TCU may get unexpected player back in time for bowl game, Patterson says

Outside of Nick Orr’s suspension for the first half, TCU stands to be as close to full strength as it has been all season in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game and might get an unexpected player back in time for its bowl game.

Running back Darius Anderson, ruled out until next season, now has a chance to play in TCU’s bowl game, coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday at his midweek press conference.

“He was running on the treadmill, one of those non-weight-bearing situations,” Patterson said. “For us, that’s even better news going forward.”

Anderson is the Horned Frogs’ leading rusher. He left with a right leg injury in the Oklahoma game on Nov. 11 after rushing for 42 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. He still leads TCU in touchdown runs with eight.

Patterson said Monday that linebacker Travin Howard and safety Niko Small are expected to be available on Saturday after missing the two previous games. Quarterback Kenny Hill started last week after sitting out a game because of a concussion.

TCU’s head coach offered no update on kicker Jonathan Song, who is perfect on eight field goal attempts but has sat out the past three games. In his place, Cole Bunce is 3-for-4 on field goals and Ryan Graf is 0-for-1.

With a win on Saturday, TCU would win the Big 12 title and become a longshot for the College Football Playoff semifinals played on Jan. 1. But the Frogs would be in line for an at-large berth in a New Year’s Six game, either the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29, the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30 or the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.

This story was originally published November 28, 2017 at 5:38 PM with the headline "TCU may get unexpected player back in time for bowl game, Patterson says."