TCU signs 17 of 19 commits on first day of early signing period

TCU football signed 17 of the 19 players on its commitment list Wednesday, the first day of a 72-hour early signing period.

The highlight additions are four-star safety Atanza Vongor of South Grand Prairie, four-star receiver Tevailance Hunt of Texarkana Texas High, four-star running back Fabian Franklin of Mississippi and four-star Iowa junior college offensive tackle Anthony McKinney.

The Frogs expect four-star quarterback Justin Rogers of Bossier City, La., to sign on Friday as the centerpiece of the 20th-ranked signing class in the country by 247Sports.com. Rogers, who would be the highest-rated player ever to sign at TCU, tweeted last week that he has a signing event at 5 p.m. at the Bellaire Fitness Center in Bossier City.

Three-star cornerback Derius Davis of St. Francisville, La., told TCU he is waiting until the traditional signing period in February. This is the first year of an early signing period for football. Waiting likely means a chance for Davis and other players to gauge interest from other schools or firm up their decisions.

If the ranking holds or improves, this would be TCU’s highest-rated class, edging the 2016 group that ranked 21st with a school-record 10 four-star signees. The Frogs could sign an additional five to seven players during the traditional signing period in February.

The Frogs' signings include two-sport athlete Bryson Jackson of Humble, Sumner, Wash., linebacker Ben Wilson, Cypress multi-purpose star Taye Barber, Denton Guyer center John Lanz and South Grand Prairie lineman Esteban Avila.

All-state offensive tackle Ian Burnette of Wimberley, Lucas Lovejoy wide receiver Chase Van Wagoner also signed, along with cornerback Hidari Ceasar of Monroe, La., lineman Kris Dike of Van and defensive end Ochaun Mathis of Manor.

Also joining the Frogs were Pro Wells, the fourth-rated tight end in junior college out of Northwest Mississippi Community College, and John Stephens Jr., the son of the late former NFL running back.

TCU coach Gary Patterson is expected to talk to reporters about the signing class on Friday.

This story was originally published December 20, 2017 at 2:07 PM with the headline "TCU signs 17 of 19 commits on first day of early signing period."