TCU has produced a good amount of NFL defensive players under head coach Gary Patterson. During Patterson’s 20 years at the Horned Frogs’ helm, the team has won six conference championships. While national relevance has slipped a bit since just missing the 2014 College Football Playoff, TCU continues to churn out NFL Draft prospects, and 2021 is no exception. With TCU’s 2021 Pro Day quickly approaching, here are some players to watch for and what day they take the field.
When is TCU’s Pro Day in 2021?
The pro day for the TCU Horned Frogs will take place on Friday, March 19.
Top TCU prospects working out
Trevon Moehrig
TCU’s highest-rated 2021 prospect by far is Trevon Moehrig. Ranked 39th overall on Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline’s 2021 draft prospect rankings, Moehrig’s ride to the top of the 2021 safety class has not been easy.
[sv slug=”drizly”]Coming out of high school, the young safety and special teams contributor was a three-star recruit coming out of Valley High School in Texas and the 68th-ranked recruit at his position. The 6’2″ safety intrigued some Power Five schools such as Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Northwestern, and Minnesota. Ultimately, TCU and Patterson’s ability to develop defensive backs led Moehrig to sign with the Horned Frogs.
Moehrig’s impressive TCU career
The safety played 12 games in 2019 and proved just how underrated he was. Moehrig compiled 62 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He shined in coverage, intercepting 4 passes and deflecting 11 attempts.
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During the 2020 season, Moehrig solidified his spot as one of the best safeties in the Big 12. Playing in ten games, he intercepted 2 and deflected 9 passes. He also tacked on another 47 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
Per PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings:
“Moehrig, often used in two-safety looks, has impressive speed and acceleration for his size. He can close gaps with tremendous quickness and at the catch point…Moehrig’s range is translatable to both run and pass defense. As a pass defender, his range enables him to hone in on intermediate and deep routes. As a run defender, the TCU safety’s range allows him to come downhill with ample momentum.”
Trevon Moehrig can overcommit and leave himself vulnerable at times. However, he has the ability to recover well and can improve with more coaching. Many currently grade Moehrig as a late-first or second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. A good day of testing at TCU’s Pro Day could seal the deal on a first-round selection.
Garret Wallow
While entering the draft as a linebacker, Garret Wallow originally played safety in high school. Measuring in at 6’2″ and 200 pounds, the three-star recruit gained offers from some Power Five schools but not any perennial contenders.
Growing up in Louisiana, Wallow chose the closest offer to home, the TCU Horned Frogs. The safety-turned-linebacker didn’t see starting time until 2018. As a true sophomore, Wallow started seven of 13 possible games, racking up 72 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss. An impressive jump from his freshman to sophomore season, but he was just getting started.
Wallow started all 12 games in 2019, wreaking havoc with 125 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 18.0 tackles for loss, and an interception. This explosion led to first-team All-Big 12 honors for the junior linebacker.
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He picked up where he left off in 2020, amassing 90 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles in just ten games. Wallow received first-team All-Big 12 honors for the second consecutive season as an exclamation point on his impressive TCU career.
From Cummings:
“Wallow was a terrific defender at TCU the past three years and led the team in tackles last year despite playing with an injury. He’s a hard-charging, instinctive linebacker, who lacks the physical skills to be a star in the NFL, but he possesses the football ability to start in the proper scheme.”
Currently ranked 170th on Pauline’s 2021 prospect draft rankings, the TCU linebacker sits firmly in the middle of players graded for the fifth round. Some better speed numbers during his pro day could boost his draft stock slightly. However, he will most likely remain a Day 3 pick no matter what happens at TCU’s 2021 Pro Day.
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