Texas Christian was simply amazing this year. Their only loss (after shocking the world with a week one upset of Oklahoma) came on the road at--I kid you not--Southern Mentodist. They have no real stars, but they play great team defense and rallied behind young QB Jeff Ballard the rest of the way after their highly-regarded starting QB Tye Gunn was lost for the season with an injury. Yesterday they just did enough offensively and defensively to hold off a tough and determined Cyclones squad. Ballard was the hero on offense, and TCU's defensive line was just too tough on the ISU running game that was hampered by the continuing groin problems of star Junior RB Stevie Hicks. There were plenty of star perormances in this one to go around though, nonetheless.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Iowa State Conference: Big 12 Columnist: Various
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class

Nick Leaders 66 602.0 290 NA NT 2006: Nick had looked good in several other games I saw him in this year, but he was not a factor in this one. He is just too small to make an impact at the next level if he can not do it in EVERY game at this level. Today he couldn't. He was pushed around all afternoon and I didn't see him break single double team--and he wasn't double-teamed regularly. He did hold the point of attack well enough for Junior DE (#84) Jason Berryman to post huge numbers though. SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE

DeAndre Jackson 4 600.0 185 N/A CB 2007: This guy is a pure hitter as a CB, and he plays with reckless abandon in the running game. He was in on 5 tackles and his value is enhanced by his KR abilities. Definitely a guy to watch for the '07 draft. NEUTRAL

Nik Moser 9 600.0 195 N/A S 2006: Nik was the defensive star of the game for the Clones. He had 8 total tackles, recovered a fumble in the first half and had the defensive play of the game in the 4th quarter forcing Merrill to cough it up at the goal line and then recovering the fumble as well to avert a sure first-and goal at the one for TCU. I don't know if he has the size or the speed to play at the next level, but this was the best I've seen him play and he was plenty good today. POSITIVE

Stevie Hicks 27 602.0 215 N/A HB 2007: Stevie is a good back even hobbled. He shows good vision, dashes to the hole quickly and shows some elusiveness at the second level. His groin injury flared up again today, but he played through it and did a pretty good job. I can't wait to watch this guy fully healthy next year. He appears to have the instincts and the swagger to be a FT feature back at the next level if he makes '06 his best year and stays on the field.
N/A--INJURY

Tim Dobbins 44 602.0 245 N/A LB 2006: Tim was the forgotten guy on the Iowa State defense today after being the leading tackler most of the year. He made a couple plays early and then disappeared. I will let Dave tell you more about him as he is covering the ISU guys in more detail. NEUTRAL

Aaron Brandt 75 606.0 315 N/A OT 2007: Beaten badly on an inside move for a sack. Doesn't look like he will ever be more than a ROT feet-wise at this level and a marginal OG candidate for the next. NEGATIVE

College: Texas Christian Conference: Mountain West Columnist: Sam Maxwell
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class

Tye Gunn 15 603.0 218 N/A QB 2006: DNP injury

Lonta Hobbs 30 510.0 220 N/A HB 2006: DNP injury

Raynorris Ray 88 603.0 275 N/A DT 2006: He's a guy that will grow on you the more you watch him. Does not appear to have a great step or great feet, but he is pretty relentless and pretty strong. He's smallish, but he plays bigger than his size. I cringe to think where the TCU defense would have been this year without him. He is their besr d-lineman, but only by a hair over Zarnell Fitch (6'4", 310) who should (SAM!!!) be in the database. SLIGHTLY POSITIVE

Others:

Iowa State: Wow did #84, DE Jason Berryman have a career day. The guy was in on every play. I smell a possible first-team CDS UA guy here for May's press release. Great pursuer, great motor. Fast, hard hitter, big play type.

#52 Junior DT Brent Curvey is another guy to keep an eye on next year. he didn't do all that much in this game, but he literally tookover the (Kansas?) game earlier this year, and is tough and active.

Sophomore WR (#1, 6'5", 220) Todd Blythe should have answered all the detractors again today. He displays surprising deep speed--like when he toasted Quincy Butler on a 48-yard post for a TD. Also had a 22-yard scoring catch. Big time, Big play guy. A poor man's Matt Jones athletically, but with more reliabile hands.


TCU: Sr. LOT Michael Toudouze was a guy I watched today after hearing rumors that he received a combine invitation. He looks like a mid-rounder. Nice feet, picks, slide and walls well. Decent run blocker and puller. Needs a writeup too, Sam.

Senior free safety Jeremy Modkins has been impressive all year. he and CB Drew Coleman also deserve writeups.

Do you really like what you see from Ray Steve? Everytime I watch him, he disappoints me. He just gets overpowered.

Sam, we must be watching different guys. He and Fitch are as good a rotational pair of DTs as I've seen in this conference. Fitch has the size to really develop. Did you see his athleic interception 15 yards from his spot at the LOS?

You don't go 12-1 and knock on the door of the top 10 without a solid d-line.

You have to look at the conference this year, it was trash. TCU got it done with running. MWC had absolutely no one worth talking about this year except TCU who almost fell in their bowl game.

They beat Oklahoma and Iowa State and a few other decent teams in between. For my money Fitch and Ray were the best pair of D-tackles in the MWC this year.

I agree they were the best DT duo in the MWC for sure, all I'm saying is I don't think Ray is THAT good. I think their best 2 d-linemen this year were actually a pair of sophmores, Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz. I do, however, really like Fitch. For a nose tackle to have 2 INT's is amazing. He also really knows how to fend off the double teams, and like you said he has the size(unlike Ray), to really develop. Ray is a good player, I'm just really critical of his size, because in the NFL, 275 is too small.

As for TCU as a team:

Oklahoma was a different team when they played them, Bomar wasn't playing yet, and the 3 freshman receivers were barely used to college life let alone college football. They also narrowily beat both BYU and Utah. Their bowl game was a good win however, even though it came down to the last second, they showed that they could still play. But otherwise I didn't think this TCU team was any better than the 4th or 5th team in any of the 6 main conferences(except the Big-12). However, that takes nothing away from their accomplishments as the MWC champ and a top 15 team.

EDIT: Ok man, done with the TCU updates. Just after you needed them, haha, sorry man.

Superb Sam!