TCU’s early signing day tracker: Six 4-star prospects among 15 headed to Fort Worth
TCU already made recruiting headlines earlier this week when it flipped four-star prospect Quentin Johnston from his original pledge to Texas.
Johnston, a wide receiver from Temple, provided a boost to the 2020 class, pushing it to the 29th-ranked class in the country and No. 3 in the Big 12, according to 247Sports.
Johnston is TCU’s highest-rated prospect in the 2020 class and headlined Wednesday’s list of 15 early signees.
Johnston was the second player to officially sign, as Virginia offensive lineman Altrique Barlow had the distinction of being the first to get his paperwork in.
TCU had received the paperwork from six four-star prospects by 10:30 a.m.
Other signees included Athens offensive tackle Garrett Hayes, John Ehret (Marrero, Louisiana) defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins, Alexandria (Louisiana) safety Bud Clark and Cox High (Virginia Beach, Va.) cornerback Keontae Jenkins.
The Horned Frogs also received a letter of intent from defensive tackle Jaquaze Sorrells, a four-star prospect in the 2019 class who committed to South Carolina last season. But Sorrells never stepped foot on USC’s campus, and is now part of TCU’s 2020 class (although 247Sports does not include Sorrells’ commitment in its recruiting rankings).
Johnston and Hayes, though, are the most highly-touted. They are ranked in ESPN’s Top 100, which drew praise from ESPN’s national recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton.
“The flip of #ESPN300 WR Quentin Johnston from #Hookem will mark the first time #TCU has signed two Top 100 ranked prospects in the #ESPN300 in same class ... OT Garrett Hayes and Quentin Johnston,” Hamilton wrote on Twitter. “Gary Patterson and Malcolm Kelly did great work on Johnston.”
Hayes, meanwhile, becomes the highest-rated offensive line prospect in program history.
Here’s a look at the 15 players who signed on Wednesday, including 10 from out of state:
▪ CB Keontae Jenkins, Cox High (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Jenkins is a four-star prospect who has admired TCU from afar since its 2015 Alamo Bowl victory.
▪ DT Patrick Jenkins, John Ehret (Marrero, Louisiana)
The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder is a four-star prospect who had originally committed to LSU.
▪ S Bud Clark, Alexandria (Louisiana)
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder is a four-star prospect who will add quality depth to a strong position group for the Frogs.
▪ OT Garrett Hayes, Athens
The 6-foot-5, 292-pound Hayes is another four-star prospect who is expected to compete for snaps as early as next season.
▪ QB Eli Williams, Sapulpa (Oklahoma)
Williams sustained a knee injury this past season, but he’ll have time to develop early on with the Frogs.
▪ OG Altrique Barlow, Catholic High (Virginia Beach, Va.):
Another Virginian in the class who should provide depth along the O-line in the coming years.
▪ WR Caleb Medford, Henderson
Medford is a three-star prospect who checks in at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.
▪ OT Michael Nichols, Justin Northwest
The Fort Worth area product is a three-star prospect with a frame that projects at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds.
▪ RB Dominic Richardson, Bishop McGuineess (Oklahoma City)
TCU is losing its top two running backs in Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, so Richardson should add much-needed depth to the group.
▪ OT Brandon Coleman, Trinity Valley CC (Athens)
A three-star JUCO prospect who will have a chance to compete for a starting job with the departures of Anthony McKinney, Lucas Niang and David Bolisomi.
▪ LB Jamoi Hodge, Independence (Kansas) Community College
A three-star JUCO prospect who will add much-needed experience to the linebacker corps.
▪ WR Blake Nowell, Plainview (Ardmore, Oklahoma)
Nowell is a three-star prospect who checks in at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
▪ WR Quentin Johnston, Temple
A four-star prospect who flipped from his original pledge to the University of Texas.
▪ DT Jaquaze Sorrells, Winter Park (Florida)
A four-star prospect in the 2019 class originally committed to South Carolina, Sorrells could make an immediate impact at TCU.
▪ DE Khari Coleman, GW Carver High School (New Orleans)
The three-star defensive end initially committed to Kansas last June, but he flipped and helps fill a position need at TCU.
More coming?
TCU has one hard commit who has yet to sign:
▪ OC Tyler Bailey, Robert Vela (Edinburg)
The three-star prospect has verbally committed to the program. At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, Bailey has the size and frame to develop at the college level, but is working his way back from an injury.
Numbers breakdown
A look at TCU’s 15 signees
5 — Prospects from Texas
10 — Prospects from out of state
6 — Different states represented (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina)
9 — offensive recruits, including four OL, three WRs, one QB, one RB
6 — defensive recruits, including three DL, two DBs, one LB
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 8:12 AM.
