Horned Frogs will be short-handed vs. Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State
The TCU Horned Frogs will be short-handed at defensive tackle when they host Oklahloma State and top running back Oillie Gordon and the Cowboys at 6 p.m. Saturday.
“It looks both (Markis Deal and Hakeem Ajijolaiya) will be out this week,” head coach Sonny Dykes said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “Unfortunately we’re a little banged up that spot and a little young. But that’s football, we’ve just got to figure out a way to get through it and have some guys step up.”
Deal, the younger brother of linebacker Devean, suffered an injury in practice last week and missed TCU’s 37-34 loss to Baylor. Ajijolaiya was hurt early against the Bears and missed the second half as the Bears were able to wear TCU down with its running game.
Deal was a top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2023 and was inserted into the starting lineup earlier this season, where he immediately provided a boost to the interior of TCU’s defense. Deal has nine tackles this season and recovered the game-sealing fumble against Texas Tech.
Ajijolaiya, a late transfer portal addition from Houston, was supposed to add depth to the defensive line with the departure of Damonic Williams to Oklahoma. Ajijolaiya has been a pleasant surprise as he’s the Horned Frogs’ top-ranked interior defensive linemen according to Pro Football Focus.
Ajijolaiya has nine tackles on the season and forced a fumble against Texas Tech that was recovered by Deal. The Horned Frogs will now likely turn back to Tymon Mitchell, who started in the early parts of the season and promising young edge rusher Zach Chapman.
Chapman has excelled at getting after the quarterback with three sacks this season and the Horned Frogs will now need him to be an effective run stopper. Another name the Horned Frogs will lean on is Connor Lingren.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound defensive lineman was a three-star recruit out of College Station. He played in three games last season. Lingren has played about 50 snaps according to PFF and has been solid when on the field.
“I’ve been really pleased with what he’s done,” Dykes said. “You can tell he’s a little inexperienced at times, he’s still learning how to play. But he has great size, the want to is definitely there. He’s a better athlete than you probably think he is. For a guy that hasn’t played, that’s had to play as much as he’s had to the last few weeks, I’m excited about what he’s doing and what he’s capable of.”
The lack of bodies could impact TCU in the second half like it did against Baylor if Oklahoma State is able to establish the run early.
Gordon’s numbers across the board are down significantly from a season ago, but the Horned Frogs aren’t underestimating the former Euless Trinity standout.
“Ollie Gordon is unique, he’s big and powerful. He’s strong,” Dykes said. “He runs hard and is competitive. I think he’s been kind of banged up this year, I don’t know how healthy he’s been. They just haven’t been as productive as they were last year running the ball, but they’re certainly capable.
“That’s the thing about them, you turn the tape on and you’re like man this is a really scary football team.”
Gordon only has one game this season with over 20 carries and that was the season opener against South Dakota State. He’s also only had two 100-yard games, with the last coming on Oct. 18 against BYU.
The Horned Frogs must avoid letting Gordon have his first breakout game of the season.
With the injuries mounting in the front seven, that could be easier said than done.
