21 TCU
It's a Big 12 attack, all right. Problem is, the Frogs have to stop Big 12 attacks too
Key Recruit
DEVONTE FIELDS The relentless defensive end from Arlington, Texas, has his work cut out for him as a true freshman playing behind Stansly Maponga and Ross Forrest. But Fields has the size (6'4", 240 pounds) and speed to make an early impact.
Breakout Player
BRANDON CARTER Effective in spurts (57 yards and one TD against SMU, 120 and two against Boise State) last season, the sophomore slot receiver is set to take the next step this year. With defenses keying on Boyce, Carter should be able to shimmy free for big gains.
The Skinny
WIDE RECEIVER Josh Boyce and quarterback Casey Pachall are fellow Texans and former high school opponents. They roomed together as redshirt freshmen and worked on routes after practice. Last Nov. 12, against unbeaten Boise State, all that work paid off when Pachall-to-Boyce produced five catches for 163 yards and three TDs in the Frogs' 36--35 upset. This year's version of Pachall-to-Boyce will be an upgrade on last year's, but TCU's schedule will also be taking a leap. "We're very excited about what we can do," Boyce says of TCU's entry into the Big 12. "We're finally in a conference where, if we win out, people will have nothing to say about us." TCU is not entering the Big 12 expecting to be a mid-major in transition.
Final Analysis
YES, THE linebacking corps is mostly decimated, and only one starting defensive back is returning—junior Jason Verrett—but defensive end Stansly Maponga is a two-year starter who led the Frogs with 13½ tackles for loss, nine sacks and five forced fumbles in 2011, and longtime safeties coach Chad Glasgow is back after a one-year stint as Texas Tech's defensive coordinator. Plus, the offense is the real deal. Pachall's 2,921 yards in 2011 was a school record, and TCU has its top four receivers and top four rushers back. It's enough to win some shootouts and compete in the country's highest-scoring conference.
THE VITALS
Coach Gary Patterson (12th year)
109--30 (68--18 MWC)
2011 Record 11--2 (7--0, 1st in MWC)
Final AP Rank 14
Returning Starters Offense 5, Defense 5
2011 STATS
Total Offense (FBS Rank) 440.2 YPG (28)
Rushing Offense 208.6 YPG (19)
Passing Offense 231.6 YPG (63)
Total Defense 347.4 YPG (32)
Rushing Defense 123.8 YPG (25)
Passing Defense 223.6 YPG (60)
TELLING NUMBER 1
Victories that coach Gary Patterson needs to become the Horned Frogs' alltime wins leader. He has 109 in 11 years in Fort Worth.
TOP PLAYERS
Offense
QB Casey Pachall
Jr. 6'5", 216 pounds
2,921 YDs, 25 TDs, 7 INTs
WR Josh Boyce
Jr. 6'0", 203 pounds
61 RECs, 998 YDs, 9 TDs
RB Waymon James
Jr. 5'8", 203 pounds
121 rushes, 875 YDs, 6 TDs
Defense
DE Stansly Maponga
Jr. 6'2", 265 pounds
55 tackles, 9 sacks
LB Kenny Cain
Sr. 6'1", 210 pounds
72 tackles, 1 sack
CB Jason Verrett
Jr. 5'10", 180 pounds
58 tackles, 1 INT
Special Teams
PK Jaden Oberkrom
Fr. 6'3", 170 pounds
60-yd FG in 2011
PHOTO
RON JENKINS/FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM/MCT/LANDOV (MAPONGA)
Maponga will be one of the most disruptive defensive ends in college football; he will need to be.
PHOTO
GREG NELSON (BOYCE)
Boyce, who needs three TDs to set TCU's alltime mark, and Pachall are as well-connected a pair as there is in the game.
PHOTO
SHARON ELLMAN/FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM/MCT/GETTY IMAGES (CARTER)