Who left, who’s coming? A look at how TCU did in the transfer portal
The transfer portal has become a crucial tool for program building, particularly for new head coaches.
Despite losing notable players like Zach Evans and Ochaun Mathis to the portal, Sonny Dykes was able to bring in one of the nation’s top transfer classes.
TCU lost 12 players after the season to the portal, but added 14 to offset the losses. The transfer class is ranked 13th by 247Sports and bolstered TCU’s overall 2022 recruiting class to 28th. That’s third in the Big 12 behind Texas and Oklahoma.
With fall camp slated to begin Monday, here’s a quick refresher on who departed and who’s arriving via the portal:
Arrivals
▪ Alan Ali, OL (SMU): Ranked as a four-star transfer prospect, Ali was a second team All-AAC selection for Dykes and started eight games at three different positions.
▪ Emani Bailey, RB (Louisiana): Ranked as a four-star transfer, Bailey rushed for 642 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
▪ Ishmael Burdine, DB (Missouri): Played in five games last season for the Tigers
▪ Terrence Cooks, LB (Texas): Cooks appeared in just one game last season, but was rated as a four-star recruit coming out of high school
▪ Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, OT (Arizona State): Dotson-Oyetade didn’t play last season, but was ranked as a four-star recruit out of high school
▪ Caleb Fox, DL (Stephen F. Austin): Fox was the 2020 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year. Totaled 21 tackles and two sacks in 2021.
▪ Johnny Hodges, LB (Navy): Hodges started seven games in 2021 and was fourth on the team in tackles with 50. Had a career-high 14 tackles against SMU last year.
▪ Tymon Mitchell, DL (Georgia): Played in five games for the Bulldogs national championship team.
▪ Josh Newton, CB (Louisiana-Monroe): Newton lead ULM in pass breakups with eight and also nabbed two interceptions.
▪ Mark Perry, S (Colorado): Perry was a difference-maker in the Buffaloes’ secondary with a team-high three interceptions. Also recorded 72 tackles and four pass breakups.
▪ Robby Rochester, OL (Connecticut): The Southlake Carrol alum appeared in two games.
▪ Lwal Uguak, DL (Connecticut): Totaled 34 tackles, 3.5 for loss, seven quarterback hurries and two pass breakups in 10 games
▪ Jared Wiley, TE (Texas): Started eight games and caught two touchdowns for the Longhorns.
▪ Corey Wren, RB (Florida State): A kickoff return specialist, Wren appeared in seven games for the Seminoles.
Departures
▪ Da’Veawn Armstead, S (Sam Houston State): Armstead appeared in just two games last season.
▪ Mikel Barkley, WR (Toledo): Barkley had one catch for 48 yards last season.
▪ Earl Barquet, DL (USC): Barquet appeared in nine games totaling 12 tackles.
▪ Khari Coleman, DE (Ole Miss): Coleman was fourth on the team in sacks with 1.5; was a 2020 freshman All-American.
▪ Donovann Collins, S (Still available): Collins appeared in two games last season.
▪ Matthew Downing, QB (Louisiana Tech): Appeared in one game, completing three of four passes for 26 yards.
▪ Zach Evans, RB (Ole Miss): The biggest loss to the portal, the former five-star recruit broke out as one of top running backs in the country. In six games Evans rushed for 648 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 7.0 yards per carry.
▪ Jayhvion Gipson, LB: (Still available): No stats available
▪ Tyler Guyton, OL (Oklahoma): Appeared in eight games and caught one touchdown against Iowa State.
▪ Patrick Jenkins, DL (Tulane): Jenkins had 19 tackles in 10 games.
▪ Ochaun Mathis, DE (Nebraska): Mathis was a second team All-Big 12 selection and started 34 games for TCU in three seasons. Mathis had 45 tackles and two sacks last year.
▪ Chris Murray, DE (Sam Houston State): No stats available
▪ Tony Wallace, CB (Texas-San Antonio): No stats available
▪ Ahmonte Watkins, RB (New Mexico State): Watkins appeared in three games and produced 49 yards on 12 carries.
