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TCU Football: 5 biggest questions facing the Horned Frogs in spring 2018

By Connor Muldowney

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Jalen Reagor #18 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball against Grayland Arnold #4 of the Baylor Bears and Jamie Jacobs #43 of the Baylor Bears in the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Jalen Reagor #18 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball against Grayland Arnold #4 of the Baylor Bears and Jamie Jacobs #43 of the Baylor Bears in the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 28: Travin Howard #32 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates after breaking up a pass in the third quarter intended for Kaden Smith #82 of the Stanford Cardinal during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 28, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 28: Travin Howard #32 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates after breaking up a pass in the third quarter intended for Kaden Smith #82 of the Stanford Cardinal during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 28, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

4. Who steps up in place of Travin Howard on defense?

Flip it over to the defensive side of the ball. The Horned Frogs are losing arguably their best player in linebacker Travin Howard. The linebacker has graduated after finishing with 108 tackles in his final season to go along with seven for loss and a sack. He also had a pick-six, capping off a successful season.

With Howard’s departure comes the chance for a former backup to break out and replace him. Right now, it looks like soon-to-be senior Alex Bush leads for that spot.

Don’t sleep on the depth pieces at middle linebacker to replace Howard but also don’t expect his replacement, in terms of production level, to come from his position only. Senior Ty Summers will need to up his game after finishing with 64 tackles, eight for loss and 4.0 sacks in 2017.

There are no incoming freshman linebackers enrolled early, so don’t expect it to come from a first-year player this spring.

TCU needs a leader on the defensive side of the ball to step up, so that’ll be something to watch this spring.

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