Frogs finishing great January on recruiting trail

TCU is enjoying a lot of success on the recruiting trail to start 2016.

The Horned Frogs have added four commitments in January. Those recruits have elevated TCU's 2016 recruiting class to No. 15 in the Rivals team rankings. They also filled some of TCU's biggest roster needs.

First, Ross Blacklock announced his decision to go to TCU at the Army All-America Bowl on Jan. 9. The 3-star defensive tackle fulfilled a major need for the Frogs. Davion Pierson has played his last snap at TCU, and Aaron Curry and Tevin Lawson are both seniors next year.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Blacklock gives them a big body along the defensive line who can disrupt offenses as a run stuffer and a pass rusher. He will likely see playing time as a freshman.

Then Darius Anderson committed to the Frogs on Jan. 20. TCU had been looking for a running back since Trayveon Williams decommitted in November, and they found his replacement in Anderson. He's an elusive back who makes quick cuts to break off big runs.

The Frogs like to have versatile backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Anderson gives them that. His smaller build also provides a nice contrast to the bigger Sewo Olonilua.

Those two would have been enough to make the Frogs happy with their work this month. But this week brought two more major commitments.

Camron Williams announced his commitment Sunday after his official visit. He has the size at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds to be a dangerous weapon on the outside for the Frogs.

Co-offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham have made a point to recruit as many athletes at wide receiver as possible since they arrived. Williams is another athletic receiver for the Frogs to use in their Air Raid scheme.

The next day, TCU got a commitment from Lucas Niang. The offensive tackle is the No. 2 recruit in Connecticut. The Frogs lose four starters along the offensive line from last season. Niang will be able to give them depth there.

TCU can draw even more satisfaction from knowing it beat out tough competition for these players.

Anderson had offers from in-state recruiting powers Texas and Texas A&M. Blacklock picked TCU over LSU and TAMU. Williams held offers from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. And Niang chose the Frogs over offers from Auburn, Miami (FL) and Tennessee.

The Frogs have built up momentum over the first month of 2016. They'll hope to keep that going in the final week before National Signing Day.