STARS OF 2008:

NT James Vess' return from a season-long suspension is good news for a team that lost the most talented bookends in the MWC in Chase Ortiz and Tommy Blake. Vess' return gives TCU an experienced anchor from which to build its customary deep line.

Everyone knows how shifty and speedy RB Aaron Brown can be when healthy, but the key to TCU's running game could be the fitness of Joseph Turner. Turner, who's sitting out spring to recover from knee surgery, gives the Horned Frogs the between-the-tackles running to form the perfect complement to Brown's around-the-edge style. The team was 6-0 last season when Turner rushed for at least 56 yards.

SS Stephen Hodge was the nation's leader for defensive backs in sacks with eight in 2007. Hodge was inserted into the lineup before the New Mexico game last season (a TCU 37-0 rout), jumpstarting the Frogs to wins in four of their last five games.

LB Jason Phillips has 38 career starts and is the team's active leader in tackles with 231. He led TCU in tackles with 87, a hefty number considering the substitution pattern the Frogs use on defense.

TOP NEWCOMERS

TCU's top kicker could be a player that won't even set foot on campus until next fall. Ross Evans, who will come in as a true freshman expected to assume the chores left by the graduated Chris Manfredini. Evans kicked 37 field goals in high school, the second most ever in the state of Texas, and had a pair of 53-yarders as a senior.

CB Jason Teague, an original LSU recruit, was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 53 junior college player in the country. He should vie for the top backup spot next season.

WR Marques Parker will get every opportunity to make the rotation next season. Parker, a transfer from North Iowa Area Community College, had 57 catches for 824 yards and four TDs last season.

LB Tank Carder should join the rotation in 2008 as a redshirt freshman. TCU coaches say Carder has made incredible strides since arriving on campus who could be an impact player as soon as next season. He'll likely have to make an impact in 2008 coming off the bench.

ROSTER REPORT

--The Horned Frogs have added a couple of players to their 2008 signing class. WR Justin Morneaux of St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, La., and Jason Teague, a CB out of Tyler (Texas) Junior College, both have signed letters of intent for next season, bringing TCU's total to 17 players in the class.

--Among the seven players who were able to participate in spring camp because of TCU's delayed start were linebackers Kris Gardner, Jason Phillips and Daryl Washington, all of whom had shoulder injuries.

--RB Joseph Turner and safeties Sir Demarco Bledsoe and Tekerrein Cuba are recovering from knee injuries and will not participate in spring practice.

--WR Donald Massey is not participating in spring practice to focus on academics.

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