TCU Football's Offseason Losses Mount: Now 6 Likely Starters Gone

by Scipio Tex on May 29, 2025 9:21 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

There's positive attrition. There's negative attrition. And then there's a Daisy Cutter going off in your locker room. The offseason has been hard in Fort Worth and the recent news of the departure of RB Ed Wesley and LB Deryck Gildon isn't making things any easier. Since Spring 2012, that's 5-7 probable starters gone.

Frogs O War has a thorough detailing of the butcher's bill:

Tanner Brock- Played in every game in 2009 as a freshman, started every game in 2010 and lead TCU in tackles. Was injured in first quarter of Baylor game in 2011. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. Dismissed from TCU as part of a campus wide drug bust in early 2012.

Deryck Gildon- Appeared in every game of 2011 as a freshman, totaled 21 tackles. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. Rumored to be lost for 2012 due to grades, this has NOT been confirmed but has been publicly alluded to.

Ty Horn- Played in eight games in 2010, ten games in 2011 including one start. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. Dismissed from TCU as part of a campus wide drug bust in early 2012.

David Johnson***- Redshirted in 2010, played in 12 games in 2011 including nine starts. Totaled 28 tackles, seven for a loss and three sacks. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. DJ reportedly suffered an injury during spring practice that might have been serious enough to keep him out through 2012, no word on his current status.

Devin Johnson- Played in four games in 2009, did not play in 2010, played in all games in 2011. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. Dismissed from TCU as part of a campus wide drug bust in early 2012.

Carter Wall***- Redshirted as a freshman in 2011, was likely going to be in the running to start as a freshman in 2012. Rumored to be lost for 2012 due to grades, this has not been confirmed.

Nykiren Wellington- Played in two games as a redshirt freshman, would likely have provided depth at the tackle position for TCU in 2012. Nykiren is transferring to Trinity Valley Community College.

Ed Wesley- Played in every game in 2009, 2010 and ten games in 2011. Totaled almost 2500 yards in his TCU career, 24 total touchdowns. Was a semi-finalist for the Doak Walker Award in 2010. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. Left TCU for "family reasons" after spring 2012.

D.J. Yendrey- Played in every game in 2009 and 2010, started in 12 of 13 games of 2011, totaled three sacks and 5 1/2 for a loss. Would likely have been a starter on 2012 team. Dismissed from TCU as part of a campus wide drug bust in early 2012.

Yikes.

To put it in perspective, the Longhorn equivalent would be losing: Malcolm Brown, Jordan Hicks, Steve Edmond, Josh Cochran, Ashton Dorsey, Desmond Jackson, Adrian Phillips, Paden Kelley, and Luke Poehlmann.

Programs can't withstand those sorts of losses without repercussions. A Horned Frog team post-bowl season that looked like a legitimate Big 12 title contender is now facing down this conference slate:

@ KU

ISU

@ Baylor

Tech

@ OSU

@ WVU

KSU

@ Texas

The wins aren't quite as easy to find as they were in early February, are they?

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Read More: Ed Wesley (RB - TCU), Luke Poehlmann (OT - Texas), Paden Kelley (OT - Texas), Tanner Brock (LB - TCU), D.J. Yendrey (DT - TCU), Ty Horn (OT - TCU), Nykiren Wellington (OT - TCU), Adrian Phillips (CB - Texas), Jordan Hicks (LB - Texas), Ashton Dorsey (DT - Texas), Steve Edmond (LB - Texas), Josh Cochran (OL - Texas), Deryck Gildon (LB - TCU), Carter Wall (OT - TCU), Texas Longhorns

Comments

Ouch

At least they don’t play the Spurs…

I wonder how much of this was building up from taking iffy kids for years or if they generally have solid kids and this drug bust deal just dragged down several kids ala Robert Joseph.

by Nickel Rover on May 29, 2025 9:55 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

As a Longhorn fan, I'm disappointed.

I was (am) looking forward to TCU and WV entering the Big 12 and gaining a barometer on how the conference stacks up nationally in terms of competition. It seems now that TCU would have a high probability of cratering, when I actually was expecting them to be more competitive than WV.

by Flipteach on May 29, 2025 9:56 PM CDT reply actions

I was a little worried

about their OL. When you have 3 RB’s go for 700 yards that probably doesn’t mean that you have 3 stars in your backfield…and they are losing how many OL starters? 3? To graduation, for the record, not to prison or grades.

by Nickel Rover on May 29, 2025 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions

It is a combination of things among the group.

Brock is a coaches son and from everything I have heard was a good kid in high school. I can’t say if in the athletic world a CK is the same as a PK elsewhere, but there is no doubt his loss is the biggest for a variety of reasons.

Wesley apparently has some issues at home and there were rumblings he was going to leave for the NFL last year. Story is Mom is sick, but I can’t tell you how sick or if Ed has other siblings to help. I was told he really hadn’t planned on coming back, got his draft evaluation and realized he would benefit from coming back, but found himself in a big hole on his grades.

On paper he was a starter, but remember that they had three backs with really did split the load. Look for senior Dean or possibly freshman Catalon to help here.

Yendry was a kid from South Texas who made an impact from the time he stepped on campus. He wasn’t very big for a tackle and there was some questions about how effective he would be in the BIg 12. Regardless of size the guy was a three year starter and the pressure now falls on a group of young defensive tackles. Key here is the rotation of David Johnson, Chuck Hunter, and Jon Lewis make a big leap from last year.
Notice I mentioned David Johnson here and I have yet to here from a reliable source he was severely hurt. His is more internet speculation.

Horn might have pushed for starters minutes at right tackle, but the key is he was the third tackle. I disagree that he was the probable starter at tackle. Kid from Waco Midway isn’t exactly the person DPS might be profiling for a drug trafficer on I10, but he is the third of the four who were let go after the arrests in February.

Gildon’s loss is heightened by Brock. If Tanner is back he is the linebacker next to Kenny Cain with GIldon being the third linebacker. With he and Brock gone there is a big hole at linebacker, but you could see the issues with Gildon coming in the Spring. It wouldn’t surprise if TCU ends up with a freshman linebacker next to Cain which wouldn’t be as big an issue if the front were more experienced.

Wall was not going to start in 2012. Kid has some upside, but he wasn’t ready and the same with Wellington. The big part of the loss here is with the loss of Horn one of these two did have a chance to be the third tackle.

There were questions about the defense coming out of last year, going into spring, and heading into the fall. You have questions at corner, safety, one linebacker, and defensive tackle. The game to watch will be UVA who has a big offensive line and some decent skill athletes. If the defense if overwhelmed it could be a long year with the one saving grace being young players on campus to build with for the future.

Offensively they have a very good group of receivers, two very good backs, a solid quarteback, and interior line. The key will be Dunbar and Tayo at tackle and the line staying well. I always thought 7-8 wins this year would be a good year with the transition and the other events of the off-season and I will stick with it.

by davey o'brien on May 29, 2025 10:38 PM CDT reply actions

good thoughts

I’ve not known what to expect from them this year.

by Nickel Rover on May 30, 2025 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Judging by the posts above and below

We can expect a perfect run this year from TCU.

"The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences." - St. Augustine

by Funkytown on May 30, 2025 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Ha Ha

I expect 3-4 conference losses, including Thanksgiving. That’s assuming we don’t lose Pachall to injury.

It’s a thin purple line for sure.

by Philly Frog on May 30, 2025 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions

No sure who said a perfect run, but I would expect TCU to easily

win 3 of the non-conference games and that leaves UVA in question as I pointed out above. If TCU wins that game there are 4 wins and I think the Kansas, Tech, and Baylor games are very winnable for the Frogs. That leaves 7 wins with a chance to win one out of the final 4 and is everyone really sold on OSU this year?

by davey o'brien on May 30, 2025 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions

It's a joke

I suggest you learn what a joke is unless you’re a cunt. If that’s the case…

"The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences." - St. Augustine

by Funkytown on Jun 1, 2025 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Also....

Sources say DaJo is walking around campus with no medical devices whatsoever, and looks to be fully rehabbed by August.

The other kids at DT were in process of jumping Yendrey, so we don’t look at that as any kind of serious loss of anything other than Depth. Also, we’re felling pretty good about Joey Hunt being in the mix early, he’s a player.

Losing Gildon and Brock are gutshots, period. But, the former still has a shot of making grades over the summer and it’s possible he’s not a goner yet. But it remains the case that Patterson may have to hide a freshman at the Mike for a while; I’m looking at you, McFarland. We may be playing a lot more zone than we’re used to seeing from the Frogs.

Dean is a running back who played as a freshman at UCLA, former Parade AA guy. He was our fourth tailback. Now he’s our third. A lot of people think it’s a fair trade between him and Wesley.

Other than the drug busts, we’re talking about grades attrition in line with most programs.

I also consider Pachall the key to 2012, and think of him as something more than a “solid quarterback”.

by Philly Frog on May 30, 2025 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Also forgot to mention

Devin Johnson was being hopped by talent. He would not have started on the 2012 team without injuries in front of him.

by Philly Frog on May 30, 2025 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions

"Being hopped by talent"

Frog joke…I get it!

Seriously though, thanks to you and DOB for sharing some insight on this year’s TCU squad. I’ve always enjoyed y’alls team going back to the Jim Wacker days and glad you’re in board in the Big XII.

by nobis60 on May 30, 2025 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm just happy to be here

And hope to help the team by taking things one game at a time.

It does feel like home, though.

by Philly Frog on May 31, 2025 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Check below

I responded to your comments on recruiting analysis in Scipo’s thread below. Check it out it you have a chance. We don’t disagree. I’m suggesting that the analytical tools can be used as the wide part of the funnel.

by Quigley on May 30, 2025 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Catalon?

If you mean Donald, I wasn’t aware he had commited and he’s a 2014 guy. Of course, you may have been referring to someone else.

by boorad on May 30, 2025 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

BJ Catalon who is a runningback prospect from Houston Westside and he went

through Spring ball with the Frogs.

Might have been the most overlooked back in Houston last year with Trey Williams at DeKaney.

Here is what I posted about him on Recruitocosm:

“B.J. Catalon fits into the first group as a smaller back ( 5’8" and 190) with
great quickness and the ability to create big plays in the open field. He
might be the biggest surprise in the offensive class as he got overlooked in
Houston this season even though his numbers were really impressive this
past season in a decent district. Catalon in 11 games rushed for over 2,200
yards, 32 touchdowns, and an average of 12.2 ypc. Seventeen of BJ’s td
runs were over 40 yards and he had multiple scoring runs of over 80
yards. I wouldn’t expect to see him in 2012, but don’t be surprised if he
proves to be more than a capable replacement for Wesley in 2013.”

by davey o'brien on May 30, 2025 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions

If your name is B.J.

and you live in Houston, you’d darned well better be fast….and elusive.

by Philly Frog on May 31, 2025 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Plus avoid traffic accident's on freeway

flyovers.

by davey o'brien on May 31, 2025 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

This is sad for TCU AND for the Big 12

This is the last thing all of us needed!

"All the white meat is gone. There's nothin' but necks on the platter."
Darrell Royal

by Snide Aside on May 30, 2025 9:09 AM CDT reply actions

Is it a meltdown in the program or just attrition?

You gotta feel sorry for the coaches with the drug situation and now the endless stream of their kids leaving the program. I wonder if one has something to do with the other?

by longhornflash on May 30, 2025 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

Certainly for the ones

directly tied to it, but unitl I see otherwise, I’ll believe this stuff can come in bunches and there’s no connection. It’s happened to us before in one particular class. I believe in Patterson and think that if there’s anything systemic, he’ll root it out and the Frogs will be fine.

by boorad on May 30, 2025 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Some validity to this

It could be said that Texas went through a rather devastating experience, last year, as well.
We essentially lost a starting QB, and OL (freshmen), an outstanding senior RB and our star freshmen RB’s. We had, basically, only one WR and all of our essential coaches were rookies!

Ya, it was probaly a miracle we won 8 games!

"All the white meat is gone. There's nothin' but necks on the platter."
Darrell Royal

by Snide Aside on May 30, 2025 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Combination of kids being dumbasses, grades for a few kids,

and then the family problems for Ed.

If you break them apart you have Brock, Yendry, and Horn getting caught with the drugs which was a total dumbass thing. Especially for Brock who might have had a shot at getting drafted in 2013.

I have no freaking idea what Fungo is so worried about David Johnson and Wellington and Wall were not going to start as he indicated. Heck, Wellington didn’t even letter last year in a year when TCU was very thin at offensive tackle.

A name to look for as the third tackle is SL Willowridge’s La’Vonte Collins. Williamson has had very good luck with getting big bodies like this ready to play early and the kid has got good feet for a big guy.

Wesley as I said was a family issue and he went back and forth on coming out for the draft and Gildon might be back depending upon summer school.

If you go back and read the SI article on Patterson last fall he said he had worries about last year’s group and mentioned a few players being sneaky. I would compare it to the 2006 and 2007 teams for Texas that was a little weak in leadership of the upperclassmen after the great group in 2005.

by davey o'brien on May 30, 2025 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Really disappointing news

Being an old SWC guy I’ve always liked TCU even though DKR dubbed them “Cockroaches”. I’ve admired the success they’ve enjoyed over the last 15 or so years, the Rose Bowl win over Wisky being outstanding. As others stated I really anticipated they would be very competitive and strengthen the conference. Their staff seems to do a great job with player analysis and development, much like Baylor. Hope they quickly overcome this attrition.

by ole tnhorn on May 30, 2025 10:00 AM CDT reply actions

Cockroaches

That’s one of those “bulletin board” remarks that actually wasn’t a slam at TCU. Royal was talking bout how the Frogs spoiled things for other teams. He didn’t mean it in the sense that the Longhorns would squash them like cockroaches.

Maybe the earliest instance I know of where sports writers prove that they are the dumbest people on the planet paid to write. This fits in with the great James Brown saying of Nebraska: We might beat them by 21 points after being asked what he thought about the Huskers being favored by so much. He didn’t predict the score, he just expressed the wild notion that Texas might win the game.

You think these things have bothered me over the years? YA THINK? Better go find the medication.

by RomaVicta on May 30, 2025 2:25 PM CDT reply actions

Roma unfortunately that is a common problem.

My favorite example is calling someone Ebeneezer Scrooge as an insult yet if they truly know the story they know he was reborn and saved from a life of eternal damnation.

by davey o'brien on May 30, 2025 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

My favorite part of that story is when he opens up that crate and finds a lamp shaped like a woman's leg

by Yossarian Rising on May 31, 2025 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought it was a real woman's leg or

am I confusing that with the movie with Brad Pitt and Nelson Mandella.

by davey o'brien on May 31, 2025 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I think

you’re confusing it with Angelina at the Academy Awards. Now that was a real leg!

by boorad on May 31, 2025 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions

No,no. I am sure George Clooney sent

Pitt Jolie’s head in a box. That or he got head from a female boxer. Damn I confused myself.

by davey o'brien on May 31, 2025 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Gary Patterson,

will find a way to win. I think he loves being the underdog, by the middle of the season he will have his team playing well above the lower expectation’s.

by 55f100tx on May 30, 2025 5:00 PM CDT reply actions

No doubt Gary loves having a chip on his shoulder.

There is more talent on the roster than I think some realize, but I do think the challenge is going to be tougher than many TCU supporters expect from the Big 12.

The key will be can Gary put together a competitive defense? There is some young talent, but I just think too much young talent at key positions for the team to win more than 7 or 8 next year.

Does it go without saying I hope I truly underestimated the job Gary and his staff do with the defense?

by davey o'brien on May 30, 2025 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions

As to your first paragraph, there will be an adjustment

and these losses will make that adjutment harder. But, you were going to be forced by circumstance to develop more depth and be ready to play every Saturday during conference. I know this because Dennis Franchione said as much about three years ago to me and two other guys on Slick Rock golf course in Horseshoe Bay.

Fortunately for you, the top layer of the Big 12 isn’t nearly as good as the SEC West, so you’ll benefit from better (but not overwhelming) competition and a coach who knows how to recruit to his system and has actually won something worth a shit. I’m not worried for the Frogs; they’ll be just fine, although this may set them back a year or two.

by boorad on May 31, 2025 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

One thought on Franchione and it is quite simply the guy didn't not shit

about building a successful program over the long term. If you go back and follow his career you will see he had stalled out at UNM until he hired a new defensive co-ordinator from Navy. That DC was Gary Patterson and you will also notice that when Fran left for Bama next to none of the staff went with him nor hooked back up with him when A&M was dumb enough to give Fran an easy out when he realized just how far he was in over his head in the SEC.

There will be growing pains, but also remember that TCU has been eyeing the jump to a AQ conference and there is a great deal of young talent on the roster.

by davey o'brien on Jun 1, 2025 6:37 PM CDT reply actions