TCU football: Which players left after a magical season?
The deadline to declare for the NFL draft or enter the transfer portal have come and gone, now we have a much better idea of who could be back for TCU in 2023.
A second transfer portal window will open after spring practice and run from May 1-15, so there could be more departures for the portal in the future.
There weren’t many surprises with draft entries for the Horned Frogs as Max Duggan, Quentin Johnston and Kendre Miller led the group of declarers after outstanding seasons.
Here’s a complete list of who TCU is losing (and who is coming):
NFL Draft
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston
Quarterback Max Duggan
Running back Kendre Miller
Offensive lineman Steve Avila
Defensive lineman Dee Winters
Cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
Analysis: No surprises on this list. Johnston could be the first receiver drafted while Duggan was a Heisman Trophy finalist and Miller was a first team All-Big 12 selection. Avila was a consensus All-American while Hodges-Tomlinson won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. Winters led TCU in sacks most of the season and was the Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl.
Transfer portal
Wide receiver Caleb Medford
Defensive lineman Colt Ellison
Wide receiver Quincy Brown
Quarterback Sam Jackson
Cornerback Marvin Covington
Safety D’Arco Perkins-McAllister
Cornerback Kee’yon Stewart
Analysis: No surprises on this list either. Jackson was developing into a fan favorite, but was going to behind Chandler Morris in the quarterback competition. He committed to Cal shortly after entering the portal. Brown was in the receiver rotation, but a season ending injury against Tarleton led him to enter the portal. He’s committed to Sam Houston State.
Stewart was a part-time starter for three years at TCU, but was reserve piece in the secondary this year.
Graduation/Expired eligibility
Wide receiver Derius Davis
Wide receiver Taye Barber
Defensive lineman Dylan Horton
Defensive lineman Terrell Cooper
Running back Emari Demercado
Offensive lineman Alan Ali
Defensive lineman Georgie Ellis
Offensive lineman Wes Harris
Tight end Carter Ware
Wide receiver Gunnar Henderson
Cornerback Noah Daniels
Tight end Dominic DiNunzio (military commitment)
Offensive lineman Kris Dike
Kicker James Koshakji
Wide receiver Christian Macdonald
Safety Deshawn McCuin
Linebacker Palmer Nix
Defensive linemen Lwal Uguak
Analysis: The Horned Frogs will be hit hard by graduation with plenty of starters running out of eligibility. Davis, Horton, Ali, Demercado and Barber are NFL draft prospects and played significant roles for TCU this season. Harris, Cooper and Henderson also played plenty of snaps for TCU.
Transfer arrivals
Offensive lineman Tommy Brockermeyer, Alabama
Running back Trey Sanders, Alabama
Wide receiver JoJo Earle, Alabama
Wide receiver/tight end Jack Bech, LSU
Corner back Avery Helm, Florida
Wide receiver John Paul Richardson, Oklahoma State
Offensive lineman Willis Patrick, Jackson State
Defensive lineman Rick D’Abreu, East Carolina
Analysis: TCU’s transfer class has a little bit of everything. Helm, Bech and Richardson are proven commodities with starting experience at their former stops. Earle started at times at Alabama, but also dealt with injuries in both his seasons there. The Aledo speedster is hoping for a fresh start and bigger role in Fort Worth.
Brockermeyer, a former five-star recruit, is the upside play. If he lives up to his potential, he would give TCU an anchor on the offensive line. Sanders was another five-star recruit and looking to bounce back from an injury riddled stint in Alabama. Coaches at TCU rave about his size and expect him to be a factor in the running back competition.
Patrick and D’Abreu joined TCU’s class this week. Patrick is originally from Mansfield and was a Division II All-American in 2021 before starting for Deion Sanders at Jackson State last season. D’Abreu was solid at his time at East Carolina and projects to be a depth piece or potential starter up front for TCU.
