Could TCU football make a run at the latest running backs to enter transfer portal?
TCU football coach Sonny Dykes has made it clear that his vision for the program is to consistently use the NCAA transfer portal to strengthen the roster.
Well, a couple of intriguing running backs originally from the Houston area announced plans to enter the portal on Tuesday night and sources indicate that TCU is expected to be under heavy consideration for both players.
SMU’s Ulysses Bentley IV is entering the portal, according to a report by Joseph Hoyt in The Dallas Morning News. And USC’s Brandon Campbell announced on social media that he is entering the portal.
Bentley would be an ideal addition for TCU given his history with the coaching staff. He played under Dykes and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley at SMU.
Bentley, who has as many as three years of eligibility remaining, rushed for 610 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games for the Mustangs last season. In 2020, he had a more productive year with 913 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games.
Most believe Bentley will strongly consider TCU as his next destination. Another school to watch is his hometown Houston Cougars. Bentley was a three-star prospect coming out of Houston’s C.E. King High School.
Campbell, meanwhile, rushed for 53 yards on 12 carries as a true freshman with the Trojans. He played in only three games, preserving a redshirt so he has four years of eligibility left.
Campbell had TCU in his top six of potential destinations coming out of Lamar Consolidated High School in the Houston area.
TCU just announced the hiring of Memphis’ Anthony Jones as its new running backs coach, too. Jones should be an attractive coach for players in the portal as he’s proven to develop NFL-caliber running backs over the last five seasons at Memphis.
The Frogs are coming off a season in which they had the Big 12’s third-best rushing attack, averaging 196.3 yards per game. Kendre Miller is the leading returning rusher on the team. Miller rushed for 623 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns last year.
Also returning is super senior Emari Demercado, who rushed for 421 yards and four touchdowns, and junior Daimarqua Foster. The Frogs also brought in transfers such as Trelon Smith from Arkansas and Emani Bailey from Louisiana.
TCU is scheduled to start spring practices on March 22 with the spring game set for Friday, April 22, at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 9:19 PM.
