TCU’s ‘roster of rejects?’ C’mon, we should be better than this

Roster of rejects? Really, CBS Sports? That’s the description you chose for the No. 17 team in the country?

OK, I get it. TCU isn’t filled with five-star recruits. It may not threaten the record of most players drafted to the NFL in a year.

But, as coach Gary Patterson said on Wednesday night, “There is no reason to degrade an athlete or any person for any reason let alone a click!”

Patterson is right. He is known to say that his and his coaching staff’s “ratings” may not be the same as Rivals or 247Sports. TCU brings in players that fit its system.

KaVontae Turpin was a two-star recruit. He had a game in which he scored four touchdowns against Texas. You think the Longhorns thought he was a “reject” that day?

Alec Dunham may not have “NFL” written on him. But do you think Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins thought “reject” when Dunham sacked him last Saturday?

Heck, guard Chris Gaynor is the furthest thing from “reject.” Yes, he went the JUCO route but he could’ve easily been at Kansas State or another Big 12 school had he chosen. He opted for TCU.

Don’t get me wrong. As someone who has covered professional sports for the past decade (Rangers and Cowboys) and is now on the TCU beat, I have to constantly remind myself that these are not professionals.

As big of a money maker as college football is, these guys aren’t getting paid. That’s a different debate.

Trust me, I catch myself questioning why I’m asking Shawn Robinson about overthrowing a kid against Southern, or even Patterson about how a certain player fared.

It’s fair to question the Dak Prescotts and Ezekiel Elliotts of the world — they are making millions in salary and/or endorsements. There is a fine line when it comes to a college athlete. Patterson and TCU have become a nationally relevant team, and the expectation level is to win.

Patterson made it clear that there is no such thing as a “moral victory” for his program earlier this week.

But, at the end of the day, these are kids playing for — what we hope — is the “love of the game.” For an opportunity to continue their athletic careers as long as possible.

So, no, it’s not fair to label them as a “roster of rejects.” Robinson could’ve gone to Alabama, Ohio State, LSU and a number of other “blue-blood” programs.

He chose TCU. So did Darius Anderson, who could’ve gone to Texas, Texas A&M or Alabama.

Cornerback Noah Daniels could’ve gone to Notre Dame or Oklahoma. Do those schools recruit “rejects?”

Yes, the Frogs have done a nice job developing under-appreciated talent coming out of high school such as Ty Summers and Turpin. But that’s worthy of more than a backhanded compliment — at best — of being a “roster of rejects.”

Patterson deserves credit for calling out CBS Sports. He should defend his program against any perceived “knock” on it.

And all of us should remember these guys aren’t getting paid. Right or wrong.