TCU notebook: Multiple Horned Frogs transfer out while local star commits
The first few days of transfer portal season were quiet for Fort Worth, but that changed on Thursday as multiple Horned Frogs entered the transfer portal.
The biggest name to enter was freshman Cordale Russell, a top-100 recruit in last season’s recruiting class. Russell broke onto the scene with a strong fall camp, but didn’t record a stat and didn’t get much playing time for various reasons including TCU’s veteran receivers in front of him and some off-the-field concerns.
According to a source within the TCU program Russell was encouraged to leave and look for other opportunities. Shortly before Russell entered the portal, backup safety Chace Biddle also entered his name into the transfer portal.
Biddle was a four-star recruit out of Garland that played in 12 games last year mostly on special teams. Biddle didn’t record a stat this season.
Backup offensive lineman Jasper Lott and reserve safety Daveion Crawford also entered the portal as well. There are more expected departures coming soon, but one won’t be Chandler Morris. Morris doesn’t graduate until May and can’t transfer again a second time without being a graduate. If he left now he would need a waiver which could be difficult to acquire.
Frogs land local receiver
Right after the Russell news broke on social media, the Horned Frogs received good news on the recruiting front. Timber Creek receiver Dozie Ezukanma committed to TCU late Thursday night just a few days after he decommitted from Oklahoma.
The 6-foot-2 receiver is rated a three-star prospect and a top-100 receiver prospect nationally by the 247Sports composite rankings.
Ezukanma had offers from Oregon, Texas A&M, Miami and Missouri. As a junior, Ezukanma paced Timber Creek 587 receiving yards and six touchdowns. This season Ezukanma went out with a bang as he had 877 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns while helping the Falcons reach the first round of UIL 6A Division I state playoffs.
His commitment bumped TCU up to the No. 30 recruiting class for 2024.
More transfer offers go out
The Horned Frogs’ transfer board seems to be forming as TCU handed out a number of offers over the last few days.
San Diego State teammates Cooper McDonald and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson reported offers from the Horned Frogs on Thursday. McDonald, a senior from Haslet, Texas, posted 41 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Aztecs this season. San Diego State has been running the 3-3-5 for over a decade so McDonald should have an easy transition if TCU is able to land him.
Crenshaw-Dickson has started the past three seasons for the Aztecs at right tackle and Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Crenshaw-Dickson a top-10 tackle in the Mountain West Conference. The Horned Frogs are losing both starting tackles Brandon Coleman and Andrew Coker.
Middle Tennessee State defensive lineman Marley Cook also announced an offer from TCU earlier in the week. In 2022 Cook earned first team All-Conference USA honors from after producing 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. This season Cook had 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack and 17 quarterback pressures.
Harvard tight end Tyler Neville also reported an offer from the Horned Frogs. Neville had 283 yards and four touchdowns this season for Harvard. He had 302 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.
