2013 TCU FOOTBALL
2 013 SPRING OUTLOOK HORNED FROGS DEFENSE
Led by All-America cornerback Jason Verrett and Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Devonte Fields, TCU returns nine starters from a unit that topped the conference in total defense (323.9 yards per game), run defense (105.4 yards per game), opponent first downs (221) and third-down defense (29.9 percent) while placing a close second in scoring defense (22.6 points per game). TCU’s Big 12-leading mark of 323.9 yards per game allowed was 43.4 yards better than runner-up Texas Tech while ranking 16th nationally, despite facing five of the nation’s top-13 offenses.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Devonte Fields (6-4, 240, So.) was the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the consensus National Defensive Freshman of the Year. He led the Big 12 with 18 1/2 tackles for loss while placing third with 10 sacks. Fields’ sack total, which tied for fourth in a season by a Horned Frog, broke the TCU freshman record of seven set by eventual NFL All-Pro Aaron Schobel in 1997. Fields took part in a sack in nine of 13 games, while his 53 tackles topped the defensive front. The Arlington, Texas, native added two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, interception and four pass breakups. Fields is joined on the defensive front by fellow returning starters Chucky Hunter (6-1, 305, Jr.) and Davion Pierson (6-2, 305, So.). Hunter was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2012. The West Monroe, La., native totaled six tackles for loss, including 3 ½ sacks, among his 36 stops. Behind Hunter is his former West Monroe (La.) High School teammate Terrell Lathan (6-5, 260, So.). Lathan played in six games as a true freshman and had a key tackle for loss against Kansas State. Pierson was third on TCU with 7 ½ tackles for loss. Included in that total were 3 ½ sacks. He closed the campaign with a career-best nine tackles, including two for loss, a sack and forced fumble against Michigan State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
Jon Lewis (6-2, 290, Jr.) and David Johnson (6-2, 270, Jr.) will compete for playing time behind Pierson. Lewis is a two-year letterman. He had two tackles for loss among his six stops last season. Johnson, who has started 11 games the last two years, recorded a sack in the win at West Virginia before seeing his campaign come to a close that same day with a season-ending injury. Veteran Jon Koontz (6-2, 265, Sr.), the lone senior on the defensive line’s depth chart, is projected to start opposite Fields at left end. Koontz started four games last season and totaled 12 tackles. He recorded an interception in the win at SMU. Josh Carraway (6-4, 235, So.) is a promising young player who will push Koontz. Carraway battled injuries in seeing action as a true freshman last season. He played in four games and totaled four stops. James McFarland (6-3, 240, So.) and Matt Anderson (6-3, 245, Jr.) are behind Fields. McFarland, like Hunter and Lathan, is from West Monroe (La.) High School. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2012. Anderson, a former high school running back, has missed the last two seasons due to injury. He was one of three true freshmen to play on TCU’s 2010 Rose Bowl championship team.
devonte fields DE, So.
chucky hunter DT, Jr.
LINEBACKER
Joel Hasley (6-1, 220, Jr.) and Marcus Mallet (6-1, 216, Jr.) enter the spring in first-team positions at linebacker. Hasley placed second on last year’s squad in tackles (79) and tackles for loss (8 ½). He was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 12 stops, including a pair of sacks, when the Horned Frogs made their conference debut with a victory at Kansas. Mallet saw increased action in the second half of the season with starts against Kansas State and Texas. He had five tackles for loss among his 18 stops on the year. Converted safety Jonathan Anderson (6-3, 208, Jr.) is behind Hasley at middle linebacker. A two-year letterman, Anderson recorded 17 tackles in a 2011 win over BYU. He totaled 28 stops last season. Paul Dawson (6-2, 230, Jr.), who led TCU with seven special teams tackles last year, will push Mallet for a starting job.
marcus mallet LB, Jr.
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TCU FOOTBALL