TCU Football: 5 players trending up after spring 2019

FORT WORTH, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Taye Barber #4 of the TCU Horned Frogs scores a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Taye Barber #4 of the TCU Horned Frogs scores a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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FORT WORTH, TX – OCTOBER 25: A detail of the TCU Horned Frogs helmet at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – OCTOBER 25: A detail of the TCU Horned Frogs helmet at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Like La’Kendrick Van Zandt, redshirt freshman defensive end Ochaun Mathis finished the 2018 season with just four total tackles and his ceiling is incredibly high.

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Mathis had one of the best springs of any player on the team and even though there was no spring game for him to showcase his talent for the fans, he earned high praise from his coaching staff as well as teammates.

Gary Patterson went as far as saying that Mathis could end up being the best defensive end to play for TCU by the time his college career is over. He’s off to a good start, retaining his redshirt despite playing in a couple of games last season and he’s in line to start in 2019 at one of the defensive end spots across from Shameik Blackshear.

If everything holds up this fall, the Horned Frogs will have their next big star in Mathis who is on the verge of big things. It’s not often you hear about a big spring performer from a team that doesn’t have a spring game, but Mathis was special.