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Top Targets for #CarterBoys17

The new year is here and the final month of the recruiting season for 2017 is upon us. The 2017 recruiting class for TCU was expected to be a smaller class with just eight seniors on the team, but transfers and injuries have opened up more spots for this class. Most of the focus towards the end of the recruiting cycle has been on the defensive side of the football, especially the defensive line. Here are a few of the top targets to keep an eye on for the next few weeks. It's worth noting that almost all of the following players is going to wait until National Signing Day, February 1st to make their final decisions and some may be verbally committed elsewhere, but they door is always open until they have signed their National Letter of Intent. Four-star recruits Shawn Robinson and Wes Harris along with JUCO transfer Alex Bush have already signed their paperwork and will be enrolling in classes next week so they are locked in at TCU for 2017. Let's take a look at some of the Horned Frogs biggest targets.

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Mathis is a late name in the game for TCU, but he has them in his final three along with Alabama and LSU. Mathis would add a big body to the defensive line that TCU desperately needs. Mathis is a former teammate of TCU receiver KaVontae Turpin at Neville High in Monroe, LA. He will be taking his visit to TCU the final week of January meaning TCU will be fresh on his mind on Signing Day.

Walker is a late bloomer when it comes to football players, having not started his football career until his senior year of high school. Walker is a phenomenal athlete who is just scratching the surface on his potential. Walker runs like a cornerback and hits like a linebacker and Gary Patterson is extremely high on Walker. He is currently committed to Kansas State, but has said that he will decide between Kansas State and TCU on Signing Day. His college teammate Alex Bush signed with TCU and will be enrolled for spring in Fort Worth.

Todd Harris is the newest name to be associated with TCU when he said at the Under Armour All-American Game that he would be taking an official visit to TCU. He was an early target of TCU but they backed off when they thought he was signing with LSU. Harris is a rangy ball-hawking safety that would fit nicely as the free safety in Patterson's 4-2-5 defense. Harris will also be taking his final visit to TCU the final week of January, possibly the same time as Phidarian Mathis.

Graham has been linked to TCU since Charlie Strong was fired from the University of Texas. Graham had a great relationship with Coach Strong and doesn't have any ties to the current UT staff. He stated that a personal relationship with coaches is important and he has stayed in contact with TCU defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch throughout the recruiting process. He could be a surprise flip for the Horned Frog defense on Signing Day.

Bethley as been a target for the Horned Frogs for quite a while and it looks like it will come down to Texas A&M and TCU for Bethley on Signing Day. Bethley is athletic enough to play defensive end when they need to go bigger against power running teams like Arkansas and Kansas State in 2017.

National Signing Day this year will be very interesting for the TCU Horned Frogs. Right now they sit at 11 commits including the three early enrollees. They may end up with as few as 15 commits and as many as 20. There will surely be more than one offensive lineman added and they could add another receiver and two or three more defensive linemen for depth.

They will also be gaining a few transfers from other FBS schools that will count towards this class but will have to sit one year before being eligible. It's going to be a wild ride through January for the Horned Frog coaching staff. Stay Tuned Frog Fans!

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