TCU OT Lucas Niang to have season ending surgery

Coming off of the heels of the best moment of TCU Football’s 2019 is some bad news, as it is being reported that star offensive tackle Lucas Niang is having season-ending surgery.

According to Pro Football Network, the surgery is for a torn hip labrum — and issue the potential first round draft pick has been dealing with since fall camp. It has a 3-4 month recovery window.

Niang sought advice from a specialist earlier this week and was advised to have surgery and shut himself down. He chose to play in the game against Texas, likely his last as a Horned Frog. What a way to end your TCU career, though.

Niang came to TCU from Connecticut, as a relatively unheralded recruit — though he was a top 50 tackle nationally and the number one prospect out of Connecticut. He worked his way into being an elite offensive lineman, and likely would have been a mid-round NFL Draft pick had he declared last spring. Niang chose to return to TCU for his senior season instead, speaking of having unfinished business with the Frogs. Unfortunately, he won’t get a chance to be on the field to complete his goals.

Consistently rated as one of the top tackles in college football by Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a sack over the course of his entire junior season in 2018. He is still projected to be a high round selection in the 2020 draft, and could potentially go in the first round if fully healthy by the Combine.

We wish Lucas a speedy recovery — and thank him for playing one last game for the Frogs Saturday. In his absence, expect Quazzel White to slide over from left tackle, with the potential of true freshman Andrew Coker getting snaps as well.