TCU Football

TCU owns eight wins in its last nine meetings with SMU, but because they've been favored by so much so often, the Frogs are only 3-6 against the spread during that span. TCU will play as a big favorite again when it battles the Mustangs for the Iron Skillet on Friday night in Dallas. 

Point spread: The Horned Frogs opened as 24-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 44.8-19.9 Horned Frogs (college football picks on every game)

   

Why the TCU Horned Frogs can cover the spread

The Frogs are 2-1 on the season following last week's 41-20 victory over Iowa State. TCU scored on its first two possessions, led 24-7 at the half and 41-10 with 10 minutes to go, but it blew the cover as 24-point favorites by allowing the Cyclones to score the last 10 meaningless points of the game. For the day, TCU outgained Iowa State 481-355, outrushing the Cyclones 229-138.

Two weeks ago, the Frogs lost to Arkansas in double overtime 41-38, but they actually outgained the Hogs that day 572-403. In fact, TCU has outgained and outrushed all three of its opponents this season.

    

Why the SMU Mustangs can cover the spread

With its 2-1 start, Southern Methodist already has as many wins this season as it did all of last season. It's also 3-0 ATS. The Mustangs opened with a 34-21 triumph over North Texas, covering as seven-point favorites on the road. They then lost at Baylor 40-13, but that game was closer than that final score might indicate, and they hung on for the cover as 34-point underdogs. And last week, SMU beat Liberty 29-14, sneaking out a lucky cover at 14 points.

The Mustangs took a 7-0 lead on the Flames last week with a touchdown on their first drive of the day, but they only led by five points late into the game. Fortunately, SMU scored twice in the last minute—on a short field goal and an interception return—to secure the victory and steal the cash.

Southern Methodist outgained Liberty 495-280 and rushed the ball 47 times for 286 yards.

Last year, the Mustangs held an early lead on TCU, fell down by 25 in the third quarter but battled back to within five points at 42-37 before fading. Still, it was an easy cover as 37-point dogs.

   

Smart pick

TCU gave up a bunch of points last year, and it hasn't been that much better so far this year. Meanwhile, SMU gave Baylor a decent battle a couple of weeks ago, only trailing the Bears by 13 points through three quarters. The Frogs might well still win this game, but the smart money rides the Mustangs.

   

Betting trends

TCU is 8-1 straight up in its last nine games against SMU.

TCU is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games against SMU.

SMU is 0-13 SU in its last 13 games against teams with winning records.

    

All college football betting lines and point-spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds-tracker app.

John Diarse is embracing his opportunity with the TCU Horned Frogs.

On a pivotal third down Saturday, the junior transfer from LSU secured a 35-yard grab with the Iowa State Cyclones' D'Andre Payne draped all over him. The wide receiver entered halftime with a game-high four receptions and 64 yards.

TCU took a 17-7 lead later in the drive and boosted its advantage to 24-7 with the third of three rushing touchdowns 48 seconds before the break.   

Kenny Hill's 2016 season debut shouldn't be anything like his first start as a college quarterback—and that's a great thing.

Sure, the former Texas A&M phenom will have a chance to put up gaudy numbers like he did against South Carolina almost two years ago. His new team, TCU, is opening the season with FCS program South Dakota State.

But he won't have the focus of an entire college football landscape on him like he did on that famous Thursday night in August 2014. The Horned Frogs are hosting the Jackrabbits in prime time on one of the biggest opening Saturdays in college football history. TCU fans will definitely watch, but that's about it.

If Hill wins the starting quarterback job at TCU, his return to the spotlight will be gradual. The Horned Frogs take on an Arkansas team he beat for his last win at Texas A&M before easier matchups against Iowa State and SMU.

Then comes the home matchup on October 1 against Oklahoma and the chance to become a full-fledged superstar again.

That return to the spotlight will happen for Hill, provided the TCU coaching staff makes the obvious choice for him to be Trevone Boykin's replacement over Foster Sawyer, who was last seen throwing three interceptions in a loss to Oklahoma.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson isn't automatically giving the top job to Hill, though. According to Max Olson of ESPN.com, Patterson wants to name his starter "about nine or 10 days out" from the September 3 opener against the Jackrabbits

"We judge a quarterback—I've said it once, and I'll say it 100 times—does he make everybody else better when he steps on the field?" Patterson said. "Does the offense move better? Doesn't have to be the best athlete. Has to be the guy that makes everybody else go."

It's a completely different spot than where Hill was two years ago. He was the successor to Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, and his 511-yard, three-touchdown debut against South Carolina made him an overnight sensation.

In one game, he went from "Kenny Hill" to "Kenny Football" to the preferred "Kenny Trill."

He threw for 1,234 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions over the next four games, which were all victories for the Aggies. Hill was a legitimate Heisman contender and the heir to Manziel's throne at A&M.

Then came the problems. He threw three interceptions in a road loss to Mississippi State and two more in a home loss against Ole Miss. Texas A&M pulled Hill in the fourth quarter of a 59-0 beatdown at the hands of Alabama, with his sixth pick in three games serving as the last pass he's thrown in a college game.

Kyle Allen became the starter after Hill received a two-game suspension for a violation of team rules. He never took another snap for the Aggies, opting to transfer after the start of the new year. 

It was a messy divorce after what was such a bright beginning for Hill in Aggieland, and Hill has declined to share the details publicly. TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham said he believes the situation at post-Manziel Texas A&M played into Hill's downfall there.

"It's kind of unfair," Meacham said, per David Ubben of Sports on Earth. "You're a young kid, you roll into a school where the Heisman Trophy winner is a guy that misses meetings and does whatever he wants to, and in your mind, you think, 'Well, that's just how you're supposed to do it.'"

Even with Hill's on- and off-the-field issues toward the end of his spell at Texas A&M, Meacham and TCU wanted him on board. As Ubben writes, Meacham did his research on what went into Hill's departure and then got the final approval from Patterson.  

"[Kenny] needed to get out of the limelight," Patterson told Ubben. "He needed to get back to just being Kenny Hill, the kid I recruited out of high school." 

Hill went through the humbling process of taking classes at Tarrant County College last spring, away from the hounding spotlight he had in College Station. He later joined the Horned Frogs and spent the season on the sidelines, learning from Boykin.

That journey from instant hero to troubled former starter to JUCO student to sidelined transfer makes Hill one of the most intriguing—and potential-filled—quarterbacks to make a move in the last couple of offseason cycles.

Although his production deteriorated in the three-game losing streak at Texas A&M, Hill finished 2014 with a completion percentage of 66.7 percent. He threw nearly three times as many touchdowns as picks. His average of 8.3 yards per pass attempt would've been good enough for top 20 nationally in the 2014 season.

Hill is clearly talented, as evidenced by his red-hot play to begin his tenure as Texas A&M's starter. A more focused Hill who has had to work hard in a heated battle with Sawyer should be a spectacle.

"Coach P said, 'We want to give you this opportunity, but you've got to prove to us that you deserve this opportunity,'" Hill said, per Gil Lebreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "And that's what I try to do now—prove day by day that I deserve this chance."

With this chance, Hill should become a star again. After all, this is an offense coached by Meacham and Sonny Cumbie. In their first season as co-offensive coordinators, they turned Boykin, who was playing receiver when they arrived on campus, into an All-American candidate.  

Hill's quick release and starting experience in a wide-open offense makes him a perfect fit for TCU's scheme. While he didn't rack up many rushing yards at Texas A&M, he's elusive and can make big throws on the run.

Patterson on Hill vs. Sawyer: "Obviously Kenny can really run. Very athletic. Foster is a 6-6 guy that throws all the balls."

— Samantha Calimbahin (@SamCalFWB) July 18, 2016

"I think if everything comes together for TCU's offense, Hill can be an efficient leader who hits the big plays and makes a few more with his feet," Olson wrote earlier this month. "People tend to forget Hill was No. 2 in FBS in passing yards entering his final start at Texas A&M. ... If he can stay focused and avoid turnovers, he can be really good."

He might not inherit a Josh Doctson or a Kolby Listenbee out wide, but he does have KaVontae Turpin, who was one of college football's most exciting and versatile newcomers in 2015. Experienced targets Deante Gray and Ty Slanina are both back from long-term injuries.

Perhaps most importantly, Hill should have the security of knowing he doesn't have to do it all by himself. TCU returns eight starters on a classic Patterson 4-2-5 defense, and that unit should be the strength of the team in 2016. Hill just didn't have that kind of help from the other side at Texas A&M.

Put that defense together with Hill playing at his full potential, and it's easy to talk yourself into TCU challenging for a College Football Playoff berth this season.

If Hill beats out Sawyer—and, as Patterson told Lebreton, TCU will need both of them in the regular season—all the pieces are there for a gradual return to the spotlight.

It won't be a quiet one. He was named the Big 12's preseason newcomer of the year last month, and he'll be sure to receive plenty of attention once Patterson makes the official call on his QB1.

But he'll have time to build his buzz at a normal pace in September instead of the instant rush of two years ago that may have led to his undoing. No one is going to crown him the early-season Heisman again.

And that's just fine for Hill. He seems locked into taking full advantage of his second chance and making sure that, this time, college football is talking about him all season long.

     

Stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.

Justin Ferguson is a National College Football Analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.

Gary Patterson and the rest of the Horned Frogs are ready to start this college football season. Michael Felder, Adam Kramer and Barrett Sallee discuss the kind of team TCU is and what its season will look like.

Drop a comment below and let us know what you think.

Doug Meacham quote courtesy David Dubin of Sports On Earth.

Coming off an injury-filled 2015 season, the TCU Horned Frogs are off to a bad start in 2016, with running back Shaun Nixon set to miss the entire season.

Continue for updates.

---

Nixon Ruled Out for 2016

Monday, July 18

Speaking at Big 12 media days Monday, head coach Gary Patterson revealed Nixon suffered an injury that will prevent him from taking the field this season, per John Taylor of College Football Talk.

Patterson did not specify what Nixon's injury is or how it occurred. This marks the second time in three years that Nixon will not see the field. He suffered a knee injury during an August practice as a true freshman that forced him to redshirt in 2014.

All of TCU's injuries at wide receiver last season (Josh Doctson, Emanuel Porter) made Nixon a big presence in the passing game. He finished second on the team with 47 receptions and fourth with 501 receiving yards.

The good news is that TCU is well-stocked at the running back position. KaVontae Turpin showed promise in limited duty last year, running for 116 yards on 20 carries, and Kyle Hicks was third on the team with 262 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Horned Frogs also added former Michigan running back Derrick Green as a graduate transfer who is eligible to play in 2016.

Losing Nixon hurts TCU's depth at running back, but Patterson has been terrific at plugging players in who can keep the team playing at a high level. The Horned Frogs should be fine when they open the season against South Dakota State on Sept. 3.

After initially committing to play at Baylor, 4-star defensive end Brandon Bowen decided to stay in Texas during his collegiate career, as he committed to TCU on Wednesday.

Greg Powers of Scout.com was the first to report Bowen's decision.  

Baylor granted Bowen his release on Friday after the sexual assault scandal that led to the dismissal of head coach Art Briles, per ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach.

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Bowen is the No. 12 weak-side defensive end, the No. 23 player from the state of Texas and the No. 147 overall recruit in the class of 2016.

Bowen will be eligible to play immediately for the Horned Frogs, and he could provide an instant boost to their pass rush.

The Trophy Club, Texas, native is on the small side for a defensive end at 6'5" and 227 pounds, but with a 40-yard-dash time of 4.63 seconds, per 247Sports, he has the speed and the agility needed to beat offensive tackles off the edge.

TCU ranked 33rd in the nation in sacks last season, and while Bowen may need some seasoning and to work on bulking up before becoming a big-time contributor, he has a legitimate chance to work his way into the rotation early on.

Not only does adding Bowen brighten the future of TCU's defense significantly, but it also damages one of its chief Big 12 rivals in Baylor. And that is integral as the two schools perennially jockey for College Football Playoff positioning.

   

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Star ranking courtesy of 247Sports.

Coming off a free-agency period in which over $1 billion was spent, per the Comeback, franchises will be looking toward the NFL draft to fill the remaining holes on the roster.

The draft is the only opportunity to add an impact player on a cheap contract. The most a rookie can earn per year with their first contract is about $6 million, and the vast majority of rookie contracts average much less.

One of the best bargains from the 2016 NFL draft class will be TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson. The 6’2”, 202-pounder dominated his collegiate competition and earned the title of top receiver. He should be the first receiver taken this year, even with the stiff competition from Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell and Baylor's Corey Coleman.

As talented as Treadwell and Coleman are, each had injury issues in 2015. Treadwell was flagged for a medical recheck at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole. Coleman had to undergo sports-hernia surgery. Even if they were healthy, they might not have been as impressive as Doctson.

Doctson quickly developed into a dominant force after transferring to TCU from Wyoming in 2012. He produced 143 receptions, 2,344 yards and 25 touchdowns in his final two seasons after showing immense potential as a redshirt sophomore in 2013.

The numbers are impressive and help show how dominant he was each week. But he’s not just a typical spread receiver who benefits from the Big 12’s spacing and fast-paced style. Doctson exhibited masterful traits that will translate to the NFL and allow him to become an instant starter.

Let’s look at why Doctson has earned the right to be taken as the first receiver in this deep and impressive group.

 

Athleticism

After breaking down six games of Doctson’s 2015 tape and another four games from 2014, it was clear he was a solid athlete. His catch radius and vertical leaping ability are astounding compared to his peers. Quarterback Trevone Boykin constantly took advantage of Doctson’s ability to go over the top of defenders and pluck the ball at its highest point.

Doctson constantly performed acrobatic catches, and they often led to touchdowns or at least chunks of yards. Someone of his stature will naturally have the size advantage over most cornerbacks, but the sheer difficulty of these plays hinted he was a special athlete.

Before the combine, there were questions about the level of competition TCU faced and a belief underwhelming opposition could have exaggerated Doctson’s athleticism.

He shattered any of those concerns at the combine and proved the tape matched his skill set. It was important he didn’t turn in a De’Runnya Wilson-type combine because it’s uncommon for bad athletes to produce at receiver at the next level. Instead, Doctson dominated the event and proved to be an elite sportsperson.

Most notable was how rounded he is for his density. He ranked above average in all tests except for the bench press. See the table below for his percentile ranks compared to every receiver who has attended the combine since 2000, per Mock Draftable.

Measurement	Josh Doctson	Percentile Rank
40-yard dash	4.50	53rd percentile
Bench Press	14 reps	38th percentile
Vertical Jump	41"	95th percentile
Broad Jump	131"	96th percentile
3-cone jump	6.84	67th percentile
20-yard shuttle	4.08	81st percentile
60-yard shuttle	11.06	90th percentile

The explosion he generated vertically wasn’t a surprise, but his short-area dominance was. TCU rarely had Doctson run anything other than a go, slant or curl route. His tests indicate he could become an excellent route-runner if he puts in the work at the next level.

 

Contested Catches

The consensus First-Team All-American is as talented in tight spaces as any receiver to come out of college since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014. Focusing on his 2015 tape, I took note of how often he succeeded in traffic. Doctson had to bide time to launch at the catch point because Boykin had supreme confidence in his ability to win.

Through the six-game sample from his senior season, I had Doctson winning 14 of 18 contested ball situations. He also drew a flag for defensive pass interference on another seven targets. This means he produced a positive play on a whopping 21 of 25 opportunities.

Unlike Pittsburgh wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who struggles to get separation because of his average athleticism, Doctson was put into many tough situations because of the offense’s predictable route patterns and the natural limitations of red-zone spacing. Nonetheless, he was unstoppable with his ballet-type midair spins.

His on-field athleticism matches what he accomplished in shorts too. His burst to go get the ball at the last second left defenders stuck in mud as he accelerated past them with perfect timing. Cornerbacks had to be perfect with their technique and physicality, and even then Doctson could still complete the play.

 

Large Margin for Error

What makes Doctson so incredible to watch is his ability to make up for poor accuracy. He’s an asset for any team regardless of quarterback situation because Doctson will make the quarterback look so much better. We saw this with Mike Evans at Texas A&M with Johnny Manziel, who would lob deep passes for him to track.

Boykin often did the same thing with Doctson and got away with bad throws. Most receivers simply lack the spatial awareness, focus and body control to come back for a pass and take the contact. To Boykin’s credit, he had confidence in Doctson and allowed him to showcase these talents.

It’s good to see such plays because even average NFL backups could lob passes up and let Doctson do the hard work. Even on low throws, Doctson can scoop and snatch to save a reception. Putting him with a quality quarterback would only make his job easier.

Doctson gives a huge catch radius because of his blend of size, athleticism and tracking ability, but his effort needs to be recognized as well. The best deep threats in the NFL aren’t just fast—they’re smart and manipulate advantageous spacing and desperate cornerbacks.

Breaking away from a cornerback at the right time to get the ball effectively strips the power to play the ball from the defender. The play below is a good example, as Doctson laid out to complete an incredibly difficult catch near the sideline. The defender never had a chance despite providing good coverage.

This special skill set is what allowed Allen Robinson and DeAndre Hopkins to develop into top NFL receivers at a young age. Each shows terrific body control on the sidelines and the end zone, showing no fear to make an acrobatic play with little room to operate. Doctson has the same special mindset and physical capability.

Whether Doctson will develop into that caliber of receiver remains to be seen. He was rarely given opportunities to make plays after the catch, although his open-field moves gave reason for hope. This was also a function of a simple offense that just wanted its great athletes to find a green area and settle in.

With the ability to influence an offense as an outside and slot receiver, Doctson will walk into a situation and quickly earn a starting role. He’s an incredibly dangerous player who can only improve as the nuances of the game come to him. This will take experience, but in the meantime, he will be a matchup nightmare performing basic routes.

The formula for Doctson’s success is simple. Throw high-arcing passes in his area, and chances are great he’ll complete the catch. Anticipation throwers will maximize his talent as they'll see the little leverage he creates and give him the chance to explode for the ball at the last second. There’s not much NFL cornerbacks can do to consistently stop it.

Watch for Doctson to be an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Unlike Treadwell, who didn’t look as explosive in 2015, or Coleman, who has less dominant on-field traits than Doctson, the former TCU star is low-risk and high-reward. He’s just that good.

 

All stats used are from Sports-Reference.com. 

Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @NFLFilmStudy

TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson is not the most physically gifted prospect as his position in the 2016 NFL draft.

He lacks the speed of Notre Dame's Will Fuller or the strength of Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell. But Doctson may have the most complete package of skills, which should allow for a smooth transition to life in the NFL.

We routinely see NFL teams fall in love with the elite athletes at the wide receiver position despite the fact that others with a more well-rounded skill set often end up outplaying their more highly regarded peers at the next level.

The 2014 draft provided a great example of this trend, as the Buffalo Bills not only selected Sammy Watkins fourth overall but traded their 2015 first-round selection in order to make it happen.

Watkins' career has gotten off to a nice start, but it would difficult to imagine the Bills making that selection again with Odell Beckham Jr. still on the board. Beckham went 12th overall to the New York Giants. Even Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans (seventh overall) has arguably outplayed Watkins to this point in their careers.

In 2013, the St. Louis Rams fell victim to the same trend, taking the electric Tavon Austin eighth overall, while the Houston Texans were able to land DeAndre Hopkins with the 27th selection.

Elite athleticism does not always translate to NFL success, but the other receivers mentioned—Hopkins, Beckham and Evans—all possess the same trait which has a strong correlation between success in college and the pros.

Each of these receivers lacks the explosive traits of Watkins or Austin but makes up for it with elite ball skills.

Though the term "ball skills" is often mistaken for a simple lack of drops, it goes much deeper than that.

Having reliable hands is part of the equation, but Doctson puts himself in the category with the likes of Hopkins, Beckham and Evans because of his ability to adjust to the ball and put himself in position to make the difficult contested catches.

According to CFB Film Room, Doctson hauled in over 50 percent of his targets in contested situations in 2015:

Contest Catch %
Josh Doctson, 20 rec on 37 cont. tgt (54%)
Michael Thomas, 13-25 (52%)
Corey Coleman, 13-28 (46%)
Will Fuller, 11-28 (39%)

— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) March 3, 2016

For this reason, Doctson doesn't necessarily need to create separation in order to make plays, which makes his modest speed and agility mostly irrelevant.

TCU recognized this fact, and it showed in its usage of Doctson.

While TCU utilized Doctson all over the field, according to Pro Football Focus, 24 percent of his targets came on go routes, which wouldn't be possible without his ability to win the battle for jump balls.

Many of Doctson's receptions on go routes looked like the one below. Despite strong coverage from the Kansas State cornerback, Doctson tracks the ball and times his leap perfectly, allowing him to complete the contested catch.

It's also important to note that Doctson was able to support his on-field performance with strong combine numbers in the relevant workouts.

As NFL.com's Chase Goodbread noted, Doctson's leaping ability was on full display in Indianapolis:

TCU WR Josh Doctson's killed it with the jump drills. 10'11" broad, 41" vertical. #MedalsCount

— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) February 27, 2016

It's reasonable to rank other receivers in this class higher than Doctson based on their ceiling, but it's difficult to find anyone with a skill set better suited for a smooth transition to the NFL.

Doctson's ability to make plays in coverage is a skill that we've seen translate from the college game to the pros consistently. Perhaps Doctson's upside is limited by his lack of elite size (6'2", 202 lbs) or speed, but his ball skills make him one of the few instant-impact receivers in this class and give him a very high floor as a prospect.

For these reasons, Doctson should be considered one of the safest prospects in the entire 2016 NFL draft class.

The 2016 NFL draft has a lot of great wide receivers, and former TCU Horned Frog Josh Doctson is one of the best. While he impressed with his showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, however, he isn’t believed to be the first receiver who should be taken in the draft. That needs to change.

Doctson is the best all-around wideout in this year’s class. Though he isn’t the fastest or the most athletic, he is underrated in both those regards. Not only that, but there isn’t a receiver with better hands or who is more comfortable making plays against coverage.

The No. 1 receiver in many mock drafts, like this one by Eric Edholm, is Laquon Treadwell because of his size and upside. However, when looking at the full package, Doctson has as much, or more, to offer.

First, Doctson is the best jump-ball receiver in the draft. The corner fade is one of the most overused and inefficient plays in college football, but Doctson has turned it into a near-sure thing.

Watch here as he attacks the ball in the air and maintains his body control to come down with both feet inbounds for a touchdown against Texas:

Josh Doctson's vertical game is ridiculous. Seems to have one or two of these type plays per game. https://t.co/goq54XdhZO

— Terry Lambert (@TLambertTN) January 15, 2016

TCU went to this play a lot over the last two seasons, and Doctson almost always delivered thanks to his athleticism.

One would think Treadwell would have an advantage on these one-on-one fade plays because of his size. However, while Treadwell has more mass at 221 pounds compared to Doctson at 202, they’re the exact same height: 6’2”.

And even if Treadwell is bigger, Doctson actually has better leaping ability. Treadwell posted a 33-inch vertical at the combine. Doctson’s was significantly better at 41 inches.

Doctson’s skills go beyond just going over defenders to make catches, though.

The former Horned Frog runs great routes, getting separation from defenders on a consistent basis. He catches the ball with his hands rather than letting it get into his body. He’s also comfortable making catches in traffic and against good coverage.

He ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash, better than most people expected. It would be tempting to assume that as a bigger receiver, he doesn’t have the ability to run away from a defense. Such an assumption would be wrong.

Here against West Virginia, not only does he run a great route on the slant to get separation, but after making the grab, he is able to accelerate away from the defender:

Contrary to what some say, Josh Doctson does have the ability to run away from CBs. https://t.co/8TUUsGqgvu

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) February 10, 2016

Treadwell didn’t run at the combine, so it isn’t clear how he and Doctson compare in that respect. But one of the biggest weaknesses to Treadwell’s game, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, is his lack of top-end speed.

How does Doctson compare with other top receivers in the draft? He lost the Biletnikoff Award to Baylor’s Corey Coleman, who has also been projected as a first-rounder.

Coleman is one of the fastest and most explosive players in the entire draft. He is better than Doctson in terms of getting yards after the catch and making defenders miss in the open field.

The concerns with Coleman revolve around the offense in which he played at Baylor. Bears head coach Art Briles told the Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Clegg that Coleman and other Baylor receivers are coached to take plays off when plays weren’t designed for them.

“Why make a dog chase an imaginary bone?” Briles asked. “If we’re going to run somebody [downfield], we’re going to throw them the ball.”

Baylor uses that approach to save its receivers’ energy, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. But Coleman won’t be able to do that at the NFL level. It also means he does not have as much practice as a run-blocker.

Doctson, on the other hand, was asked to give full effort on every play at TCU. He also has far more experience as a blocker. He ran a more diverse set of routes too. Coleman mostly ran go routes, curls and screens, while Doctson worked the middle of the field often. According to Pro Football Focus, 39 percent of his targets came on slants, in routes and post patterns that took him into the middle of the field:

TCU WR Josh Doctson by route pic.twitter.com/u3FsIDXH8J

— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 28, 2016

Combine all of that with Doctson’s size advantage over the 5’11” Coleman, and Doctson should be the one with the higher projection.

Then there’s Ohio State’s Michael Thomas. The former Buckeye is the most appealing receiver of this group from a physical standpoint at 6’3” and 212 pounds. His problem is that he is the least polished of any of these receivers.

Like Coleman, Thomas wasn’t asked to run many different routes. Zierlein writes that he is still “figuring out this whole ‘route-running’ thing.” The scout also said Thomas’ effort coming back to the ball and working as a run-blocker needs work as well, both things Doctson has shown he can do.

“While he has the size and potential to excite offensive coordinators,” Zierlein said, “Thomas is still a work in progress who must develop a greater feel for the position if he is to match his traits with real NFL production.”

Doctson was no longer in the public eye after a wrist injury in early November. Yet even after he missed most of TCU’s final four games of the year, he still ended the year at No. 11 in receiving yards (1,327) and No. 5 in receiving touchdowns (14).

Few receivers in college football were as dominant as Doctson was when he was healthy. Fewer had skill sets as complete as his. That’s why if a team wants to take a receiver in the first round, Doctson should be at the top of the list.

While the TCU Horned Frogs' 2016 recruiting class is currently ranked higher than that of any other in school history, the team still has one major need to address: defensive tackle.

The Horned Frogs’ class is No. 18 in the country, according to 247Sports composite rankings. The group boasts multiple receivers, running backs, defensive ends and defensive backs. At defensive tackle, however, they have only one commit.

The Frogs need to add depth at the position. With the departure of senior Davion Pierson, the Frogs will have just five DTs on the roster for spring practice. Two of them–Aaron Curry and Tevin Lawson–have only one year of eligibility remaining.

Controlling the line of scrimmage is critical when trying to slow down the high-octane offenses of the Big 12. The interior of the line is key to making that happen.

When TCU led the conference in total defense in 2014, it was due largely to the play of Pierson and fellow DT Chucky Hunter. That year, they combined for 67 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, according to Sports-Reference.com.

Hunter graduated after the 2014 season, and Pierson is gone as well, so this season will be the first since 2011 that neither of those players is present along TCU's line. If the Horned Frogs want to perform at the level that head coach Gary Patterson wants defensively, they’ll need talent to fill that void.

The Frogs also rely heavily on a rotation along the defensive line. They substitute regularly to keep players from becoming exhausted by the pace of teams like Baylor and Oklahoma. They need more DTs for depth to make those rotations consistent. Curry and Chris Bradley got significant snaps this season, and Joseph Broadnax saw playing time as a freshman. But in the fourth quarter on the road against Baylor in November, TCU will want to be able to play more than just three or four DTs.

So where do the Frogs get that depth? It starts with the DT they already have committed—Ross Blacklock. A highly regarded prospect, Blacklock is a 4-star DT from Missouri City, Texas. He committed to TCU at the Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9.

At 6'4" and over 300 pounds, he has the frame to compete for significant snaps this year. But the Frogs still need another big body at the position, and one of their primary targets remaining for 2016 is D’Andre Christmas-Giles. The 4-star prospect has TCU in his final three along with Texas and LSU. He has taken official visits to all three schools.

https://twitter.com/_DChristmas/status/691803136227446784

According to Rod Walker of the Advocate, Christmas-Giles had 49 tackles and five sacks as a senior at St. Augustine High School. He was named co-defensive player of the year in the New Orleans Catholic League.

Patterson is not hesitant about putting freshmen on the field if they're ready to play. KaVontae Turpin went from a relative unknown in last year's recruiting class to the Frogs' second best receiver as a true freshman.

Christmas-Giles and Blacklock would get the chance early to show what they can do. The hope would be to begin grooming them to be TCU's next duo to solidify the defensive line for years. Getting Christmas-Giles would not only fulfill the Frogs’ biggest remaining need, but he also would become the top-rated player in an already historic class for TCU. 

Rivals ranks him as the No. 83 player in the country. That would make him the highest-ranked player to sign with the Frogs since LaDarius Brown in 2011.

TCU will celebrate this year’s class no matter what. It will be the first top-25 recruiting class under Patterson. But landing another DT like Christmas-Giles would make that celebration even sweeter.