TCU Camp '10: Safeties Look To Anchor Defense
8/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 21, 2010
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The safety position is next on the GoFrogs.com preview of the 2010 TCU football team.
The Horned Frogs return all three starting safeties from their nation-leading defense last season.
Free safety Tejay Johnson (6-1, 212, Sr.) is a preseason All-American who appears on watch lists for three national awards. Rivals.com has tabbed him the Best Defensive Player in the Mountain West Conference.
Johnson tied for the TCU lead with three interceptions while placing fourth with 59 tackles, including a career-best and TCU season-high 14 stops in the 38-7 win at BYU.
Johnson drew praise from TCU head coach Gary Patterson for his leadership in the secondary. He successfully made the transition to free safety after being at weak safety in 2008.
Johnny Fobbs (6-1, 203, Jr.) and Trenton Thomas (6-0, 190, RFr.) will back up Johnson. Fobbs lettered last season, while Thomas was a redshirt.
Weak safety Alex Ibiloye (6-0, 189, Sr.) was moved from cornerback last spring. He ranked third on TCU with a career-best 70 tackles, nearly four times the total from his first two seasons combined (19).
Tekerrein Cuba (6-4, 210, Jr.) is also at weak safety. He started two games last season and totaled 21 tackles on the year.
Jurell Thompson (5-11, 200, So.) came out of the spring as the starter at strong safety. He lettered as a true freshman last season.
Tyler Luttrell (6-1, 210, Sr.) was last year's starter at strong safety. He was switched from wide receiver midway through fall camp and was in the starting lineup, recording a sack, weeks later in the season-opening victory at Virginia. He placed seventh on TCU with 35 stops. His diving interception at San Diego State was one of the Top Plays of the Day on ESPN.
Colin Jones (6-0, 210, Sr.) will push to be a starter at either weak or strong safety. He was limited to seven games last season due to injury. Jones had a career-high nine tackles to go with a quarterback hurry in the 38-7 win at BYU.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1 - Safeties (Alex Ibiloye) who have already earned their TCU degree and will play as graduate students this fall
3 - National awards (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott Trophy, Thorpe Award) to include Tejay Johnson on their watch list
12 - All-Conference selections at safety coached by Chad Glasgow during his nine seasons at TCU
1,800 - Rushing yards by Colin Jones as a senior at Bridgeport High School
2,312 - Career rushing yards by Mike Luttrell, father of Tyler Luttrell, to rank 11th all-time in TCU history
Players Mentioned
