Assessing TCU's targets for 2017
National Signing Day has come and gone, and now TCU has turned its full attention to the 2017 recruiting class.
The Horned Frogs have already been working on this class for months. They have two commitments, both from players in the Rivals150: 4-star Aledo offensive lineman Wes Harris (No. 104) and 4-star Denton Guyer quarterback Shawn Robinson (No. 57).
Those two give TCU’s 2017 recruiting class a strong foundation on which to build as this year’s recruiting cycle begins in earnest. The Frogs have offered plenty of the country’s top players.
Here are some of the players holding scholarship offers from TCU:
DT Corey Bethley - Katy (Texas)
TCU offered 3-star defensive tackle Corey Bethley on Jan. 14. The recruit from Katy also has offers from Baylor, Houston and Washington.
Bethley has played both defensive tackle and defensive end. He has shown himself to be a good pass rusher. He likely projects as a tackle if he can add some weight, and he would be a disruptive force in the middle of any defense.
LB Anthony Hines - Plano (Texas) East
The Frogs have been part of the chase for Anthony Hines for a long time. The 4-star linebacker has offers from dozens of schools, many of which he received while he was still a sophomore.
Hines has the physical tools to be very successful at the college level. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, he uses great speed to chase down ball carriers in the backfield. He has an elusiveness that allows him to slip past blockers and make tackles for loss on a consistent basis.
Now entering his senior year, the time is approaching for him to narrow down his choices. The Plano East product is expected to have programs like Oklahoma, Texas and USC among his leaders. If TCU could land him, he would be able to immediately make an impact in head coach Gary Patterson’s defense.
WR Omar Manning - Lancaster (Texas)
A 4-star wide receiver from Lancaster, Texas, Omar Manning has seen his recruitment escalate quickly over the last few months. He has offers from Arizona State, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas A&M to name a few.
Manning likes TCU’s wide-open, pass-heavy scheme. He also likes the atmosphere of the program, saying it feels like a family.
The 6-foot-3 receiver recently went to Texas A&M for junior day. He told Jason Howell he also plans to attend junior days at Oklahoma and TCU, and that he hopes to make a decision later in the spring.
OL Tyrese Robinson - McKinney (Texas) Boyd
TCU offered local offensive guard Tyrese Robinson in January. The 4-star recruit from McKinney Boyd committed to Oklahoma the weekend before National Signing Day.
Robinson is one of the top rated offensive linemen in the nation for 2017. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds and holds offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Michigan, Ole Miss, Texas and UCLA among others.
The Frogs have battled with the Sooners on the recruiting trail much more since joining the Big 12. Oklahoma has managed to flip a lot of former TCU commits during that time. TCU will try to return the favor as it pursues Robinson.
Other notable TCU offers:
RB J.K. Dobbins - La Grange (Texas)
WR Camron Buckley - Cedar Hill (Texas)
OL Walker Little - Houston (Texas) Episcopal
DE Taquon Graham - Temple (Texas)
LB Levi Jones - Austin (Texas) Westlake
CB Kary Vincent - Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial