The TCU Horned Frogs will kick off the season without a key safety on the depth chart, or anywhere for that matter.
The program dismissed Jacob Fields, a junior who transferred to TCU this offseason from Louisiana Tech, after Fields was involved in a “physical altercation” in the team’s locker rooms earlier this month, according to reporting by the Forth Worth Star-Telegram on Tuesday. As of Friday, Fields was no longer listed on the Horned Frogs’ online roster.
WHAT LOSING FIELDS MEANS FOR TCU
Fields, a native of Melissa, Texas, arrived at TCU fresh off his best season of college football with 54 combined tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery in his 13 appearances last season at LA Tech.
Filling in the absence of Fields at free safety, third-year Frog Jordan Lester is the likely candidate. Lester appeared in 12 games last season for 16 combined tackles and two pass breakups. Behind Lester, senior Ryan Yaites could also end up seeing playing time after primarily positioning on special teams last year as a junior; He’d see 124 defensive snaps as a freshman in 2023. Jamel Johnson remains the senior presence at strong safety.
TCU KICKOFF QUICKLY APPROACHING
The Horned Frogs are currently a 7.5-point favorite to beat North Carolina in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin on Saturday, Aug. 26. Now without their projected starting free safety, TCU must account for a weakened secondary entering their rematch with Bill Belichick the Tar Heels, which suffered a 48-41 home defeat in the eight-time Super Bowl champion’s college football debut.
