GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The TCU defense against Texas Tech’s potent offensive attack. Most games with the Red Raiders come down to keeping them from hitting the big play with their passing game and this one will be the same. The Horned Frogs’ defenders, likely working in a dime package with six defensive backs, can match up well with the Tech receivers — and will have to.
DRAFT SLANT
–DE Ben Banogu is the easy pick to be the Horned Frogs’ first player taken in the 2019 draft. He’s a speed rusher off the edge and will be looking to build on his junior season in which he had 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. Banogu could’ve tested the draft waters after last season but opted to return. A big season could make him a Day 2 prospect and have him in line for even more honors than he earned after last season. He had three tackles in the win over Iowa State and returned a fumble 47 yards for a crucial TD. Banogu now has 11 stops, a forced fumble that led to a TD return, a fumble return for score, a sack and four quarterback hurries for the season.
ROSTER REPORT:
–DE Ben Banogu’s 47-yard fumble return for a touchdown was his first career score. It was also TCU’s second fumble return for a touchdown this season. Alec Dunham returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown at SMU; that fumble was caused by Banogu.
–LB Garret Wallow reached double digits in tackles for the second consecutive game, tying his career high with 11 stops which he first accomplished two weeks ago at Texas. Wallow also had his second sack of the season.
–LB Ty Summers had a season-high nine tackles in the win over Iowa State, moving him into third place on TCU’s career tackles list in the 18-season tenure of coach Gary Patterson. Summers’ 296 stops only trail former teammate Travin Howard (343, 2014-17) and Jason Phillips (315, 2005-08), his position coach the previous two seasons.
–Innis Gaines had his first sack of the season and first forced fumble of the year (third of his career) which led to Banogu’s 47-yard return for a touchdown. Gaines now has a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss on the season.
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