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Not all TCU fans are Dallas Cowboys fans, but the pro team across the metroplex from the Frogs certainly has their fair share of purple people. So, for many football fans Thursday night, Josh Doctson's name being called by Roger Goodell opened up a torrent of emotions.
From the sad...
"Redskins have selected, Josh Doctson" pic.twitter.com/uJvmg3tl9D
— Mason Chreene (@Mason_BChreene) April 29, 2016
To the nonplussed...
Oy vey pic.twitter.com/D54inw8Q6K
— Travis Kennedy (@TSwayze45) April 29, 2016
There were some that found the silver lining...
Well Doc is basically guaranteed 5-6 TDs just by playing Dallas twice, so that's cool.
— Jamie Plunkett (@TheDSportsRant) April 29, 2016
And outright joy from his new teammate...
@JDoc_son welcome to the squad. I knew there was a reason I watched TCU all year lol. This kid is a stud
— DeAngelo Hall (@DeAngeloHall23) April 29, 2016
But ultimately, everyone who has followed Doc's career over the past several seasons couldn't be happier for a young man who embodies everything good about college sports; the Bleacher Creature turned walk-on who worked his way into becoming a first round pick.
Doctson joins a Washington team that will be quarterbacked by Kirk Cousins, a reliable passed in the mold of Andy Dalton, who has followed a similar career trajectory. He will join a wide receiving corp led by DaSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, two 29 year old players known for speed, who are both in contract years - and probably likely candidates to be gone in 2017. This presents a near ideal situation for the rookie receiver - he will be given a ton of opportunities with teams forced to shift coverage over the top to the speed on the outside, and his incredible hands and ability to fight for the ball in the air should make him a safety net for Cousins on the short and mid-range routes.
Under coach Jay Gruden, the Skins have showed slow but continued improvement, and with the circus surrounding Robert Griffin finally out of town, the team could take a significant leap forward this fall. The NFC East is still certainly up for grabs - with QB questions up and down the conference, shaky defenses, and two new coaches, it's anybody's to win. Josh will also benefit from working against a great corner in practice - the recently signed Josh Norman can surely get him up to speed on the pro game.
Here is the official release from TCU AD Mark Cohen:
TCU graduate and unanimous consensus first-team All-America wide receiver Josh Doctson was selected in the first round of the 2016 National Football League Draft, the 22nd player overall, by the Washington Redskins Thursday night.Doctson is the second Horned Frog in the last three seasons and third in the past seven years to be drafted in the first round, joining defensive end Jerry Hughes (Indianapolis Colts, 2010) and cornerback Jason Verrett (San Diego Chargers, 2014).Doctson, who arrived at TCU as a walk-on, is the 12th first-round draft pick in TCU history and the first to be a wide receiver. He is also the first Horned Frog to drafted by Washington since Robert Henson in the sixth round in 2009.A native of Mansfield, Texas, Doctson received his TCU degree in Film/Television/Digital Media in December 2015. He was in attendance in Chicago for the draft and joined by TCU head coach Gary Patterson, who has now had 37 players drafted with a total of 83 in NFL camps in 15 seasons. ESPN.com recently ranked TCU No. 1 in the nation for developing NFL talent.Doctson, a 2015 finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, led the nation with 132.7 receiving yards per game. He was the only player in the country to rank in the top six in receiving yards per game, receptions per game (7.9) and touchdown catches (14). His 79 receptions, 1,327 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns were TCU single-season records.Despite missing three games and parts of two others due to injury in 2015, Doctson still topped all Big 12 receivers with 61 catches and 1,001 yards receiving in conference play. His 11 touchdown catches were one shy of the lead. Doctson joined two-time Biletnikoff Award winner Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech as the only players in the last 20 years to have six straight games with at least 100 yards receiving and multiple touchdown catches. Doctson is one of just eight players in Big 12 history to have multiple seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdown catches.Eleven of Doctson's 14 touchdown receptions in 2015 came with the score in single digits. He was tied for the national lead with 56 catches of at least 10 yards.Doctson received Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week honors after his 18 receptions for 267 yards and three touchdowns in TCU's 55-52 win at Texas Tech.In just three seasons, Doctson holds TCU career marks with 2,785 receiving yards and 29 touchdown catches. His 180 receptions rank second in Horned Frogs history, one behind the 181 by Kelly Blackwell (1988-91).TCU's First-Round NFL Draft Choices1936 - Jimmy Lawrence, WB, Chicago Cardinals1937 - Sam Baugh, QB, Washington Redskins1939 - Ki Aldrich, C, Chicago Cardinals1939 - Davey O'Brien, QB, Philadelphia Eagles1958 - Jim Shofner, DB, Cleveland Browns1960 - Jack Spikes, FB, Denver Broncos1961 - Bob Lilly, DT, Dallas Cowboys1970 - Norm Bulaich, RB, Baltimore Colts2001 - LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers2010 - Jerry Hughes, DE, Indianapolis Colts2014 - Jason Verrett, CB, San Diego Chargers2016 - Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins
Congrats to Doc and his family on this momentous moment; the entirety of the Frog Fam couldn't be happier for you (even if we are having deep personal struggles with cheering for your new team)!