The TCU Horned Frogs had a rare down year under head coach Gary Patterson in 2019 posting just five wins and going 3-6 in Big 12 play.
The number 28 stood out for the Horned Frogs during conference play a year ago. The TCU defense held conference rivals to 28.4 points per game, which kept the team in games, but the offense scored just 28.1 points per game, which wasn’t enough to get more conference victories.
The Horned Frogs visit metroplex rival SMU on Sept. 16 in the Iron Skillet Battle and have a big conference stretch mid-season hosting Kansas State on Oct. 17 and going down I-35 for a matchup with Baylor one week later.
TCU will look for big years from five players with Texas High School Football ties it looks to get back into a bowl game in 2020.
Taye Barber, junior wide receiver, Cypress Spring
Injuries sidelined Barber early in the season, but he made the most out of playing the final seven games of 2019. Barber hauled in 29 receptions for an average of 41.3 yards per catch once he came back and gave the Horned Frogs offense some big plays. He transitioned to wide receiver after playing quarterback and running back in high school and earned all-district second team honors as a sophomore.
Ochaun Mathis, sophomore defensive end, Manor
The redshirt sophomore looks to build off a strong 2019 where he amassed 40 tackles, including 20 solo stops, nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Mathis made headlines in Central Texas as a prep star at Manor where he was named to the District 6-5A All-District team as a junior and finished with 75 tackles as a senior.
Coy McMillon, junior center, Abilene
McMillon was one of only two players on the offensive line to start all 12 games at the same position in 2019. He helped pave the way for TCU to rush for 204 yards and score 30.33 points per game last season. McMillon was a short yardage tight end and defensive end at Abilene and had 68 tackles and three receiving touchdowns as a senior.
Trevon Moehrig, junior safety, Smithson Valley
The Horned Frogs have one of the best secondaries in the nation led by Moehrig, an all-conference first team performer in 2019. The former Smithson Valley star had four interceptions, 11 pass deflections and two forced fumbles to go along with 62 tackles and a fumble recovery a year ago. Moehrig was an had four interception and two kickoff return touchdowns as a junior and earned all-district first team honors.
La’Kendrick Van Zandt, junior safety, Henderson
TCU fans hope that Van Zandt will have better luck with injuries in 2020 after playing in only seven games last season and making four starts. The former Henderson star did finish with 12 tackles, three pass deflections and a 12-yard interception return while playing at both linebacker and safety in 2019. Van Zandt was a good all-around athlete in high school rushing for 1,582 yards and 22 touchdowns while amassing 54 tackles as a senior.
