This transfer linebacker could be the key to TCU’s defensive improvement
Any time you can land an all-conference player from the transfer portal, it’s a significant boost to your roster. The TCU Horned Frogs have acquired such a player with California transfer Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
With so many names entering the portal, especially quarterbacks, Elarms-Orr signing to TCU went under the radar nationally, but it’s the type of pickup that can help re-shape a defense that was among the worst in the Big 12 last season.
A second-team All-Pac 12 selection last season, Elarms-Orr decided it was time for a new home after the conference disbanded and the Golden Bears jumped to the ACC with Stanford and SMU.
So why did he pick TCU when he surely had plenty of other contenders to consider? The Horned Frogs did the best job of making him feel comfortable with their persistent approach.
“TCU was just consistent the whole way,” Elarms-Orr said. “They were just a school I felt like I had a relationship with, a family relationship with Coach (Sonny Dykes). All the defensive coaches brought me in with open arms. I like the scheme, I just like what TCU had going on.”
Elarms-Orr committed to TCU just over a week after Dykes hired Andy Avalos as the Horned Frogs’ new defensive coordinator in December. Avalos’ defense, which primarily uses two linebackers, requires a lot mentally and athletically from the linebacker position.
But that’s why Elarms-Orr was such an ideal fit and has received the bulk of the first team reps with the defense through five practices of spring football.
“Kaleb was a significant add for us, we’ve just had a hard time staying healthy at that position,” Dykes said. “You look at Johnny (Hodges), Shad (Banks), Terrence (Cooks) and some of the younger guys, we just haven’t been able to stay healthy.
“We said we’ve got to go add somebody and bring somebody into the mix. He was the right guy, he was exactly what we were looking for. He’s very consistent, very mature and has a very workman-like approach to playing football.”
It’s that approach to the game that helped Elarms-Orr develop from a four-star defensive end coming out of high school to one of the nation’s most productive linebackers in the country in his first season as a starter.
Elarms-Orr led Cal with 92 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception all while being third in the conference in tackles per game with 8.4.
What made it even more impressive was that the Pac-12 had arguably its best season of all-time in its final year of existence. In one season Elarms-Orr faced likely first round picks Caleb Williams at USC, Michael Penix at Washington and Cam Ward, who starred at Washington State before transferring to Miami this off-season.
Going up against that type of talent plus skill players like Washington’s Rome Odunze made Elarms-Orr take his game to another level.
“It was crazy, you’re playing Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Michael Penix, top guys every week,” Elarms-Orr said. “I just wanted to keep a mindset of improving and I felt if I could make plays against those guys then I can make plays against anybody in the country. Those guys definitely got us better.
“The Pac-12 last year was probably the best we’ve ever seen with all those ranked teams so it definitely helped me get better as a player.”
It’s only right for Elarms-Orr to find a new home in the Big 12 considering the league is adding former members (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State) to the league from the Pac-12 this season.
Elarms-Orr has already provided a lot to the defense with his mindset and athleticism on the field. He’s down 10 pounds from playing size last year, listed at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and he’s the type of linebacker that can play sideline to sideline but still deliver power on his hits as he’s shown multiple times at practice.
It’s no wonder Dykes has enjoyed watching him progress so much.
“His success at Cal speaks for itself,” Dykes said. “I think he’s made the transition here and he’s comfortable playing in this defense and he’s made a lot of plays so far. I’m excited about what he can do.”
That comfort in the defense is another reason Elarms-Orr picked TCU over multiple suitors. He’s seen Avalos’ track record with linebackers and was eager to be coached up by the former Boise State head coach.
“That was a big factor in my decision, his defense and his scheme,” Elarms-Orr said. “It was something I was used to at Cal, it’s more aggressive and allows me to make more plays and more opportunities to help the team win. That was a big decision and me and (Coach Avalos) talked almost everyday and me and him still have a great connection.
“He played a big role in getting me here.”
Elarms-Orr is the type of impact player TCU desperately needed on defense and if there’s one reason for optimism about a defensive turnaround it’s the connection between him and Avalos that has already been established.
