2014 tcu football spring prospectus

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SPRING PROSPECTUS

2 014 SPRING OUTLOOK CORNERBACK

With the graduation of two-time All-American Jason Verrett, Kevin White (5-10, 174, Sr.) is now the veteran leader of the unit. White received honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches last season. He placed second on TCU with eight pass breakups and three interceptions while posting a team-best three fumble recoveries. The 27 career starts by White rank as the most among active Horned Frogs. Travoskey Garrett (6-1, 190, Jr.) is behind White. Garrett played in four games last year after being sidelined his first two seasons due to injury. Ranthony Texada (5-10, 160, RFr.), who redshirted last season, enters the spring in a No. 1 position opposite White. Pushing Texada is fellow 2013 redshirt Cyd Calvin (6-1, 175, RFr.).

jonathan anderson LB, Sr. LINEBACKER

The Horned Frogs return their entire linebacker corps for the 2014 season. Veteran Jonathan Anderson (6-3, 227, Sr.) opens spring camp No. 1 at middle linebacker with Marcus Mallet (6-1, 227, Sr.) the starter at the Sam linebacker. Anderson, who made 10 starts, placed fourth on TCU with a career-high 66 tackles last season. His 143 career stops rank second among active Horned Frogs. Mallet had 70 tackles after totaling just 21 in his first two seasons combined. His 8 ½ tackles for loss placed fourth on the Horned Frogs. He made seven starts on the season and closed the year with a career-best 12 stops against Baylor. Paul Dawson (6-2, 230, Sr.) topped TCU with 91 tackles in 2013, while his 10 stops for a loss placed second. The former wide receiver at Dallas Skyline High School reached double figures in tackles in five of the final seven games, including a career-best 17 stops in a win over Kansas. Sammy Douglas (6-3, 205, So.) and Paul Whitmill (5-11, 220, RFr.) are young players who will compete for playing time. Douglas contributed mostly on special teams as a true freshman last season, while Whitmill was a redshirt.

kevin white CB, Sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

of his punts (29-of-80) inside the 20. He had just four touchbacks on the year, including only one in the final seven games.

Jaden Oberkrom (6-3, 187, Jr.) and Ethan Perry (6-4, 230, Jr.) return for their third seasons as the Horned Frogs’ placekicker and punter, respectively. In the return game, B.J. Catalon (5-9, 190, Jr.) and Cameron Echols-Luper (6-0, 190, So.) both ranked among the national leaders while earning postseason honors.

Perry had a punt of at least 54 yards in each of the final four games and in five of the last six contests. Opponents had just 17 punt returns on the season. James Power (6-3, 235, Sr.) will be in his second season as the deep snapper with Matt Brown (6-1, 190, Sr.) returning as the holder on extra points and field goals.

TCU’s special teams figure to again be a strength in 2014.

Oberkrom, an honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection, was also first-team Academic All-Big 12 and Capital One Academic All-District. He was 14-of-18 on field goals, including a 13-of-14 mark on attempts inside 50 yards. His career-best 56-yard field goal to give TCU the lead at Kansas State with 2:13 to play tied for the second-longest made kick in school history and was just one yard shy of a school record. It also gave him two of the four longest field goals in TCU history. Oberkrom was perfect on his 37 extra-point attempts, giving him a streak of 79 consecutive makes which ties the TCU career record and is third nationally among active placekickers. Ryan DeNucci (5-10, 195, Sr.) provides depth at placekicker behind Oberkrom.

jaden oberkrom PK, Jr.

Perry averaged 40.3 yards on the season and ranked among the national leaders by placing 36.3 percent

Catalon and Echols-Luper are the No.1 kickoff returners entering the season with Echols-Luper projected to also handle punt returns. Catalon was honorable-mention All-Big 12 as a kickoff returner. He placed second in the Big 12 and 16th nationally with his 26.5 return average. Catalon’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against LSU gave TCU at least one punt or kickoff return for a score in six of the last seven seasons. The 100-yard return also tied for second longest in TCU history while setting an AT&T Stadium record for a collegiate game. Echols-Luper was a Freshman All-America punt returner by Phil Steele Publications. He ranked third in the Big 12 and 16th nationally with his team-best 13.4 yards per return, including season-long efforts of 51 yards versus SMU and 41 yards against Baylor.

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