TCU shuffling O-line starters; S Niko Small out for Iowa State game

TCU is going to be without a couple staples tonight against Iowa State.

Left guard Cordel Iwuagwu and free safety Niko Small are not suited up and won’t play. Iwuagwu and Small missed the second half at Texas last weekend, and are still recovering from injuries.

Another note -- Anthony McKinney is working with the first-team at left tackle. McKinney started once there this season against Ohio State.

Regular starter Austin Myers is suited up, but not working with the first-team.

With the shuffling. how TCU’s offensive line holds up is something to watch tonight.

Wes Harris, an Aledo product, is starting at right guard, the fourth different player to start at right guard this season joining Trey Elliott, Myers and Chris Gaynor. Gaynor, who made his first college start last week at Texas, will start at left guard in place of Iwuagwu.

Iwuagwu has started every game at left guard for the Frogs going back to last season, and his absence was felt against Texas. Iwuagwu’s replacement, Elliott, was flagged for two penalties and gave up a tackle for loss.

Defensively, TCU will have to overcome the loss of Small. Small didn’t play in the second half against Texas, and coach Gary Patterson mentioned the difficulties of filling that void because of Small’s leadership in the secondary.

“Losing him, we weren’t prepared,” Patterson said earlier this week. “Lost our free safety. He’s kind of the general. And all of a sudden we don’t play well. We don’t do things.”

Senior Markell Simmons is expected to fill the void left by Small.