Frogs Return To Practice Field
2/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 27, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The TCU football team begins spring practice Saturday at 10:50 a.m.
Per NCAA rules, the Horned Frogs will have 15 practices. Spring drills culminate with the Spring Game on April 4.
TCU returns 13 starters and 46 lettermen from the 2008 squad that posted an 11-2 record and No. 7 ranking in season-ending polls by the Associated Press and USA Today.
The Frogs' offense, which set single-season school records last year for points scored (437) and touchdowns (56), returns a strong nucleus. Quarterback Andy Dalton will be in his third year as the starter. The Frogs welcome back six of their top-seven rushers from a year ago, three starters on the offensive line and all but one wide receiver.
Consensus All-American Jerry Hughes headlines the list of returnees from the nation's top-ranked defense in 2008. Hughes led the country with 15 sacks and six forced fumbles. Cornerbacks Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders will be in their fourth year as starters. Linebacker Daryl Washington and safety Tejay Johnson are other key returnees.
Jeremy Kerley was among the nation's leaders in punt returns last year with a 13.9-yard average. He became the fourth straight Frog to be a first-team All-Mountain West Conference return specialist. Punter Anson Kelton and placekicker Ross Evans are returning starters. Kelton placed 55.6 percent of his punts inside the opponent 20 in being an All-MWC selection, while Evans was 16-of-20 on field goals.
Included below is TCU's tentative spring practice schedule:
Saturday, Feb. 28 - 10:50 a.m.
Monday, March 2 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 5 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 - TBA
Monday, March 9 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 12 - 4 p.m.
March 16-20 - Spring Break
Tuesday, March 24 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 - TBA
Monday, March 30 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 2 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 4 - TBA (Spring Game)
