Keeping up with the enemy / Dallas Morning News

[Paladin]

Analysis
By JEFF MILLER / The Dallas Morning News
Published 29 January 2011 07:30 PM
TCU’s football recruiting success in 11 years under coach Gary Patterson has often been characterized as unearthing hidden gems across the state. But the class that’s expected to sign on Wednesday is no secret, receiving unprecedented national acclaim.

This class is rated 25th nationally by Rivals.com. TCU only broke into Rivals’ top 50 two years ago, with the first of consecutive classes rated 46th.

Patterson’s Frogs have never previously had nine commits among Rivals’ State Top 100. They also have never previously signed a player ranked No. 1 in The Dallas Morning News’ Area Top 100 and fifth in the state like Waxahachie receiver LaDarius Brown. He chose TCU five weeks ago over Texas A&M and Baylor.

“They still do a great job of finding kids that are off the radar,” said Brian Perroni, a Rivals national analyst based in Texas. “They also went after players being recruited [by Big 12 South schools] before, but they didn’t get as many as they are now.”

Greg Powers, the regional recruiting manager for Scout.com’s Texas operation, cited the differences in researching TCU’s 2011 and 2006 classes.

“Five years ago, we had film on one guy,” Powers said. “This year, we have film on all but two. They now have the ammo that they can play with [traditional Big 12 powers] and can recruit with them.”

TCU is still looking up at most of the Big 12 South in the recruiting rankings. The Frogs’ No. 25 class on the Rivals list trails Texas (No. 2), Oklahoma (No. 12), Texas Tech (No. 16) and Oklahoma State (No. 24). A&M is 35th and Baylor 43 rd.

Brown is the only TCU commit ranked among the state’s top 50 compared to 17 for Texas, eight for OU, seven for Tech, two each for A&M and Oklahoma State and one for Baylor.

Most of the commitments were made after TCU played in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl but before it won the 2011 Rose Bowl over Wisconsin. And before TCU’s late-November announcement that it would join a BCS conference, the Big East, in 2012.

Brown said the Rose Bowl berth and Big East membership contributed to his decision but weren’t as important as proximity and the opportunity to play immediately.

“It’s close right here to home,” he said last week, “and I probably can get some playing time as a freshman.”

Two TCU commits recently switched from Big 12 South schools.

Receiver-defensive back Brandon Carter of Euless Trinity went with TCU two weeks ago after committing to OU last summer. Defensive lineman Jon Lewis of Klein Oak changed from Tech when the Red Raiders were without a defensive coordinator. Ironically, Tech filled the vacancy by hiring Chad Glasgow from TCU.

The Frogs nabbed two State Top 100 receivers from DeSoto through polar opposite routes. David Porter III said TCU was the last school to offer him a scholarship, following Iowa State, Virginia and Wake Forest among others.

Cameron White said TCU was the first to offer, only a couple games into his first varsity season as a junior at Arlington Bowie. Tech, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Missouri were some of the others to courthim, he said.

That was before TCU broke into BCS bowl play against Boise State in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

“I already liked them,” White said. “That [playing in the Fiesta and Rose bowls] only made it better.”

TCU has three early enrollees: linebacker Deryck Gildon from Arlington Martin, defensive end Austin Terry from Lago Vista and cornerback Jason Verrett from Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College.

How much will the Rose Bowl win and Big East membership mean to the class of 2012? The Frogs might begin to learn today, when they host their first junior

[BIGHORSE]

I just hate tcu, don't you?

[PK]

I just hate tcu, don't you?

Jealousy is not becoming. Our job is to do what they did...only faster and better.

[Arkpony]

Why are we posting articles lauding our arch rival? We already know they are better than us and have a program we should follow.

[Stallion]

This article is only accurate if you consider Rivals which wasn't around when Franchione took the TCU job. He had 2 classes that would have been around Top 30 Classes. It took Patterson awhile to excell at recruiting. He does deserve credit for talent evaluation. But no matter what you hear or read-TCU has been outrecruiting 9-10 teams on its schedule for over a decade and has consistently recruited among the Top 3 of all-non-BCS schools for a over a decade. Recruiting is relative to your competition. The good news is that you will probably be able to say that about the 2011 SMU Class too-currently the No. 1 non-BCS Class(not including future BCS schools TCU and Utah)

[BIGHORSE]

I just hate tcu, don't you?

Jealousy is not becoming. Our job is to do what they did...only faster and better.

I must admit that I am jealous of the frogs, I feel like we should be having that success, but

even if we were ahead of them on the field I still can't stand them!!!

[Mexmustang]

Blah, blah,blah...my only complaint is the the Ft. Worth Startlegram barely even post our scores, why should the DMN use their space for this? I guess because the Frogs were advertising in the Dallas paper.

[SMU89]

Will just make our win in FW that much better

[ponyboy]

...the 2011 SMU Class [is] currently the No. 1 non-BCS Class(not including future BCS schools TCU and Utah)

That deserves repeating.

[Stallion]

well UCF just moved ahead of us with a big Sunday-so I really can't. Not surprised though I would think UCF was primed for a big recruiting year. Still think we are No. 1 on Scout though but they are missing 9 UCF commitments

[Junior]

Who all did they land Sunday?

[Stallion]

about 5 commitments-at least 2 had very very long offer sheets-I hink 4 were 3 stars. They have 29 commitments-

[lwjr]

I can't say for sure but my guess is, in order to be admitted to UCF, all that is required is you spell your name correctly. Just guessing.

[EastStang]

I can't say for sure but my guess is, in order to be admitted to UCF, all that is required is you spell your name correctly. Just guessing.

And that requirement is only on signing day and you still can have your Aunt assist you when you sign the offer sheet.