TCU Football Releases Depth Chart for South Dakota State

Just a few hours after Gary Patterson announced that quarterback Kenny Hill would be the starter for the Frogs, TCU released a full depth chart for their first game against South Dakota State.

Here are a few observations.

• The offensive line looks pretty much like people thought it would. From left to right, it’s Joseph Noteboom, Patrick Morris, Austin Schlottman, Matt Pryor, and Aviante Collins. True freshman Lucas Niang has broken into the two-deep, as Collins’ backup, and Patterson had high praise for the tackle throughout camp.
• Cole Hunt, the transfer from Rice and brother to former Frog Joey Hunt, sits atop the depth chart at tight end.
• Taj Williams, KaVontae Turpin, Ty Slanina, and Emmanuel Porter sit atop the depth chart at wide receiver, but really just looking at that entire unit has me blown away by just how deep the Frogs are at wide receiver. It’s also very young. There is only one senior wide receiver listed on the chart.
• The famous OR situation is happening at running back. All four backs behind Kyle Hicks, Sewo Olonilua, Derrick Green, Trevorris Johnson, and Darius Anderson, find themselves as the possible No. 2 back (according to the chart). If you take any stock in the order the names are listed, then it’s interesting that Olonilua is listed second behind Hicks.
• Joseph Broadnax has earned a starting spot along the defensive line. He’s another guy that Patterson hyped up during camp this August, and it appears that he’s really playing well right now. It is also worth noting that true freshmen Ross Blacklock and Isaiah Chambers are both listed as third at their respective positions. But that, I think, is more of a depth thing than an indictment of how they’ve handled practice so far. With depth in mind, this is another position I look at and I rub my hands together because of all the depth.
• Montrel Wilson and Travin Howard are your starting linebackers. Fortunately, they now have good depth behind them. Ty Summers, Sammy Douglas, and Tyree Horton can all come in and make that unit a fearsome bunch.
• Niko Small has earned the third starting safety spot alongside Nick Orr and Denzel Johnson, beating out JUCO transfer Markell Simmons for the spot. Small showed flashes last year, and now he has an opportunity to play a major role in the secondary.
• Jeff Gladney has won the starting cornerback spot opposite of Ranthony Texada. There were rumblings about how impressive he had been during camp, and apparently they were true.
• Jonathan Song isn’t even listed after suffering an injury during camp. Gary Patterson has ruled him out for the game against South Dakota State, and suggested that Song may miss the Arkansas game as well. In his stead are walk-ons Brandon Hatfield and Ryan Graf.