TCU Football Adds 21 Recruits On 2024 Early Signing Day Class
The TCU Horned Frogs flexed their recruiting muscles once again. Twenty-one high school recruits signed their National Letter of Intent (NLI, not to be confused with NIL) on Wednesday, 18 of which came from in-state commitments. The recruiting class ranks second in the new Big 12, behind only Texas Tech. Nationally, the class ranks 31st.
The class is headlined by Aledo four-star QB Hauss Hejny (hay-nee); in total, three 4-star recruits signed on with the Horned Frogs.
TCU Signs Strong 2024 Early Signing Day Class
While Hejny may be the most recognizable name on the list, receiver Gekyle Baker is the highest-rated recruit, per 247Sports. The Brownsboro, Texas, native ranked 23rd nationally among receivers, hauling in 147 receptions for 2,616 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career, all Brownsboro records. Baker was also a state-contending track athlete, qualifying for Texas 4A regionals in the 200 meter hurdles and high jump as a sophomore.
Hejny led Aledo to its 12th 5A Division I state championship earlier this month. The Bearcats finished 2023 with a perfect 16-0 record and a no-doubt 51-8 state championship victory over Smithson Valley. Hejny threw for almost 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns his senior year – a year which he sat most second halves due to Aledo blowing their opponents out. He competed in the famed Elite 11 and is the nation's 12th-ranked QB.
Running back Jeremy Payne (Missouri City, TX) rounds out the four-star signees in the Early Signing Period. Payne earned unanimous first-team All-District honors in 20-6A his sophomore and junior seasons, averaging over 10 yards per carry. Not only was he the 20th-ranked running back nationally, but was also a terrific baseball player, batting over .400 his final two seasons.
Offensive Signees
Joining Payne in the backfield is Decatur back Nate Palmer. Palmer rushed for nearly 5,000 yards in his career, including 1,763 yards and 29 total touchdowns his senior year. As a junior, he topped those marks, rushing for over 2,500 yards and 33 total touchdowns in a season where Decatur made the state semifinals.
Dozie Ezukanma – brother of Erik, a Texas Tech receiver and current Miami Dolphin – is the other receiver signed in this recruiting class. Dozie played his football at Timber Creek (Fort Worth) and totaled 877 yards and 12 touchdowns a senior and doubled as a kick returner. TCU also signed tight end Cole Snodgrass (The Woodlands, TX), a three-star versatile athlete who posed a receiving and rushing threat at College Park High School.
The objective for this offensive class was made clear: Build the offensive line. TCU signed five offensive tackles and another interior lineman. Tobias Steppes (Lancaster, TX), Wesley Harvey (Muskogee, OK), Ryan Hughes (The Woodlands, TX), Samir Camacho (Houston, TX), and Mitch Hodnett (Monroe, LA) all come in as tackles, although some may be moved inside. Creece Brister (Stephenville, TX) comes in as an interior offensive lineman and is a state champion shot-putter in 4A.
The six inbound offensive linemen will have an opportunity to play early on, as the TCU offensive line thins out significantly this offseason.
Defensive Signees
Three prospects come in on the defensive line: Edge rusher Travis Jackson (Tyler, TX), lineman Tristan Johnson (Hurst, TX), and lineman Sterlin Brooks (Fort Worth, TX). Jackson logged 69 tackles (11 for a loss) and four sacks his senior year, a season in which he earned 10-6A First-Team All-District honors; he also ran an 11.68 100-meter dash at 240 pounds. Johnson recorded 60 tackles, 18 for a loss, and 10 sacks his senior year at L.D. Bell High School. Brooks played his high school football for North Crowley.
Three additional recruits bolster the defensive secondary. Corner Devondre McGee comes out of Conroe, TX, as a high three-star recruit. His senior year, McGee forced 12 pass breakups, picked off a pass, forced two fumbles, and returned another for a touchdown; he also blocked two kicks. Safety Devyn Hidrogo (Franklin, TX) played in three consecutive 3A Division I state championship games, winning both his sophomore and junior years. He's also an accomplished long-jumper. Safety Kaden McFadden (Texarkana, TX) played his high school ball at Pleasant Grove, winning 8-4A Co-Defensive Newcomer for Division II as a sophomore.
Athlete Julian Knox joins teammate Brooks out of North Crowley, playing cornerback. He also played quarterback as a junior before transitioning to defense his senior season.
Specialist Signees
TCU added a pair of specialists this cycle: Kicker Kyle Lemmermann (Southlake, TX) and punter Ethan Craw out of Australia.
Lemmermann was the top-ranked kicker in the nation, per 247Sports, going a perfect 92/92 on extra points and making a 50-yard field goal his senior season. He also kicked off, sending 88 of 128 kicks for touchbacks. Lemmermann will likely be called upon as the kicker in 2024 as senior Griffin Kell departs.
Craw comes to Fort Worth from Tasmania, attending the same academy as former TCU punter Jordan Sandy.
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