TCU Position Breakdown: Safeties

If you missed Friday's cornerback preview, click here.  Check back tomorrow for the defensive summary.

DEPTH CHART (bold denotes returning starter)

Free Safety

1.) Tejay Johnson (6-1, 212 Sr)

Entering his third year as a starter Tejay Johnson knows the intricacies of the 4-2-5 better than anyone on the roster and he will be counted on to act as the field-general of the defense.  Johnson was named second-team All-MWC in 2009 and had 3 interceptions and 59 tackles.  Coming out of South Garland High School in 2007 Johnson had offers to Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Arkansas, Arizona State, and Georgia Tech.

2.)  Johnny Fobbs (6-1, 203 Jr)

Joined the Frogs in 2007 along with his Everman High School teammate Jonathan Jones (WR).  Fobbs added depth to the safety position in 2009 appearing in all 13 games and has been making quite a name for himself in camp this year.  Fobbs also had offers to Nebraska and SMU coming out of high school.

(read about the rest of the TCU safeties after the jump)

3.) Trenton Thomas (6-0, 190 RS Fr)

Thomas was voted as an all-state selection at linebacker in 2008 by the Texas Sports Writers Association and Associated Press Sports Editors.  He redshirted his first season on campus but was voted TCU's Defensive Scout Team MVP in 2009.  Thomas also had offers to Mississippi State, Utah, Baylor, UNLV, Houston, and Rice.

Weak Safety

1.) Alex Ibolye (6-0, 189 Sr)

Originally a cornerback at TCU, Ibolye was moved to weak safety in 2009 in which he started 11 games and ranked third on the team in tackles with 70.  Ibolye was high school teammates with Tejay Johnson and had offers to Colorado, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Kansas, and Minnesota coming out of high school in 2006.

2.) Tekerrein Cuba (6-4, 210 Jr)

Cuba started two games in 2009 (AF & CSU) and contributed heavily on specials teams and in the secondary rotation.  Cuba has such a big frame the sky is the limit for him once he learns all the 4-2-5 inside and out.   Cuba had offers to Nebraska, Texas A&M, Texasx Tech, Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Houston.

3.) Jonathan Anderson (6-1, 196 Fr)

A member of the Rivals Texas Top 100 in 2010 Anderson had offers to Utah, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Southern Miss, UNLV, and New Mexico.  Anderson is making some noise in camp this year but look for the coaches to keep the redshirt on him if they can.

Strong Safety

1a.) Tyler Luttell (6-1, 210 Sr)

Going into the 2009 season Tyler Luttrell was a high school quarterback turned wide receiver that rarely saw the field except for special teams.  A few weeks before the 2009 season opener at Virginia due to an injury to Colin Jones TCU was short at safety and Coach Patterson did what he does best, find natural positions for under-utilized athletes.  Patterson convinced wide receiver Tyler Luttrell to make the move to safety and just a few weeks later in Virginia Luttrell was TCU's starting safety.   Luttrell performed admirably at safety in 2009 under less than ideal conditions and continued to make his presence felt on special teams recording a forced fumble on a kickoff against Utah with an earth-shaking hit that could be felt in the next county.

1b.) Jurrell Thompson (5-11, 200 So)

Highly touted by Rivals in 2009 as a four-star safety (19th ranked safety, 5th fastest safety) Jurrell Thompson had offers to Georgia Tech, Arizona State, Ole Miss, SMU, Utah, and Tulsa.  Thompson mainly contributed on special teams for the Frogs in 2009 but is expected to crack the starting rotation in 2010 sooner rather than later.

2.) Colin Jones (6-0, 210 Sr)

Jones started 5 games at safety in 2009 and missed the rest of the season due to injury.  Coming out of Bridgeport, Texas in 2006 Jones had offers to Purdue and Baylor.

SUMMARY

With three returning starters and plenty of depth the safety position looks to be the srongest aspect of the 2010 Horned Frog defense, which is convenient because it also the most difficult position to learn.  Look for these big-hitting speedsters to make their presence felt right away and help keep TCU's defense at the top of the rankings.