Why Dee Winters has the makings as TCU football’s next great linebacker
A significant event happened in Burton recently, important enough that word spread to one of the town’s notable products.
“They just put up another stoplight,” TCU linebacker Dee Winters said.
Yes, Burton — a town of 300 between Austin and Houston off U.S. 290 — is now a two-stoplight town. It still has just one gas station and is best known as the home of the Texas Cotton Gin Museum.
“Just a small farming community,” Winters said. “We ride horses and stuff like that. There’s not too much going on.”
At TCU, however, there is plenty going on for Winters as he enters his junior season. He has emerged as one of the defensive leaders and is next in the seemingly endless line of standout linebackers for the Frogs.
Winters is coming off a sophomore season in which he won a starting job alongside Garret Wallow. Winters finished 2020 with the second-most tackles (65) and third-most tackles for loss (9.5). The 9.5 TFLs came in the final six games when the Frogs won five of their final six to close out the COVID-shortened season.
It was a breakout season for Winters but the Big 12’s preseason team did not include him.
“I’m definitely flying under the radar right now,” Winters said.
Winters added that he expects to build off what he did last season, and follow in the Wallow’s footsteps. TCU reloads the linebacker corps each season under coach Gary Patterson. Sophomore Jamoi Hodge is expected to slide into the starting linebacker role alongside Winters.
“Garret led me, I played with him for two years and he showed me the ropes,” Winters said. “I feel I can take full responsibility for the defense and lead them. We’ll be responsible and accountable.
“I’m comfortable with the defense. I know what’s going on and I feel like I can improve a lot more.”
Patterson would agree with that assessment. He praised Winters during his news conference leading into fall camp.
Winters would have been among TCU’s representatives at the Big 12’s media days if teams were allowed to bring the usual four players instead of two due to COVID concerns. The Frogs sent defensive end Ochaun Mathis as the defensive representative.
“Flip the coin,” Patterson said. “The guys who people listen to on defense are Ochaun and Dee. I expect Dee to play at a very high level. At the end of last season, he was playing at a high level.”
The highlight for Winters came in the second-to-last game of the season against No. 15 Oklahoma State. He had a career-high 10 tackles, including one for loss, to help the Frogs to a 29-22 victory.
Winters is looking to carry that momentum into 2021, although he missed spring football rehabbing his way back from an injury. But he is full-go as fall camp is underway.
That’s a positive for TCU, given what Winters brings on and off the field. Winters embodies what TCU football has become known for over the years. He played primarily wide receiver and running back in high school, but has transitioned and flourished on the defensive side in college.
Winters has added 40 pounds since joining TCU. As he joked, “No missed meals.”
In the process, he’s become a leader too.
“He’s like Garret, a great role model,” Patterson said. “He’s going to do everything on and off the field the right way, which is exactly what you want in a person.”
