TCU notes: Recovery has begun during bye week

TCU has spent most of its bye week off the field, which has aided in the recovery of some of the Horned Frogs with bumps and bruises.

Coach Gary Patterson said Wednesday he was hopeful that freshman wide receiver KaVontae Turpin would be ready for next week’s Thursday night game at home against West Virginia, but wasn’t certain.

Turpin went to the locker room in the first half Saturday at Iowa State after taking a big hit that caused a fumble.

The injury remains unspecified, but Patterson said after the game that it most likely wouldn’t be season-ending.

A hyperextended knee has kept sophomore wide receiver Emanuel Porter out of the last three games, and it is still uncertain if he will be ready to go a week from Thursday, Patterson said.

“I don’t know about Porter. He’s not on my good list right now,” Patterson added.

Practice was light Sunday evening, followed by days off Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday, TCU practiced in full pads, and Thursday will be the last day of full contact before West Virginia comes to Fort Worth.

“A lot of people wait and do their hard before the ballgame,” Patterson said. “I’m one of those that believes you get it done and then you get your rest in between it, and then you just work on specifics when you practice.”

Defensive shuffle

Patterson said he was happy with the way sophomore linebacker Travin Howard adjusted Saturday, moving to strong safety after junior safety Denzel Johnson was ejected for targeting in the first half.

It wasn’t a huge stretch for Howard, who fills a similar role in TCU’s nickel and dime packages, Patterson said.

“He practices a lot of it, but still, it’s a hard thing to do for a young man. It’s a hard thing to do,” Patterson said.

Patterson was also complimentary of the performance of redshirt freshman linebacker Ty Summers, who filled in at linebacker for Howard.

“He played better. They’re all slowly but surely.”

At cornerback, Patterson said he hopes to see senior Corry O’Meally and sophomore Nick Orr play the ball more than the receiver to help cut down on pass interference flags thrown on the Frogs’ defensive secondary.

Boykin’s viral picture

Before Saturday’s game at Iowa State, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin took the time to bend down and ask 7-year-old Abby Faber, an Iowa State fan chosen to participate in the opening coin toss, what her name was — a moment that was captured on film by Star-Telegram photographer Paul Moseley.

Patterson said, that’s just the Heisman candidate’s personality — one that people naturally gravitate toward.

“It’s hard to see a kid do that when you’re getting ready to play a ballgame and so much is on the line and have enough calmness to get down and make her day. I think she made his, to be honest with you,” Patterson said.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 9:51 PM with the headline "TCU notes: Recovery has begun during bye week."