Four TCU Football Players On Preseason Watch Lists

The season doesn’t start for TCU until the first week of September, but plenty of Horned Frogs are finding themselves on preseason watch lists.

Defensive end Josh Carraway and linebacker Travin Howard are on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, recognizing the nation’s top defensive player. Both players are also on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

Carraway is the Big 12’s only returning first-team all-conference defensive selection. He led TCU with nine sacks and three fumble recoveries last season. Carraway will play this season as a graduate student after receiving his degree in May.

Howard began last season as a back-up safety before being moved to linebacker. He led the Frogs with 105 tackles, with three forced fumbles, a sack and an interception.

On offense, wide receivers Deante Gray and KaVontae Turpin are on the Maxwell Award watch list, which goes to America’s College Player of the Year.

Turpin was named Freshman All-American and All-Big 12 after his first season in Fort Worth. He set TCU freshman records with 45 catches for 649 yards and eight touchdowns. Turpin set a Big 12 freshman record with four touchdown catches at Texas and was the only player in the county to rank in the top 25 in kickoff and punt returns.

Gray was sidelined last season due to a knee injury. He had 582 yards and eight touchdowns for TCU in 2014. Gray is the fastest player on the team with a 4.36 time in the 40.