First place, TCU

09-04-2007

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

QUARTERBACKS: Life has been good for TCU since the Horned Frogs joined the Mountain West Conference with the start of the 2005 season. After winning the conference in 2005, the Horned Frogs settled for second in 2006, but they went to their fourth bowl in five years and posted their fourth 10-win season in the same time span. They also got an extra trip to San Diego to play in the MWC-affiliated Poinsettia Bowl. TCU finished off an 11-2 with a 37-7 romp over Northern Illinois with TCU alumnus and San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson watching. The recent success also led to TCU opening a new indoor facility named for legendary Horned Frogs quarterback Sammy Baugh. The first order of business for head coach Gary Patterson and is staff will be to find the next quarterback to succeed Jeff Ballard, a second-team All-MWC pick who led the team the last two years. Marcus Jackson was a redshirt freshman last year, his second as an understudy to Ballard before taking over as sophomore this season.

RUNNING BACKS: Sophomore running back Aaron Brown wasn’t the Horned Frogs’ full-time running back while splitting time with a senior Lonta Hobbs, but he was productive enough to earn second-team All-MWC honors. Brown carried 154 times for 801 yards and nine touchdowns. Brown is a duel threat out of the backfield as he was second on team in receptions with 34 for 455 yards and one touchdown. The Horned Frogs primarily run out of one-back set, but when they use a blocking back, senior fullback William Jackson returns as a veteran.

RECEIVERS: One only one member of the receiving corps returns as as wide receiver Donald Massey is back for his junior year. He was third on the team in receptions with 26 for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Massey and senior Marcus Brock split time last year, but there is room for Massey and Brock in the starting lineup for both of them this year. Senior Ervin Dickerson also moves into a starting role after catching 12 passes for 96 yards last year. Junior Shae Reagan should slide into the starting role at tight end. He was fifth on the team in receptions despite playing a backup role. He finished with 14 catches for 300 yards, which was good for average of 21.4 yards per catch and two touchdowns.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Despite the returning talent at the skill positions, the Horned Frogs have to be concerned about a young quarterback playing behind an offensive line with two new starters. But one of the three returning starters is junior center Blake Schlueter, who earned honorable mention in the MWC last year and is a preseason candidate for the Rimington Award. The other returning starters are senior left guard Matt Lindner and senior right tackle Wade Sisk. Sophomore Nic Richmond takes over at left tackle and junior Giles Montgomery is the right guard.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Senior defensive ends Chase Ortiz and Thomas Blake have been suffocating bookends the last two years for TCU as two-time first-team All-MWC choices. Blake was one of only three players in the conference who as a unanimous choice. Blake was fourth on the team in tackles and shared the conference lead in sacks with seven. But they aren’t alone up front. Senior defensive tackle James Vess is back to give TCU a solid front wall of three returning starters. Junior Cody Moore has been putting on weight to bulk up from the 276 pounds he carried last year to take over at nose tackle.

LINEBACKERS: Junior middle linebacker Jason Phipps is the anchor of the defense after earning first-team All-MWC pick as a sophomore and finishing second on the team in tackles with 73. Another honored junior linebacker who is back is Robert Henson, who was a second-team All-MWC pick as an outside linebacker. Senior linebacker David Hawthorne is back and has the experience of a starter.

SECONDARY: The Horned Frogs play with five defensive backs, counting the hybrid rover position, and they featured four returning starters. Senior Brian Bonner is back at strong safety after he earned second-team All-MWC and senior David Roach is back at free safety. The two returning starting cornerbacks are a pair of sophomores, Nick Sanders and cornerback Rafael Priest. Junior Stephen Hodge is in the mix at the rover position, but Bonner can play rover and strong safety. Bonner was fifth on the team in tackles, intercepted two passes and had 4.5 sacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Chris Manfredini was a Lou Groza Award candidate who ended up as honorable mention in the MWC. The Frogs must find a new punter, and senior Derek Walsh gets the first opportunity to take over the job. Senior Brian Bonner provides a strong return game as a first-team All-MWC pick.

Returning starters: 14; Offense 5; QB: 0; RB: 1; WR/TE: 1; OL: 3; Defense 9; DL: 3; LB: 2; DB: 4; ST: 1.

2006 Record: 11-2; 2006 Conf. Record: 6-2

Head Coach: Gary Patterson (7)

Last Bowl Appearance: 2006 Poinsettia Bowl, Beat Northern Illinois 37-7

2006 Turnover Ratio: + 7

Home Surface: Artificial

Returning Lettermen: 40

Lettermen Lost: 22

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 4-2-5