TCU football preview: Linebackers have elite potential, but what about the depth?

Linebacker could be the strongest position on TCU’s roster with multiple players that have all-conference potential.

TCU returns key veteran leaders like Johnny Hodges and Namdi Obiazor and also added another player with an impressive pedigree from the transfer portal in Cal transfer Kaleb Elarms-Orr.

In Andy Avalos’ defense there will be two linebackers on the field and another rushing the passer at the STUD position. The key for Avalos is finding a way to maximize the entire room which features players that have strengths in different area.

It’s a good problem to have for the first year defensive coordinator who has a reputation of molding productive linebackers. Ahead of TCU’s season opener at Stanford on Friday , here’s a look at the Horned Frogs’ linebacker room.

The starters

MLB: Johnny Hodges

WLB: Namdi Obiazor

Breakdown: Hodges and Obiazor should be one of the best linebacker combos in the Big 12. They’re experienced veterans that played vital roles during the Horned Frogs’ march to the national championship game in 2022. Hodges was voted second team All-Big 12 that season and the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He’s a throwback linebacker that excels at stopping the run and bringing physicality to the unit. He was only able to appear in four games last season and is eager to be back on the field after a strong fall training camp.

Obiazor may be the most talented player on defense and led TCU with 84 tackles and four sacks last season. The converted safety has retained his athleticism and has bulked up significantly this off-season. Whether it’s against the pass or the run, Obiazor’s ability to make plays sideline to sideline should make him one of the standouts on defense and a potential NFL Draft pick with another strong season.

Next up

MLB : Kaleb Elarms-Orr

WB: Max Carroll

Other names to know: Shad Banks, Kylan Salter, Terrence Cooks Jr.

Breakdown: There are positives and negatives with the reserves on the Horned Frogs’ roster. Elarms-Orr was an All-Pac 12 linebacker at California and matched up against some of the best quarterbacks in the country last season like Caleb Williams. Elarms-Orr was dominant at times for TCU during the spring and consistently made plays with the second team defense during the fall. While Hodges is the starter there may be matchups against more pass heavy offenses where Elarms-Orr plays more snaps. His versatility will be key for TCU this season.

Carroll is one of the many players from the Class of 2023 that are moving up the depth chart. One of the most physically impressive players in the room, Carroll is starting to put it together on the field as he had impressive during camp as a blitzer and against the run. Carroll nearly had a pick six in one practice and has experience playing receiver in his high school days. That experience and deeper understanding on offensive concepts has allowed Carroll to process faster and make more plays in the new defense.

After that things get dicey for the Horned Frogs. Outside of Banks, who has started multiple games in his career, most of the reserves behind Carroll and Elarms-Orr are question marks. Cooks and Salter have dealt with injuries during their careers in Fort Worth and are hoping to contribute this season. Even Banks has fallen down the depth chart, being listed third in TCU’s official release, but Banks has proven he can be productive when he’s on the field. One injury could jeopardize the entire room, so TCU will hope to keep its studs healthy this fall.

Best case scenario: Obiazor becomes an All-Big 12 linebacker and another quality draft pick for Andy Avalos while the rotation of Hodges and Elarms-Orr finds a nice rhythm matching up with different opponents. Carroll has a strong season coming off the reserve and will be set to potentially start in 2025.

Worst case scenario: One of the top four linebackers ends up getting hurt, limiting the potential of the room as the linebackers are good, but not great.