TCU returns 10 starters from last year's prolific offense, but there are questions on defense, where the Horned Frogs must replace six of their top seven tacklers from last year.
Now, TCU will be without two more defensive players for Thursday's opener against the Gophers, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
"You'll find out when we get to game time," TCU coach Gary Patterson is quoted as saying in this story by Carlos Mendez.
As Mendez notes, the depth chart TCU released "late Tuesday night did not have the names of defensive end James McFarland or cornerback DeShawn Raymond. McFarland led the team in sacks last year with seven and was the defensive MVP of the Peach Bowl. He played with a foot injury in the latter part of the year and missed some of spring training this year to have it treated."
Raymond is a four-star recruit who enrolled at TCU this January. Patterson did not give specifics on why the two defensive players wouldn't play.
Programming notes: Thursday will be another big day for Gophers coverage at StarTribune.com. I'll be hosting a live chat at noon, so stop on by with your college football questions. And at 6 p.m, Michael Rand and Vineeta Sawkar will host "Star Tribune Sports Live" from the university campus. Chip Scoggins, Jim Souhan, Don Lucia, Ron Johnson and I will be among the guests.
