Transfer Spotlight – TCU WR JD Spielman
At CFB Saturdays we recognize that the landscape is always changing in College Football and the undeniable impact transfers have had on our beloved sport in recent history. Transfers have gone on to make College Football Playoff runs, win the Heisman, the National Championship, and become top NFL Draft Picks (Joe Burrow recently accomplished all of the above). Over the next few days, we will take a look at the potential impact of top Transfers in 2020 in our Transfer Spotlight Series. Today we take a look at TCU WR JD Spielman.
A Versatile Playmaker in the Big Ten
JD Spielman began his collegiate career in 2017 and instantly produced. Spielman totaled 55 REC, 830 YDS, and 2 TDs that season including an 11 REC, 200 YD performance against the 5th ranked Buckeyes. The young playmaker also made an impact in the return game and was one of the best return men in the conference. Spielman went on to be named 3rd Team All-Big Ten and was named a Freshman All-American by multiple outlets.
He followed up his stellar freshman campaign with back to back 800 yard receiving seasons in 2018 and 2019. Spielman continued to make contributions on special teams, primarily as a punt returner, and scored a TD in each season. In 2018, he was named Third Team All-Big Ten and was an honorable mention on the 2019 team. Solidified as one of the best receivers in the Big Ten, Spielman surprised many by deciding to enter the transfer portal after his 2019 season.
JD Spielman Heads South
There was speculation that Spielman would not return to the Cornhuskers for the 2020 season but he did not announce his intentions to transfer until late spring. Spielman ultimately elected to finish his career at TCU under head coach Gary Patterson. Patterson has been a mainstay for the Horned Frogs and has helped the program achieve sustained success.
With leading WR Jaelan Reagor selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft, the Horned Frogs had an obvious opening for a playmaking receiver. The fit is excellent on paper for JD Spielman, who does most of his damage out of the slot and has some big play ability, as evidenced by his success as a returner. Spielman should be expected to fill the void left by Reagor in the return game as well, and the match makes a lot of sense for both sides.
Scouting JD Spielman
JD Spielman is not the tallest receiver at 5’9” but is a well put together 180-185 pounds. Quicker than he is fast, Spielman is shifty and runs very good routes. He does most of his damage out of the slot but has experience lining up out wide. The most impressive trait in his game may be his ability to find the open space against zone coverage. Spielman consistently gets open against zone looks and is not afraid of making catches in traffic over the middle. He is a reliable pass catcher that will undoubtedly produce for the Horned Frogs.
The biggest concern in Spielman’s game is his lack of high end speed. At his size, the lack of speed can make it difficult for him to create separation against cornerbacks in man coverage. That being said, he is fast enough to take advantage of most safeties and linebackers when working out of the slot.
A Welcome Sight for the TCU Offense
The Horned Frogs return quarterback Max Duggan after an up and down freshman season. The hope is that Duggan can take a big step forward, or can be challenged by Matthew Downing or Matthew Baldwin. Surrounding the quarterback with talent is always important and the Horned Frogs brought in some playmakers to replace lost production.
At running back five star recruit Zach Evans will be expected to make an immediate impact along with sophomore back Darwin Barlow. The duo has the talent to replace the lost production of seniors Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, and the upside for Evans in particular is tremendous.
The offensive line returns a collective 30 starts in junior center Coy McMillon and senior guards Austin Myers and Kelton Hollins. At tackle the front runners are likely Colorado State transfer T.J. Storment and junior Quazzel White. They will face competition from younger players, but the starting unit looks to be solid enough for the offense to produce.
As for pass catchers, the team lost do everything star Jaelan Reagor, but hopes to replace some of his production with JD Spielman. The unit returns its next five leading pass catchers in Taye Barber, Te’Vailance Hunt, John Stephens Jr., Derius Davis, and tight end Pro Wells. There is plenty of room for improvement from that group, but there is ample experience and competition at the position.
Without JD Spielman in the fold, the outlook may not be as rosy. The team desperately needed to add some proven playmaking talent and Spielman was a great addition for the offense. With one of the best defenses in the conference (and another huge addition in LB transfer Marcel Brooks), all eyes will be on the offense. As long as the quarterback play takes a step forward, look for TCU to score more points and exceed expectations in 2020.
For more TCU content visit our team page here.
For more content like this don’t forget to subscribe to our website.
For the latest content follow us on twitter @saturdayscfb & @cfbsaturdaysC or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CFBSaturdays.
TCU Horned Frogs Purple Pride Football Semi-Trailer Image taken by ..Russ.. is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
