Gunn among 16 new recruits for squad

By Chad Carey
Skiff Staff

Less than two months after taking over as TCU head football coach, Gary Patterson received 16 commitments from high school football players across the state.

Included in the group are six of Texas’ top-100 selections, six all-state selections and the Class 3-A Player of the Year.

“We met the position needs that we were looking for,” Patterson said. “We also signed six top-100 players who are excited to join our program.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the Horned Frogs got the player they wanted. Quarterback Tye Gunn, from LaGrange, led his team to the 3-A state title and was rated one of the top five quarterbacks in the state. During his high school career, Gunn accounted for 9,100 yards and 127 touchdowns.

Gunn ran for 2,216 yards and 37 touchdowns and threw for 1,401 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior year. He was named the 3-A player of the year by Fox Sports Net, and was an all-state selection by the Texas High School Coaches Association.

“Tye Gunn was one of the top quarterbacks in the state of Texas this year,” Patterson said. “If we had to pick a quarterback for us to get this year, this is the one we would want. He is a great leader on the field. He is a proven winner.”

Joining Gunn will be Blinn Junior College running back Reggie Holts. Holts, who was originally a state top-100 recruit from Houston Langham Creek, rushed for 1,700 yards and 25 touchdowns in his senior year. Holts was also a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club Player of the Year, which honors the top players in the Houston area.

“Reggie is a player who could come in and immediately help us,” Patterson said. “When (former fullback) George Layne decided to go to the NFL draft, we were stuck without a fullback. Reggie is one of two players in this class who has a very good chance to play next year.”

Blocking the way for Holts and Gunn will be two of the top offensive linemen in the state. Shane Simms, who is ranked as one of the top 100 players in the state, is a two-time all-district selection from Tomball, and he can bench press more than 400 pounds.

Joining Simms on the offensive line is Stephen Culp from Tyler. Culp was a Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Team lineman and received all-East Texas honors after his junior year.

“We lost four offensive linemen this year, so that area was obviously an area of need for us,” Patterson said. “When we recruit offensive linemen we look for kids who can run, and we feel that these kids can definitely do that.”

On the defensive side of the ball the Frogs signed three safeties. Mark Walker from Duncanville, Jeremy Modkins from Marlin and Flander Malone from Dallas. They are all-state top-100 recruits.

Walker, who was an honorable mention all-state selection led his team to a 31-5 record during his three years on Duncanville’s varsity team. Modkins, who is the brother of former TCU football player Curtis Modkins, is a four-time all-district selection.

Malone, who can play either running back or defensive back, rushed for 846 yards on 116 carries while splitting time with two other running backs.

“We lost five safeties this year, so we definitely needed to sign some more,” Patterson said. “We feel that this group of safeties is just as good as last year’s. Mark Walker is a guy who could end up playing three ways for us. He can play defensive back, wide receiver or be a return man.”

One late commitment to the Frog recruiting class was Jersey Village linebacker Shawn Brooks. Brooks, the No. 6-ranked linebacker in the state, originally committed to Houston but decided to switch his commitment to the Frogs after visiting the TCU campus shortly before signing day.

While at Jersey Village, Brooks had more than 200 tackles and was named the Houston Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.

The Frogs also signed offensive linemen Ben Angeley from Earth and Michael Toudouze from San Antonio, wide receiver Matthew Grimmett from Snyder and tight end Marvin Pearson from Duncanville.

Ranorris Ray, a defensive end from San Antonio, Jeremy Breedlove, a defensive lineman from Corpus Christi, Martin Patterson, a linebacker from DeSoto and Mike Wynn, a kicker from Midland, round out the Horned Frogs’ commitments.

Chad Carey
j.c.carey@student.tcu.edu