TCU Camp '10: Pair Of All-Americans Key O-Line
8/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2010
FORT WORTH, Texas -- GoFrogs.com continues its preview of the 2010 TCU football team with a look at the offensive line.
The Horned Frogs return four starters, including a pair of preseason All-Americans in center Jake Kirkpatrick (6-3, 305, Sr.) and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon (6-6, 350, Sr.).
Kirkpatrick, a first-team All-American last season, was one of six finalists for the 2009 Rimington Trophy, honoring the nation's top center. He's the only one of the six returning this season.
Kirkpatrick, who never played football until his senior year of high school, sets the blocking scheme on each play.
A Tyler, Texas, native, Kirkpatrick appears on watch lists for the Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award.
James Fry (6-3, 290, So.) and Eric Tausch (6-3, 295, RFr.) are behind Kirkpatrick at center.
Cannon, who has moved from right tackle to left tackle, is coming off a dominant season in which he did not allow a sack.
The largest member of the Horned Frogs, Cannon appears on watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. Dave Campbell's Texas Football ranks him as the Best Offensive Lineman in Texas, while Rivals.com lists him as the Best Offensive Player in the Mountain West Conference.
Cannon, from Odesssa, Texas, has been ranked by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. as the nation's No. 3 offensive tackle available for the 2011 NFL draft.
Kyle Dooley (6-3, 315, Jr.) and Josh Vernon (6-2, 300, Sr.) are returning starters at left and right guard, respectively. Dooley came to TCU as a walk-on.
Blaize Foltz (6-4, 310, So.) filled in for an injured Vernon and started at right guard in victories over BYU and UNLV. He has a very bright future and will compete for a starting job.
Ty Horn (6-5, 320, RFr.), a 2009 redshirt, will push for playing time.
Jeff Olson (6-4, 282, Jr.), who lettered in a reserve role last season, came out of the spring as the starter at right tackle.
Zach Roth (6-6, 316, Sr.) and John Wooldridge (6-5, 310, RFr.) also figure prominently into the mix at right tackle.
James Dunbar (6-6, 305, RFr.) adds depth on the left side.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1 - Married players (Jake Kirkpatrick) on the TCU football team
12 - Sacks allowed by TCU in 2009, the sixth-lowest total in the nation
14 - All-Mountain Conference selections on the offensive line over the last five seasons
35 - Years of collegiate coaching experience by TCU offensive line coach and assistant head coach Eddie Williamson
66 - Career starts by the offensive line (Marcus Cannon 24, Kyle Dooley 16, Jake Kirkpatrick 13, Josh Vernon 11, Blaize Foltz 2)
Players Mentioned
