Like their predecessors in 2002, the Recruiting
Class of 2003 would go on to shape the TCU football program over the next five years. Unfortunately for this group, that included some highs (the MWC Title in '05) as well as some lows (the 5-loss '07 season).
The headliner: Without a doubt, the recruit that caused the biggest buzz in this class was 4-star quarterback James Battle from Denton's Ryan High School. The 6'2", 195lb Battle had offers from a number of Big 12 and SEC schools, but chose to bring his game down the road to TCU after leading Ryan to a 4A state championship.
NFL Material: Unfortunately, the Class of '03 didn't produce any NFL Draft picks. David Hawthorne, who came to TCU as a 2-star linebacker out of Corsicana, however, caught on as a free agent and has done very well with the Seattle Seahawks. David Roach, who came to TCU from Abilene, just completed his second season with the St. Louis Rams. Brian Bonner and Chase Ortiz both attended NFL training camps, but did not make their respective teams.
MLB Material: Chad Huffman, the quarterback from Missouri City's Elkins High, left TCU before his senior football season (when he may well have been the starter) to pursue a career in professional baseball. After being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2nd Round of the 2006 MLB Draft, he has vaulted through their farm system and will be competing for a job on the Major League squad here in a few weeks at Spring Training.
Hits: Ortiz, who was a generally unheralded linebacker coming out of Clear Creek in the Houston area, switched to defensive end right before the '05 season and never looked back, immediately earning a starting spot and All-MWC honors three years in a row. Bonner, who was the less-hyped member of the Beeville Jones duo (Ervin Dickerson was supposedly the real prize, it was thought), was All-Conference twice, contributing both as a hard-hitting safety as well as on punt returns. Hawthorne, Roach and offensive lineman Matty Lindner were all also three-year starters. Other four-year letter winners included wide receiver Marcus Brock, tight end Quentin Cunigan, Dickerson, fullback William Jackson and defensive end Jamison Newby. Offensive lineman Wade Sisk was a solid contributor and linebacker Logo Tevaseu became a fan-favorite with his kamikaze mentality on special teams.
Tommy Blake: I wasn't sure exactly where to put him. On one hand, Blake started at least part of all four of his seasons as a Frog. He was All-MWC in '05 and '06, and during those years he was about as dominant as any player to suit up for Patterson. All that at defensive end after having played running back at Aransas Pass. On the other, his lasting legacy is his unfulfilled potential. After his stellar junior season in '06, he decided to stay for his senior year despite being assured he'd be an early 1st Round Pick. Big things were expected of him in '07, but his disappearance from fall practice cast a shadow on program that they couldn't shake all year. He eventually returned, but was just never the same player he had been before.
Misses: Perhaps one reason for the down season in 2007 was that a full third of this class could be classified as misses. Battle famously flopped at TCU, gaining an alarming amount of weight before transferring the Stephen F. Austin before quitting football altogether. Raytron Mayfield never made it to campus. Will Oliver, Freddie Stoglin and Larry Bradford all left the program without ever making much of a contribution. Fullback Marcus Draper was solid as a true freshman in '02, but then left TCU (but not before meating out at the SAE Party House). Trey Englert, to my knowledge, never saw the field much.
Looks like we are stepping up our recruiting to try and land some big name recruits for 2011. Gonna be hard to pick up these guys considering the other offers they have on the table already. Keep your fingers crossed.
