TCU football notebook: Frogs add more transfers, get key pieces to re-sign
TCU football continued its promising start to the offseason with two more transfer portal commitments this week.
The Horned Frogs added Virginia Tech linebacker Michael Short and Louisiana Tech punter John Hoyet Chance.
Short was the biggest pickup, as the Horned Frogs needed another veteran linebacker after the departures of seniors Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Namdi Obiazor.
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Short had 22 tackles, including four for loss, a sack and a pass defended in five games this season for the Hokies. He entered the transfer portal midseason after the firing of head coach Brent Pry.
Short started his career at North Carolina, where he had 23 tackles during the 2024 season. He will be a senior next season.
Chance, a redshirt sophomore next season, should be a plug-and-play replacement for outgoing punter Ethan Craw. Chance averaged 47.3 yards per punt and downed opponents inside the 20 28 times this season for the Bulldogs.
The Horned Frogs now have five transfer portal commitments with Harvard quarterback Jaden Craig, Louisiana Tech safety Jacob Fields and Oklahoma State guard Noah McKinney, who signed with TCU during the regular season.
Cornerback remains a priority for TCU, and wide receiver is another position where the Horned Frogs could add an experienced option.
Key Frogs withdraw from portal
Two Horned Frogs who planned to enter the portal had a change of heart and will remain in Fort Worth.
Defensive end Paul Oyewale never officially entered the transfer portal despite a report before the Alamo Bowl saying he intended to. He announced on social media Tuesday that he was returning.
Of all the Horned Frogs who reportedly intended to transfer, Oyewale was the only one to practice and play in the Alamo Bowl, and during that time, the program began to develop optimism he would stay.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder made 31 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a junior this season.
Former North Crowley standout Ka’Morreun Pimpton also withdrew his name from the portal Sunday. The 6-foot-6 tight end only caught one pass for three yards and a touchdown this season, but the program is high on his potential and worked to keep him in the fold.
With Oyewale and Pimpton’s return, TCU has seen only nine players enter the portal: quarterback Josh Hoover, wide receivers Jordyn Bailey and Gekyle Baker, edge rusher Jonathan Bax, running back Nate Palmer, cornerbacks Jonah Martinez and Elijah Jackson and offensive linemen Rasheed Jackson and Quinton Harris.
Hoover, who is transferring to No. 1 Indiana, is the only full-time starter to enter the portal.
More TCU players returning
A few key TCU players also announced they re-signed with the program over the past few days.
All-Big 12 safety Jamel Johnson announced he will return to the program for his senior season. The former Arlington Seguin standout had a breakout season with five interceptions and 96 tackles. Johnson also was voted a midseason All-American by the Associated Press.
Defensive end Zach Chapman also announced he was re-signing for his junior season. A former freshman All-American, Chapman had 1.5 sacks and 28 tackles this season.
Also, sources told the Star-Telegram that the program has re-signed most of its defensive line, including starting defensive tackles Markis Deal and Ansel Din-Mbuh.
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 1:17 PM.
