Spring Practice Position Preview: Wide Receivers

Purple Menace continues our position previews as we head towards spring practice. We have already looked at the quarterbacks and running backs, so today we take a closer look at the wide receivers, which could be one of the strengths for TCU in 2013. The Frogs have to replace two of their top three receivers from last season, but they have the young talent to fill the voids left by Boyce and Dawson.

2012 Recap

Brandon Carter: 36 receptions, 590 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

LaDarius Brown: 27 receptions, 385 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

Cam White: 21 receptions, 284 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Kolby Listenbee: 1 reception, 59 yards.

David Bush: 4 receptions, 36 yards.

David Porter: 2 receptions, 18 yards.

Griffin Gilbert (TE): 2 receptions, 11 yards.

Players lost: Josh Boyce (NFL Draft), Skye Dawson (Graduation), David Bush (Transfer), and Corey Fuller TE (Graduation).

New Additions

Josh Doctson- 6'4, 185 lbs: Transfer from Wyoming. Sat out 2012 season because of NCAA transfer rules.

Ja'Juan Story- 6'4, 208 lbs: Transfer from Florida, redshirted in 2011. Sat out 2012 season because of NCAA transfer rules.

Bryson Burnett (TE)- Enrolled early, will participate in spring practice.

The Big Questions

(1) Losing Josh Boyce is a big loss for this receiving core, but as I said above, they have young players capable of filling the void. The biggest question for me is, can Brandon Carter step-up and be the go to guy when the Frogs need a big play? He has shown the ability in the past, but he was not the number one receiver. When the defense is focused on him, can he get open and make the big time catches?

(2) I also want to see if LaDarius Brown can build upon his five touchdown season in 2012. Brown has the size and speed to be a dominant receiver, but will the offensive coordinators start giving him more opportunities to use his abilities to his advantage?

(3) Can Josh Doctson and Ju'Juan Story step in and make an immediate impact? Doctson was a three-star recruit and Story was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. Both players have the size to be solid receivers for this team.

The bottom line

A lot of the success of the receiving core will depend upon the offensive line and quarterback. TCU has the playmakers, but will the o-line give Pachall or Boykin enough time to throw? The passing game will be much improved if Pachall wins his starting job back.