TCU goes heavy on junior-college recruits; all needed for 2016, Patterson says

TCU executed a plan to recruit heavily in the junior-college ranks and get those players enrolled in January, so they can get a head start on their already good chances to start next season.

Receiver Taj Williams, lineman Chris Gaynor, defensive end Mat Boesen, linebacker Tyree Horton, tight end Artayvious Lynn and defensive back Markell Simmons are signed and set to join the Horned Frogs next semester.

That will put them on the road to becoming immediate contributors on a team losing four starters on the offensive line, two at defensive end, two at receiver and one at safety. With Horton, Patterson hopes to add some size and experience to a linebacker corps that had to borrow two safeties as starters early this season.

The addition of Williams gives the Frogs the No. 1-rated junior-college receiver as they seek to replace All-American Josh Doctson next year.

“They were all ‘need,’ ” Patterson said. “That’s why we take them. We graduate five, six offensive linemen; we needed a lineman. We graduate a lot of wide receivers; we got a wide receiver. We graduate two [defensive] ends; we really needed an end, and we got one of those. We’ve been young at linebacker; we needed a bigger body at linebacker that can run, we got one of those.”

With Simmons, the Frogs get a player that has been a cornerback, but projects to safety.

It’s an unusually large junior-college class for TCU. But the 2015 team lacked experience because so many players were hurt. Junior-college players already come with more experience, although they and the coaching staff are not as familiar with each other.

“The good part is, these guys coming in in the spring, they get a whole dose of off-season,” Patterson said. “They get summer. They get 15 practices like in two-a-days. They learn it. Then clear their mind. So when they come back in two-a-days, it’s easier. And they’re farther along. The guy that has to come in in the fall from junior college, it’s harder on him. Usually, you’re only going to get a year and a half, maybe a year, out of him.”

TCU also expects a handful of high school recruits in January, bringing the total number of early enrollees to “10 or 11,” Patterson said.

Patterson said the Frogs did not bat 1.000 on their junior-college recruiting targets, losing a wideout.

But it’s clear that Big 12 membership has helped TCU, he said.

“A long time ago, we used to apologize,” Patterson said. “I don’t apologize anymore that we’re not 50,000, 60,000 students. It’s, ‘Here’s what our strengths are, and they’re better strengths than what other places’ are.’ ”

Patterson added, “People say it’s easier. Recruiting’s not easier. It’s easier to get in the door. We’ve had guys come here we couldn’t get because we weren’t in the Big 12. Our biggest thing is, don’t act like you’ve arrived.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 2:33 PM with the headline "TCU goes heavy on junior-college recruits; all needed for 2016, Patterson says."