Countdown to College Football Kickoff: Top NFL prospects at TCU
College football is scheduled to return Saturday, August 29. Each day until then, NFLDraftScout.com will be evaluating the rosters of the best teams in college football, including all 64 within the Power Five conferences.
TCU Horned Frogs
Head Coach: Gary Patterson (20th season)
2019 Record: 5-7
2020 NFL Draft Picks: Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles – 1st Round, No. 21 overall
Jeff Gladney, CB, Minnesota Vikings – 1st Round, No. 31 overall
Ross Blacklock, DT, Houston Texans – 2nd Round, No. 40 overall
Lucas Niang, OT, Kansas City Chiefs – 3rd Round, No. 96 overall
Vernon Scott, DB, Green Bay Packers – 7th Round, No. 236 overall
Overview:
For just the third time in 19 seasons at TCU, head coach Gary Patterson failed to lead the Horned Frogs to the postseason, coming up one victory short of qualifying at a disappointing 5-7, including just 3-6 in conference play.
The poor play was especially disappointing given that TCU had a good opportunity to go bowling by hosting West Virginia (then 4-8) in the final game of the year, only to lose 20-17. The loss to the Mountaineers ranked right there with a Week Three slip-up against SMU as the two biggest blights on TCU’s record, with the Horned Frogs playing conference heavyweights Oklahoma (28-24), Baylor (29-23) and Oklahoma State (34-27) close and beating Texas by 10 in late October.
That kind of inconsistency is to be expected when playing a new quarterback and TCU should be better off in 2020 with now-sophomore Max Duggan now more experienced. While he was supported by a talented stable of running backs, Duggan quietly set new TCU freshman record for passing, generating 2,077 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air while also chipping in another 555 yards on the ground, as well as six scores.
Of course, for whatever leaning Duggan did on his backs last year, he also was able to rely on superstar wideout Jalen Reagor, who along with runners Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua (both signed as UDFAs with the Dallas Cowboys), is now in the NFL.
TCU will also be undergoing significant changes on defense – which ranked a very un-Patterson-like 57 in the country in points allowed last season (26.4).
To get back into postseason contention in 2020, Duggan and TCU’s offense will need to find new playmakers.
Fortunately, plenty of those return in TCU’s secondary.
Featured 2021 NFL Draft Prospect: Trevon Moehrig, S, 6-1, 208, 4.50, JR
One of the real breakout stars of the Big XII last season, Moehrig earned First Team all-conference accolades in his first full season of starting action, generating seven turnovers for the always defense-oriented Horned Frogs.
A Texas native, Moehrig signed with TCU as a four-star recruit, turning down the likes of Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Stanford, among others. He saw most of his action on special teams as a freshman, but it didn’t take him long to prove a standout there, making six of his 16 stops on the year on this unit.
While Moehrig showed flashes in 2018 – even starting two games – few likely anticipated his quick ascent a year later when he teamed with fellow underclassmen Ar’Darius Washington to give TCU one of the best safety tandems in the conference.
Moehring jumped to 62 tackles (second only to linebacker Garrett Wallow’s 125) and was topped only by Washington in terms of interceptions, collecting four of the duo’s nine picks on the year. Along with the interceptions, Moehring also showed a knack for punching the ball free, forcing two fumbles and collecting another.
Moehring’s talent – not to mention Patterson’s track record for producing quality NFL prospects – are sure to make him a heavily scouted prospect this fall. The flashes are certainly there but to rival the first round selection his former friend in the secondary, Jeff Gladney, earned this past spring, Moehring must tighten up some of the inconsistencies in his game.
Strengths: Looks the part of an NFL safety with a well-put-together frame, including a tapered middle and good muscular definition. Highly alert player who trusts his eyes, following them to the ball. Smooth accelerator with an excellent downhill closing burst, generating real knockdown and fumble-forcing explosiveness.
Isn’t reliant upon lowering shoulders into ballcarriers, showing impressive range, balance and hand-eye coordination to lasso ballcarriers in the open field, as well. Breaks down nicely and uses his wide wingspan effectively, giving himself quite the catch radius. Has impressed the TCU coaching staff and teammates with his tackling reliability throughout his career, earning Special Teams MVP as a true freshman with six tackles, before finishing second on the team in stops in 2019, his first year as a full-time starter.
Instincts and closing speed translate well into the passing game, where Moehrig shows excellent route anticipation for a young play. Perhaps best of all, he’s a natural ballhawk, showing soft hands and body control to make difficult interceptions look easy.
While at his best facing the quarterback, Moehrig doesn’t panic when his back is turned, recognizing when the receiver is positioning himself to collect the pass and reacting without panic, ripping at the ball as it arrives to force the breakup or even better.
Full-service safety, experienced playing back, near the line and covering receivers out of the nickel, showing impressive quickness, balance and fluidity in his backpedal and transition.
Weaknesses: Highly aggressive and comes in too hot, at times, leading to occasional missed tackles and over-pursuits. Isn’t the consistent thumper his size suggests and will run around blocks, rather than fighting through them, at times. More of an ankle swiper than intimidator… Susceptible to double-moves and needs a few steps to recover when he gets caught flat-footed. Sneaks peeks into the backfield too often and loses his receiver. May lack elite straight-line speed. Exploded in 2019 while playing in one of the more talented secondaries in the country and won’t be sneaking up on anyone in 2020 with first round cornerback Jeff Gladney now a member of the Minnesota Vikings…
NFL Player Comparison: Justin Reid, Houston Texans – The 6-1, 203 pound Reid earned the 68 overall pick of the 2018 draft following a breakout campaign at Stanford where he nabbed five interceptions, showcasing a similar brand of instincts and ballskills as Moehrig, along with good size.
Current NFL Draft Projection: Second-Third Round
The Top 10 NFL Prospects at TCU:
1. Trevon Moehrig, S, 6-1, 208, 4.55, JR
2. Garret Wallow, OLB, 6-1, 215, 4.60, SR
3. Pro Wells, TE, 6-3, 257, 4.75, JR
4. Ochaun Mathis, DE, 6-5, 235, 4.70, rSoph
5. Corey Bethley, DT, 6-1, 290, 4.90, SR
6. Taye Barber, WR, 5-09, 186, 4.40, JR
7. T.J. Storment, OT, 6-6, 320, 5.15, rSR – Graduate transfer from Colorado State
8. Ar’Darius Washington, CB/S, 5-08, 175, 4.45, rSoph
9. Coy McMillon, C, 6-4, 285, 4.95, rJR
10. Artayvious Lynn, TE, 6-5, 265, 4.85, rSR
*All 40-yard dash times are estimates
