TCU’s O-line still finding its way since Lucas Niang’s season-ending injury
TCU football knew it wouldn’t be easy to replace right tackle Lucas Niang.
There aren’t many 6-foot-7, 328 pounders with his athleticism. It’s why he’s considered a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Niang’s absence has been noticeable since he underwent season-ending hip surgery following the Texas game last month.
As TCU coach Gary Patterson said during Monday’s Big 12 football coaches teleconference, “With Lucas being done for the season, it’s kind of been by committee.”
In three games without Niang, TCU has given up 11 sacks and 19 QB hurries. By comparison, TCU had allowed seven sacks and six QB hurries in the first four Big 12 games.
But the O-line group is rallying as best it can, according to junior Kellton Hollins.
“With us, we’re going to work every single day,” Hollins said. “Even though Lucas is out, we’re still working. Having him gone — his leadership, his personality — is definitely a toll on us, but we’ve had guys come in and fill the role where needed.
“That’s our whole mindset. Next man up. Next Frog up.”
With Niang sidelined, senior David Bolisomi has kicked out from right guard to right tackle. Junior Austin Myers started two games at right guard, but was sidelined with an injury in last week’s game at Texas Tech.
Sophomore Quazzel White started at right guard for the Texas Tech game.
During the Texas Tech game, though, Bolisomi exited with an injury in the second half. That forced the Frogs to use true freshman Andrew Coker at right tackle, and shortly after entering Coker was called for a holding penalty.
Coker started the season as the fourth-string option behind Niang, Bolisomi and Myers. But Patterson credited offensive line coach Chris Thomsen for piecing it together down the stretch and finding a way to move the ball well enough at Tech.
“You’ve got to give Chris Thomsen a lot of credit,” Patterson said. “You’re down your No. 1 tackle, then your No. 2 tackle, then your No. 3 tackle, and so we’re playing with our No. 4 tackle at right tackle before the end of the ballgame.
“You’re playing with Andrew Coker, who is going to be a good player, but he’s just a freshman, right? And you won a ballgame. People say, ‘Well, why did you only kick field goals in the second half?’ Well, it’s what I learned a long time ago — great players make great players, good players make good players, average players make average plays, and young players make young plays.”
Patterson is hopeful that Myers will be available when TCU travels to Oklahoma on Saturday. Myers returned to practice on Sunday and is expected to be cleared for the rest of the week.
“Started his cycle,” Patterson said. “We’ll have to see who shows up.”
Oklahoma should present a formidable pass rush come Saturday. The Sooners are third in the Big 12, averaging 2.6 sacks a game. That’s the exact number TCU has given up per game, which is eighth in the league.
OU had three sacks and three QB hurries in its 34-31 victory at Baylor last week. Against Texas in the Red River Showdown last month, OU had nine sacks.
“As usual, we’ve got our hands full on both sides of the ball,” Patterson said. “Normal OU team. Very athletic, so you’ve got to get ready to play, especially when you’re playing in Norman.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Ellison to burn redshirt
True freshman defensive end Colt Ellison is expected to burn his redshirt on Saturday, Patterson said.
Ellison, an Aledo product, has started the past two games at defensive end and has played in four games combined. That means he’s at the maximum amount allowed to redshirt, but Patterson said the program isn’t going to shut him down.
“We still gotta win,” Patterson said.
Ellison is coming off his best game with four tackles against Texas Tech.
Another notable player to keep an eye on is Coker. He’s played in three games and, given the O-line’s health, could be a bubble candidate as far as preserving his redshirt.
Other freshmen who have played three games include running back Darwin Barlow, wide receiver Blair Conwright, linebacker Zach Marcheselli and safety Deshawn McCuin.
This story was originally published November 19, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
