TCU running back B.J. Catalon out for Peach Bowl

Running back B.J. Catalon won’t play in the Peach Bowl, and he might not play next year either.

TCU coach Gary Patterson said Catalon, who suffered a concussion Nov. 1 at West Virginia, is cleared to play, but that Catalon and his family are thinking things over.

“We’ll see in the spring,” Patterson said. “He and his mom and I met earlier in the week.”

Catalon has not practiced since the injury, but even though he could return, Patterson said by this point the junior has missed so much time it would be difficult to put him in a game.

“To try to get a guy back after six weeks and put him in a ballgame of the speed of this game, it’s probably not wise,” Patterson said.

Patterson said there are “family things” to work out for Catalon.

“It’s lots of things,” Patterson said. “There are some circumstances in the whole thing, obviously, that I can’t talk about. He’s over most everything. Obviously, anxiety about different things. I think we’re in a good place right now. I think it’s better to be on the safe side than it is on the other side of it.”

Catalon was hit under the chin by the helmet of West Virginia safety K.J. Dillon on the last play from scrimmage, a carry that set up the winning field goal. Catalon was the Horned Frogs’ leading rusher at the time.

In four games as the starter in place of Catalon, Aaron Green rushed for 476 yards and five touchdowns.

DE Tuaua out

Defensive end Mike Tuaua also won’t play in the Peach Bowl because of a shoulder injury, Patterson said.

Tuaua, a junior from Santa Rosa JC, tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and was second on the team with five sacks. He hurt his shoulder against Iowa State.

“He wanted to play through with his shoulder, and it was just better not to do that,” Patterson said.

Tuaua won’t be ready in time for spring drills, Patterson said, but should be ready for fall.

“He’ll be back in time to have four months to get strong enough to play like he is right now,” Patterson said.

All-Star bowlers

TCU has three players in All-Star games — defensive tackle Chucky Hunter and safety Sam Carter in the East-West Shrine Game, and cornerback Kevin White in the Senior Bowl — and Patterson hopes there is a fourth.

“Paul Dawson, how he plays in this bowl game could really help him when it comes to that,” Patterson said.

Dawson earned Walter Camp All-America honors after recording 128 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups. He and Marcus Mallet (90 tackles) combined for the most tackles by a linebacker duo in Patterson’s 14 years as TCU head coach.

“It’s just a positive for all of us,” Patterson said of the All-Star appearances. “Especially the Senior Bowl, that means the pro scouts asked for you.

“Sam and Chucky getting an opportunity, just to reward them for the job that they’ve done, they get a chance to play in one more game. It’s one more audition.”

Atlanta schedule

The Frogs will travel to Atlanta on Christmas Day, have a team dinner, then go to the Georgia Dome on Friday morning to take a look around, their only visit to the stadium before the game. They will also visit their practice site at Georgia Tech.

This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 9:43 PM with the headline "TCU running back B.J. Catalon out for Peach Bowl."