TCU's Patterson knows signees really want to be Frogs

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) TCU coach Gary Patterson has a clear indication that this group of signees really wants to play for the Horned Frogs.

''This class, over half of them chose TCU when we were coming off a 4-8 season, and they didn't waver ... 12-14 of them chose TCU when TCU wasn't 12-1,'' Patterson said Wednesday. ''To me, that's really important to show they picked the school, the university, for the right reasons. And they all fit a need.''

Just two months after wrapping up the regular season with a share of the Big 12 title, before routing Mississippi in the Peach Bowl, the Frogs introduced 21 signees. The class includes 18 players from Texas, 11 of them from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

While TCU lost only one offensive lineman and one receiver from that 12-win team, there are several seniors at both positions for the upcoming season.

Five receivers and four offensive linemen, including center Jozie Milton from Clinton, Louisiana, are in the class.

''We only graduated one offensive linemen, next year's senior class will have six,'' said Patterson, adding that there will also be four senior receivers next season. ''We actually picked up guys we feel fill those positions.''

That includes a pair of four-star receivers from nearby, Jaelan Austin from Grand Prairie and Jarrison Stewart from Mesquite.

DeShawn Raymond, a four-star defensive back from Metairie, Louisiana, is already enrolled at school and will be able to take part in spring practice. He could help fill a need in the secondary, where three TCU starters last season were seniors.

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TCU

Top 25 Class: No.

Best in class: DeShawn Raymond, cb, Metairie, La.

Best of the rest: Jaelan Austin, wr, Grand Prairie, Texas; Breylin Mitchell, de, Round Rock, Texas; Jarrison Stewart, wr, Mesquite, Texas.

Late addition: None, though the Frogs waited late Wednesday on another still-undecided receiver.

One that got away: Wide receiver J.F. Thomas, a four-star recruit according to Rivals, had long ago committed to TCU. But he instead signed with Texas Tech following a weekend visit to the school where his high school coach just became a staff member.