2013 TCU Football Mock Two-Deep: Version 1.0

Welcome to the mock two deep, one of the more fun yet totally unnecessary activities of any preseason. There are some simple rules to follow when reviewing the mock starters:

- Information is gathered from news reports and unreported news gathered from sources... Such as, people who get a chance to watch a closed scrimmage. Thus, if you see X receiver starting over Y receiver and you aren't sure why, I apologize in advance if I can't explain the reason... Besides, this is all just guess work anyways.

- Gary Patterson is all about smoke & mirrors during football season, so while he may say X freshmen is really doing well it may well all be bullshit. Once again: This is just a best guess. Don't get angry.

- If your favorite player isn't starting, fear not... He/She (wait what??) may still play a ton... Two-deeps are built to show the guys who will, in all likelihood, play throughout any game. Who starts is actually inconsequential at the end of the day.

So here it is, the TCU Football Mock Two-Deep, version 1.0:

QUARTERBACK

RK	NAME	YEAR
1	Casey Pachall	RS SR
2	Trevone Boykin	RS SO

- Practice reports indicate that while Pachall is still likely your starter, Trevone Boykin is every bit the most-improved player he has reportedly become. If Pachall is the passer and decision maker we know him to be, you have to start that guy, but the thought of a Boykin that makes good decisions, has an improved throwing motion/angle, and has added to his all-around game is exciting.

RUNNING BACKS

RK	NAME	YEAR
1	Waymon James, OR	SR
1	BJ Catalon,	SO
3	Aaron Green	SO

- Reportedly, this race is as close as it appears. Waymon James is running and leading with purpose, BJ Catalon has added muscle and looks like he will soon be a feature back in this offense, and Aaron Green is still dynamically talented. But, I would expect Waymon to get 50% of the carries, Catalon might get 40%, and Green might get 10%, all depending on who is healthy and running well that day... What a stable of running backs to pick from, not to mention Jordan Moore who is knocking on the door.

WIDE RECEIVERS

RK	NAME (YEAR)	NAME (YEAR)	NAME (YEAR)	NAME (YEAR)
1	Brandon Carter (JR)	LaDarius Brown (SO)	Cam White (JR)	Kolby Listenbee (SO)
2	David Porter (JR)	JaJuan Story (SO)	Josh Doctson (SO)	Ty Slanina (FR)

- Carter, Brown, White is locked in. Listenbee has had some positive positive buzz around him since spring and I would expect him to get quite a lot of looks. Then, there is the rest: Porter has always been around but never shocks anybody, Story has fantastic skills but lacks consistency with his routes and hands, Doctson has incredible hands and route running ability but lacks amazing athleticism of Story. And then there is Slanina, who has seemingly been the story of the fall in camp, with impressive speed, focus, and hands he could very well make his way into the two-deep for the Frogs. This group will all play this year, and a handful more could see time, it is an area of depth for the Frogs.

TIGHT END

RK	NAME	YEAR
1	Stephen Bryant, OR	JR
1	Griffin Gilbert	SO
3	Cliff Murphy	JR

- Hard to say... In run plays and formations, Bryant will see a lot of looks. In passing situations, Gilbert will get in there. In goal line formations, all three will see the field. It doesn't so much matter who plays first with this group, just who plays when.

OFFENSIVE LINE

RK	LT (YEAR)	LG (YEAR)	C (YEAR)	RG (YEAR)	RT (YEAR)
1	Aviante Collins(SO)	James Dunbar(SR)	Joey Hunt (SO)	Eric Tausch (SR)	Halapoulivaati Vaitai (SO)
2	James Dubar(SR)	Jamelle Naff(SO)	Patrick Morris (FR)	Brady Foltz (SO)	Bobby Thompson (SO)

- This group is the "smoke and mirror" group... Collins and Hunt are steady, and Taush appears to be a lock at RG. But RT and LG are a mystery. According to media reports, Big V has been working out with the 1s at RT with Dunbar and Naff at LG. According to those who have been at the Frogs scrimmages, Big V has been running with the 2s and Dunbar has been at RT, with Naff at LG. No matter who is right, the Frogs are focused this fall on getting better across the line, while growing up some depth. One note: Patrick Morris has impressed everybody this fall, looks to be a strong candidate for backup C (true freshman center... wow.)

DEFENSIVE LINE

RK	LE (YEAR)	DT (YEAR)	DT (YEAR)	RE (YEAR)
1	Jon Koontz (SR)	Chucky Hunter (JR)	Davion Pierson (SO)	Devonte Fields (SO)
2	James McFarland (SO)	Jon Lewis (JR)	David Johnson (JR)	Matt Anderson (JR)

- Fields has been playing with the 1s, despite being suspended for the first two games of 2013. Koontz appears to have the LE spot locked down. Hunter is a lock a DT, but Pierson and Lewis are basically interchangeable at the other spot. The biggest battle this year will be for the backup DE job, where McFarland, Anderson, and Carraway have all seen time this fall. The d-line has tons of talent, how TCU will play these pieces is much more important than whoever runs out there for the first defensive play.

LINEBACKERS

RK	NAME (YEAR)	NAME (YEAR)
1	Marcus Mallett (RS JR)	Jonathan Anderson (JR)
2	Paul Dawson (JR)	Sammy Douglas (FR)

- Mallett appears to still be a lock, but the battle for Hasley's spot is still up in the air. Anderson is the best athlete and is coming along fast, but Paul Dawson, Sammy Douglas, and Paul Whitmill have all been running with the 2s and have looked good this fall. I bet Anderson ends up with the job, but you never know with Gary Patterson who is notoriously picky with his linebackers.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

RK	NAME (YEAR)	NAME (YEAR)
1	Jason Verrett (SR)	Kevin White (JR)
2	Ranthony Texada (FR)	Keivon Gamble (SR)

- Jason Verrett and Kevin White are the lock down corners for 2013, no doubt there. The only job for TCU this fall is to grow up the 2s, with Keivon Gamble and Texada leading the charge. I would bet Gamble will retain one of the backup spots, and Texada could see time as he continues to grow up.... Keep your eyes on Cydney Calvin too, he could come fast.

SAFETIES

RK	SS-NAME (YEAR)	FS-NAME (YEAR	WS-NAME (YEAR)
1	Sam Carter (RS JR)	Elisha Olabode (SR)	Chris Hackett (RS SO)
2	Denzel Johnson (FR)	Steve Wesley (FR)	Zach Jackson (RS FR)

- Like the defensive backs, the safety 1s are all locked down. The backup spots aren't as locked down, but the Frogs appear to have a pretty solid group in Kindred, Hooker and Jackson. But... Johnson and Wesley were just moved to the safety positions... In my mind, they don't get moved if they weren't needed at corner and if they weren't in the running for the two-deep at safety. Thus, they jump into my depth chart... We will know more in a week.

SPECIAL TEAMS

RK	K (YEAR)	P (YEAR)	KR (YEAR)	PR (YEAR)
1	Jaden Oberkrom (SO)	Ethan Perry (SO)	Deante Gray (SO)	Deante Gray (SO)
2	Ryan Denucci (JR)	??	Brandon Carter (JR)	Brandon Carter (JR)

- Oberkrom and Perry are both improved and both healthy. Coming out of the spring, Gray and Carter were looked at the favorites for return men, along with Waymon James... I would expect a third option will be added to this group this fall as well, possibly one of the freshmen receivers (Slanina / Luper)?