Emari Demercado had to ‘wait and wait’ for scholarship offer. Now he’s TCU’s top back

Emari Demercado didn’t generate much interest from major college football programs coming out of Downey [California] High School two years ago.

So he opted to go the junior college route, piling up 1,026 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns for Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California last season.

Those numbers were good enough to make him a three-star JUCO recruit, according to 247Sports, but programs still didn’t seem to covet his services.

“I was able to come out in December,” Demercado said, reminiscing about his recruiting process. “Getting frustrated, waiting and waiting.”

Eventually the wait ended.

TCU co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Curtis Luper followed Demercado on Twitter one day last spring, the two connected and Demercado had a scholarship offer to play for TCU in May.

“Coach Luper hit me up and the rest is history,” Demercado said. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be here.”

Now, six months after joining the TCU program, Demercado finds himself poised for a significant role going into the regular-season finale against Oklahoma State on Saturday.

TCU’s bowl eligibility is on the line and Demercado finds himself as the projected No. 1 running back going into it. The Frogs’ top two running backs, Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, exited last week’s Baylor game with injuries and are not expected to play.

That, coupled with third-string quarterback Grayson Muehlstein making his first career start, points to a heavy workload for Demercado, who is the only scholarship running back expected to be available.

Coach Gary Patterson said the team wouldn’t alter its game plan despite the thin depth at quarterback and running back.

“I don’t think so,” Patterson said. “We’re going to try to do what we try to do to win. … Try to win.”

With a banged-up team, though, it’s logical to think TCU will try and control the clock and establish a running game. This is an Oklahoma State defense that has given up an average of 173 yards on the ground to opponents.

Every team that has beaten Oklahoma State has established a running game. Texas Tech had 224 rushing yards; Iowa State had 140; K-State had 291; Baylor had 244; and OU had 353.

“I’m definitely excited to get some more playing time,” Demercado said. “Saturday I’m ready to go if I have to go.”

Demercado flashed his ability when called upon against Baylor, finishing with a team-high 60 rushing yards on 15 carries. He gained 41 of those yards on 11 carries in the second half.

Demercado was the running back in the “wildcat” formation when TCU went for it on fourth-and-1 in the third quarter and ended up scoring on a reverse to receiver Jalen Reagor.

“My mindset was catch the ball,” Demercado said, smiling. “Make sure you toss it in the correct place, no mistakes. He did the rest.”

In the fourth quarter, Demercado had a pivotal 4-yard run to pick up a first down and burn more time off the clock.

That was the most action Demercado has seen in a TCU game since having 57 yards on eight carries in the season opener against Southern.

He views himself as a complete running back. At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, he can run inside, outside and catch the ball out of the backfield.

“I’d much rather deliver the blow than take the blow,” Demercado said. “I like to picture myself as an all-around back. I feel I can do it all. There’s always more to improve on, maybe get a little more shifty, but we’ll see. Just have to keep improving and making myself the best I can.”

Being versatile is something that Demercado prides himself in off the field as well. That’s why he’s majoring in economics, earning a degree that should allow him to explore a variety of options after graduation.

Just don’t ask him for investment advice such as what’s going on with the Dow Jones yet.

“Maybe next year we can talk,” Demercado said, laughing.

For now, he’s focused on Oklahoma State and making the most of his opportunity. He might not have been the most highly-sought running back coming out of high school or JUCO, but he’s landed in a program known for developing running backs.

He’d like to add his name to the list.

“It’s an honor to be here,” Demercado said. “The history [of TCU running backs], to be a part of that, hopefully make an impact and have my name in that history too, is big to me.”