Countdown to National Signing Day: TCU Horned Frogs

[caption id="attachment_18908" align="alignright" width="300"]Photo by Graham Staniforth Photo by Graham Staniforth[/caption] National Signing Day is Feb. 3. We’ll take a look at each recruiting class from the 12 FBS football programs in Texas as the day approaches. TCURivals.com rank: 24^thOverview TCU is quietly putting together one of the best recruiting classes in the country. It isn’t filled with five-star talents or hot-shot camp prospects, but none of Gary Patterson’s recruiting classes shape up that way and TCU seems to do just fine. This year’s makeup is very familiar. The Horned Frogs have 19 commitments and five are four-star commits. Nine of those commitments are early-enrollees and will be part of spring drills, including six JUCO products and quarterback Brennen Wooten. Ten of the commitments are on the defensive side of the ball. Athletes like Sewo Olonilua and Dylan Thomas could also end up on the defensive side of the ball. Strengths Defense is the strength of the 2016 class, which isn’t shocking for TCU. It starts with the defensive line class that includes talents like defensive tackle Ross Blaclock and defensive end Isaiah Chambers. Both of those guys signified recruiting wins over Big 12 teams and the up-and-coming Houston momentum built by Tom Herman. The linebacker ranks were replenished with JUCO product Tyree Horton. Olonilua, who played well at running back in San Antonio for the Army All-American Game, likely ends up at linebacker or safety (more on that in a second). Innis Gaines, a one-time UTSA commit, has a lot of upside in the secondary. Needs TCU has pieces on the offensive side of the ball, but the Horned Frogs hope to finish off the 2016 class with a few more playmakers. Running back Kyle Porter from Katy High School is a big priority down the stretch since there isn’t a true running back committed to TCU at the moment. JUCO product Taj Williams and Bastrop wide receiver Isaiah Graham are already in the fold, but another playmaker to use at wide receiver would also be a bonus. TCU only has three commitments from offensive linemen, and one of those is a JUCO already on campus. Top Player Olonilua did a little bit of everything in high school. He showed the ability to play running back among the best competition in the nation at the Army All-American Game, but indications out of Fort Worth is that he ends up at safety or linebacker. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Olonilua could be a perfect fit as a linebacker/safety hybrid in Patterson’s 4-2-5 defense. Olonilua is the type of athlete Patterson has made a career of molding into a defensive weapon. He’s the type of player you get on campus and figure out a position for later.