(Photo Credit: Charlie Reidel/Associated Press)
Welp. The season just got a lot longer for the Frogs.
Earlier today we learned that TCU’s leading rusher, Waymon James, had injured his left knee (the specifics haven’t been disclosed, but the popular rumor is a torn ACL) during the Kansas game and will be out for the rest of the season.
It’s a huge blow to a team that has already lost a lot this year.
In fact, here’s a list of every player that TCU has lost between last season to now (Big thanks to the KillerFrogs.com guys that put this list together):
Injury:
Waymon James – Starting RB
Travoskey Garrett – Probable starting CB
Stephen Bryant – Starting TE/FB
Ross Forrest – Starting DE
Danny Heiss – Backup LB
Blake Roberts – Backup DE
Ethan Grant – Backup RB
Greg Burks – Backup LB
Drug Bust:
Tanner Brock – Starting LB
Devin Johnson – Starting safety
DJ Yendry – Starting DT
Ty Horn – Backup OT
Grades/Unspecified reasons:
Ed Wesley – Starting RB
James Dunbar – Starting OT
Deryck Gildon – Brock’s replacement, starting LB
Travaris Battle – Potential starting CB
Carter Wall – Backup OL
Nykerion Wellington – Backup OT
James Bailey – Backup safety
Justin Isadore – LBer
Dwight Smith – RB
Drafted (MLB):
Austin Aune – QB
That’s 22 kids. Any other team that lost 22 kids would be written off completely, but to this point the Frogs are 2-0, and are looking to be 4-0 heading into their second Big 12 conference game.
The majority of the carries will now fall to Matthew Tucker, who was already splitting time with James. Tucker has 100 yards rushing and a touchdown on the season.
Behind him are senior Aundre Dean and true freshman B.J. Catalon. Dean is a more hard nosed runner, while Catalon is a more finesse runner, like James was.
I think they’ll both see an equal amount of time in the backfield, until one or the other begins to distance themselves.
This definitely changes how Virginia will game plan for the Frogs this weekend (look for a full preview later in the week), but TCU is still dangerous.
They’re still deep at RB, they’ve still got their full suite of high-powered receivers and a potential All-American quarterback in Casey Pachall to lean on.
Oh, and the defense still hasn’t allowed a touchdown this year.
So, while things aren’t as bright, they’re still looking up in Funkytown.
Go Frogs.