Who’s starting? Who’s not? Predicting TCU’s depth chart for 2020
The TCU football season is less than two weeks away. The preseason depth chart will be released in the coming days with the game notes for the opener against SMU on Sept. 11.
But why wait? The Star-Telegram is here to predict who will and won’t be starting when the season gets underway. Our best guesses:
Offense
LT: Austin Myers
LG: Wes Harris
C: Esteban Avila
RG: Quazzel White
RT: Andrew Coker
QB: Matthew Downing
TE: Pro Wells
RB: Darwin Barlow
WR (X): Quentin Johnston
WR (H): Taye Barber
WR (Y): JD Spielman
WR (Z): Te’Vailance Hunt
Three takeaways
▪ Coach Gary Patterson has praised Austin Myers and Esteban Avila throughout training camp and both will be expected to anchor key positions up front. Don’t be surprised if TJ Storment or Brandon Coleman also start games at tackle at some point this season.
▪ Barlow gets the nod at running back over prized five-star recruit Zach Evans. However, expect Barlow and Evans to get plenty of carries throughout the season with an inexperienced quarterback in Downing.
▪ The receiving corps will be looking to fill the void left by Jalen Reagor, but the word on the street is Quentin Johnston — the former Texas commit — has impressed. Spielman also provides a veteran presence for Downing to rely on.
Defense
DE: Ochaun Mathis
DT: Corey Bethley
DT: Terrell Cooper
DE: Parker Workman
LB: Garret Wallow
LB: Dee Winters
SS: La’Kendrick Van Zandt
FS: Trevon Moehrig
WS: Ar’Darius Washington
CB: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
CB: Noah Daniels
Three takeaways
▪ TCU needs big seasons by Mathis, Workman and the rest of the pass rushers. This is a program that had the fewest sacks (22) last season of the Patterson era.
▪ Marcel Brooks may be the best athlete among TCU’s defenders but, much like Evans, don’t expect him to win a starting job out of the gate. Still, Brooks will see the field plenty, if he’s granted an immediate eligibility waiver.
▪ The safeties are highly touted with Moehrig and Washington. But the secondary has plenty of questions at cornerback after losing Jeff Gladney and Julius Lewis. However, Patterson sounded high on what he’s seen from Tomlinson and Daniels earlier this week.
Special teams
PK: Griffin Kell
P: Jordy Sandy
H: Sandy
LS: Antonio Ortiz
KR: Derius Davis
PR: Spielman
Three takeaways
▪ Kell, the Arlington High product, played in 11 games as a true freshman last season and that experience should bode well as he becomes the No. 1 kicker.
▪ Sandy had a disappointing season last year and is being pushed by Dillon Jones. In the end, Sandy wins the job and performs better with a year under his belt.
▪ Spielman is a sure-handed returner on punts, while Davis remains a home run threat with the ball in his hands.
