TCU Horned Frogs: True Freshmen To Watch in 2020
Every February (and now December) college football teams sign a new class of football players to join their program. It’s exciting to dream about what a prospect can become in the future but come September, some of those freshman will redshirt and wait for their opportunity to shine, while a few will be given the chance to make an immediate impact this season. In this series we will take a team by team look at the true freshman who could be given the opportunity to make a name for themselves in 2020. Today we will look at the TCU Horned Frogs true freshmen to watch in 2020.
Zach Evans – RB
Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua are both gone and with them their 1,360 rushing yards in 2019. No other running back on the team ran for over 100 yards on the season. Quarterback Max Duggan should be primed for a big season in his second year, but he will need the running game to step up. Just because the returning players are inexperienced doesn’t mean they aren’t talented. Darwin Barlow and Daimarqua Foster are both redshirt freshmen who showed glimpses of their potential last season. Evans has a ton of potential in his own right, and will be in the competition to earn carries for TCU in 2019. He may have taken a winding road to get to TCU, but the path to the starting spot is in front of him.
Evans ran for 1,600 yards and 20 TDs for North Shore High School in Texas. He has the build of a college running back already and runs with the power and pop you would expect. He also has great speed and burst to get through the hole and race past defenders for big gains. He combines these tools with his excellent agility and elusiveness which makes him impossible to square up. Evans can truly beat a defense every possible way in the running game. There may be more experienced backs on the roster but very few players in the country have the complete skill set Evans has. He will be in the mix at TCU from week one and his role will only grow as he displays his rare abilities.
Quentin Johnston – WR
Star receiver Jalen Reagor will be making plays for the Philadelphia Eagles next season so TCU will have to find a new lead receiver in 2020. Taye Barber had some success the past two seasons tallying over 300 receiving yards each year and should continue to see his role increase. Te’Vailance Hunt also had over 300 receiving yards and is a bigger receiver who compliments Barber well. Dylan Thomas has shown flashes of his ability but has missed a lot of time with injuries. There is a need for receivers to step up, and for a go to receiver to emerge. Johnston has the ability to crack that rotation to start the year and become a number 1 type option as the season progresses.
Quentin Johnston was a star at Temple High School in Texas. He has excellent size and length at the receiver position. He needs to add weight and improve his route running, but the physical potential is overwhelming. Johnston has long stride and good top end speed, he seems to chew up turf with each step. He can beat defenders deep and tracks the ball well when it is in the air. Johnston has excellent leaping ability and good body control, winning jump balls regularly. He will be an instant deep threat in the TCU offense and has the physical ability to become a number one receiver. We expect Johnston to be among the top three receivers for TCU this season.
Patrick Jenkins – DT
The Horned Frogs’ defense loses star defensive tackle Ross Blacklock to the NFL . Even with Blacklock on the team last year TCU only totaled 22 sacks last year. There is a need for players to step up on the defensive front and create pressure on the opposing offense. Corey Bethley has been a starter at defensive tackle for the last two seasons and will likely start at tackle again. Terrell Cooper played in all 12 games last year and will have an opportunity to win the other starting tackle position. There is not much proven depth at tackle, so a talented player like Jenkins has a good chance to make the two deep right off the bat.
Patrick Jenkins was a standout on the defensive line for John Ehret High School in Louisiana. From a physical standpoint he is close to being college ready and plays with a good motor. He has a good initial burst and does a great job of penetrating the gaps. Jenkins is good with his hands and already has good pass rushing moves. He is an advanced player for his age and will be ready to play right away. He has the ability to provide a boost as a pass rusher on the defensive interior. Jenkins will benefit from a college weight program and should get stronger as he progresses. There is an opportunity for Jenkins to be in the two deep to start the year and we think he will capitalize on it.
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