron Green, cornerback David Jenkins and receivers Josh Doctson and Ja'Juan Story.Green, who played for Nebraska as a true freshman last season, was stuck behind Plano graduate Rex Burkhead on the depth chart, but was one of the top recruits coming out of San Antonio Madison in 2011.Doctson, a Mansfield Legacy grad, returns home after leading Wyoming with five touchdown catches as a freshman last season, including one against TCU.Story, who comes over from Florida, and Jenkins, from LSU, were both highly touted out of high school and should help round out the incoming talent for 2013."Obviously they are looking at a couple more guys like Justin Manning out of Dallas Kimball, who is a guy that has TCU high on his list, and Andrew Billings out of Waco, who is another defensive tackle that TCU is in the running for," Clark said.Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760Twitter: @JohnsonJarret
Star power
These transfers will be eligible to play in 2013.
WR Josh Doctson (6-4, 185), Soph.: Wyoming transfer, caught 35 passes for 393 yds and a team-high five touchdowns last season
RB Aaron Green (5-11, 190), Soph.: Nebraska transfer is a former five-star recruit who rushed for 102 yards, two TDs in 2011
CB David Jenkins (6-1, 195), Soph.: LSU transfer is a former four-star recruit
WR Ja'Juan Story (6-3, 205), Redshirt Fr.: Florida transfer is a former four-star recruit
2013 commitments
DB George Baltimore (6-0, 180), Mansfield: Four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns in 2011
TE Bryson Burtnett (6-5, 225), Springtown: One catch, 18 yards, touchdown, 32 tackles, three sacks last year
LB Sammy Douglas (6-2, 195), Arlington: 136 tackles, five fumble recoveries as a junior
OL Eason Fromayan (6-5, 280), Alpharetta Milton, Ga.: Former Cincinnati commitment benches 365 pounds, squats 470
DE Bryson Henderson (6-5, 260), Mansfield Summit: 75 tackles, 17 for loss, nine sacks in 2011
RB Trevorris Johnson (5-11, 202), Alief Taylor: 745 rushing yards, seven touchdowns a season ago
OL Patrick Morris (6-3, 280), Denton Guyer: Guyer's offense scored more than 31 points per game in 2011
DE Joseph Noteboom (6-6, 260), Plano: Clocked at 4.8 in the 40, benches 310 pounds, squats 400
TE Charlie Reid (6-4, 225), Fort Worth All Saints: 69 catches, 1,110 yards, eight touchdowns in high school career
LB Dac Shaw (6-2, 200), Mineola: 1,400 total yards, 28 touchdowns, 97 tackles a season ago
ATH Ty Slanina (6-0, 185), East Bernard: Clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40, won 2011 Class 2A long jump state title
DB Ranthony Texada (5-11, 165) Frisco Centennial: 45 tackles, five interceptions, four kick return touchdowns in 2011
DB Steve Wesley (6-0, 175), Arlington Bowie: 35 tackles, 15 pass defenses, two blocked kicks last season
LB Paul Whitmill (5-11, 200), Bastrop: 2011 first team All-District 16-4A, only four-star recruit so far
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