TCU Football: Can Horned Frogs finally level up?
Defense
The TCU program under Coach Patterson was built upon playing defense and 2017 was no different. The Horned Frogs have really ramped up their recruiting and especially on defense since arriving in the Big 12. TCU finished 2017 with the 16th ranked defense per the S&P+ under coordinator Chad Glasgow. Six full-time starters return to the defensive side of the ball that drove TCU to an 11-3 record a year ago.
The TCU front four is led by defensive end Ben Banogu. Banogu is a senior that logged 8.5 sacks and made 16.5 tackles for loss in 2017. Rising sophomore defensive tackle Ross Blacklock picked up 6.5 tackles for loss of his own last season. Another sophomore, Corey Bethley, moves into a starting role at defensive tackle and can penetrate the backfield.
While TCU lost linebacker Travin Howard to the NFL they do return Ty Summers to the middle of the linebacker corps. Howard took 108 tackles with him to the Rams of the NFL but Summers is back after producing an extremely rangy 2017. Summers logged 64 tackles (eight for a loss), four sacks, an interception and five passes defensed last season.
He’s joined in 2018 by Jawuan Johnson who transferred from Northern Illinois. Johnson is a prototype in the Horned Frogs defense having posted 98 tackles (18 tackles for loss), four sacks and five interceptions in the MAC last season.
Back Five
TCU returns three players to their back five with starting experience for 2018. Cornerback Jeff Gladney leads the returning Frogs in interceptions with two and adds five passes defensed and 28 stops to those numbers. He’s joined by freshman Noah Daniels who redshirted last season. The safety position is loaded with stud players. At free safety, TCU returns senior Niko Small. Small logged 46 tackles and five passes defensed last season.
The other two safety positions are held down by a mix of three players. Innis Gaines made 37 tackles (six tackles for loss), three passes defensed and two forced fumbles in 2017. Gaines is on the strong side and Markell Simmons is on the weak side. Simmons had 27 tackles a year ago and the player that could sneak his way back into a main role is Ridwan Issahaku a senior that made 66 tackles last season.