Here’s what Gary Patterson said about TCU’s 2020 recruiting class
TCU coach Gary Patterson is pleased with how his 2020 recruiting class came together.
The Horned Frogs addressed several areas of need, including the offensive line and wide receiver depth, and brought in what is regarded as the 28th-best class in the country by 247Sports.
“We’re really excited about the class,” Patterson said on Wednesday at his National Signing Day news conference. “The class fits everything we were trying to get accomplished.”
The class features more out of state recruits (12) than in-state (nine). As Patterson has said in previous years, his program tends to get more respect outside of Texas than inside.
“We lose the arms race when we graduate 1,800 and other schools graduate 15,000,” Patterson said. “It just goes in cycles. It’s not one of those things that we planned on doing. We’ll go anywhere for a good player.”
Here is a look at TCU’s 2020 class, including commits from the early signing period:
Quarterbacks
Eli Williams, Sapulpa (Oklahoma): Williams sustained a knee injury this past season, but he’ll have time to develop early on with the Frogs.
Patterson mentioned Williams as a possible option at tight end and/or wide receiver, saying: “He’s very athletic. Great length.”
Stephon Brown, Independence Community College (Kansas): The top-ranked dual-threat QB in the JUCO ranks.
Patterson said Brown will provide much-needed QB depth when he arrives on campus in the summer. For now, Max Duggan is TCU’s only scholarship quarterback ready for spring practices with Matthew Baldwin and Matthew Downing battling injuries.
Wide receivers
Quentin Johnston, Temple: A four-star prospect who flipped from Texas and became TCU’s highest-rated recruit in the class, according to 247Sports. Johnston, who is 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, should have a chance to make an immediate impact.
Savion Williams, Marshall: A 6-foot-5, 205-pound receiver who played QB in high school. He was a big-time addition on Wednesday.
Caleb Medford, Henderson: Medford is a three-star prospect who checks in at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.
Blake Nowell, Plainview (Ardmore, Oklahoma): Nowell is a three-star prospect who checks in at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
Patterson talked about all the receivers being big-bodied targets, saying: “We felt like we had to go get some length on the outside. We still put a premium on speed, but that’s where we had some guys coming back on the inside.”
Running backs
Dominic Richardson, Bishop McGuinness (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.
Kendre Miller, Mount Enterprise: He showed off his legs as a quarterback in high school, and joins the Frogs as an athlete expected to fill out the backfield.
Patterson likes adding more running backs to the team, saying: “You never can have enough good running backs.”
Offensive line
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.
Said Patterson: “I didn’t need to see any more after I watched him run down on a punt and make a tackle. Garrett can play both [guard or tackle]. He’s very athletic.”
Altrique Barlow, Catholic (Virginia Beach, Va.): Another Virginian in the class who should provide depth along the O-line in the coming years.
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.
Said Patterson: “We’ve watched him for a while. He’s a guy that keeps growing and he’ll be a lot different from now to when he comes in June.”
Brandon Coleman, Trinity Valley Community College (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.
T.J. Storment, Colorado State: A graduate transfer who will have an opportunity to push for immediate snaps at tackle. He started all 12 games for Colorado State in 2019.
Tyler Guyton, Manor: At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Guyton has a projectable frame and a chance to develop.
Patterson acknowledged the offensive line is an area that had to be addressed after losing the top three tackles from last year’s team, as well as guard Cordel Iwuagwu.
Defensive line
Patrick Jenkins, John Ehret (Marrero, Louisiana): The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder is a four-star prospect who had originally committed to LSU.
Said Patterson: “Because of the schematics, he felt like he was going to fit better in our program. He’s a great kid.”
Khari Coleman, Carver (New Orleans): The three-star defensive end initially committed to Kansas last June, but he flipped and helps fill a position need at TCU.
Said Patterson: “He had 27 sacks and set a Louisiana state record for a single season. He’s very athletic. He’s like a sponge right now.”
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.
Patterson likes the potential of the D-line recruits, and there will be opportunities for immediate impact with Ross Blacklock bolting for the NFL.
Linebackers
Jamoi Hodge, Independence Community College (Kansas): A three-star JUCO prospect who will add much-needed experience to the linebacker corps.
Dylan Horton, New Mexico (Frisco High School): A transfer from New Mexico who had 23 tackles in five games in 2019. He’s expected to sit out in 2020 and have two years of eligibility left in 2021 and 2022.
Patterson liked adding an experienced player such as Hodge to the linebacker corps, which could give the program an opportunity to redshirt a couple players who were forced into the lineup as freshmen last season.
Defensive backs
Keontae Jenkins, Frank W. Cox (Virginia Beach, Va.): Jenkins is a four-star prospect who has admired TCU from afar since its 2015 Alamo Bowl victory.
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.
Patterson called Jenkins a “speed guy,” and liked the program’s ability to land a talent such as Clark from nearby Louisiana.
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 6:56 PM.
