Think the college football news cycle stops because it’s a holiday weekend? Think again. Because while you were stuffing another hot dog down your gullet this Memorial Day, a major transfer- one which could shake up the entire Big XII title race- hit the newswire.
That player was TCU’s Ed Wesley, a key cog in the Horned Frogs offense in each of the Horned Frogs last three seasons. The senior-to-be led TCU in rushing during their 2010 Rose Bowl run, and finished second on the club with 726 yards last season, leaving Ft. Worth with just under 2,500 total rushing yards for his career. The transfer was first reported by the Dallas Morning-News, where TCU head coach Gary Patterson mentioned “personal reasons” for Wesley’s departure.
Now, from a pure football standpoint, the news doesn’t seem all that major. As long as Gary Patterson is in town the Horned Frogs will always be a team which relies heavily on the run, and because of that, there will always be plenty of depth at the position. Yes Wesley will be missed next year, but his departure also means more touches for a couple of guys who seemed plenty adept at carrying the rock last year, Wayman James and Matthew Tucker. The duo combined for just over 1,500 yards during 2011, with James’ 875 yards actually leading the team, ahead of the 726 of Wesley. And when you factor in an expected improvement in the passing game with Casey Pachall under center, there’s reason to think that the Horned Frogs offense might not miss a beat, even without a player as skilled as Wesley.
But while this news might not of the earth-shattering, light-up-the-talk-radio-lines variety, it is still important none the less.
Besides the fact that Wesley is a talented player, where the significance lies is the timing of it all. As you may have heard by now, the Horned Frogs are in the process of transitioning from the Mountain West to the Big XII next season, and when they do, they’ll need as many hands on deck as they can get. That is especially true at a position like running back, where dings and dents and missed games are to be expected, even from college football’s best backs.
Now of course that’s not to say TCU is ill-prepared for the step up in competition (that couldn’t be further from the truth), but at the same time, Wesley’s presence couldn’t have hurt against the much improved schedule. To put it as simply as we can, there are no layups or “off” weeks against the likes of Wyoming, Colorado State or New Mexico this season where TCU can simply show up, play three quarters and rest the starters from there on out. Instead the Horned Frogs will get their first crack at the week-in, week-out grind of a BCS conference schedule, which in 2012 includes trips to Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Texas, as well as visits from Oklahoma and Kansas State to Ft. Worth. Add in tough out of conference games at SMU and a visit from Virginia, and there will literally be no weeks off.
As for Wesley’s future, well frankly, it’s hard to say exactly what he’ll end up doing. No schools have been reported on Wesley’s radar, but you’ve got to think that with just one year of eligibility left and all the hits on his body (he had 387 carries in three years at TCU), he will likely end up at the FCS level, where he can play right away and be eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft. Add in the fact that he has suffered injuries in the past (a shoulder last year, a concussion the year before), and the FCS, “play right away” route really is looking like his best option.
Regardless, this is hardly a major blow for TCU, but still a development to keep an eye on none the less.
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