After a 2024 season that saw TCU struggle to stop the run, the Horned Frogs took a clear step forward in the trenches in 2025 under defensive coordinator Andy Avalos. While the pass defense held its own last year, the run game was a different story - TCU gave up over 160 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry, numbers that put them near the bottom of the Big 12. But this past season told a different story.
Thanks to a largely intact defensive front, including redshirt sophomore nose tackle Markis Deal, the Horned Frogs tightened things up against the run. Opponents averaged just 133.1 rushing yards per game - a significant drop that landed TCU in the top five of the conference.
They also limited teams to 3.7 yards per carry, tying with BYU and Houston for fourth-best in the Big 12. Just 10 rushing touchdowns allowed all season?
That’s second-best in the league. Those are the kind of numbers that show real progress.
But while the run defense turned the corner, getting to the quarterback was a different challenge altogether. Pressure off the edge was inconsistent, and sack numbers were underwhelming across the board.
Fifth-year senior Devean Deal, who transferred in from Tulane and started at EDGE for the second straight year, led all defensive linemen with just 2.5 sacks. That’s not a number you want leading the unit.
Redshirt sophomore Ansel Din-Mbuh, who racked up six sacks at Washington State in 2024, managed only two this season in 12 starts. And former freshman All-American Zach Chapman added just 1.5 sacks in his nine starts.
Still, the cupboard isn’t bare - far from it. TCU is in a strong position heading into 2026, with nearly every key contributor on the defensive line eligible to return.
Let’s start at EDGE, where Devean Deal will be a tough loss after a strong final season. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors, led all EDGE rushers with 53 total tackles, and chipped in with four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. His presence on the edge brought experience and consistency, even if the sack totals weren’t eye-popping.
With Deal moving on, the Horned Frogs will turn to redshirt junior Paul Oyewale and Zach Chapman to anchor the edge. Oyewale flirted with the transfer portal but ultimately decided to return - a big win for TCU.
He tallied 31 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2025. A four-year contributor who’s played in 27 games, Oyewale brings veteran savvy and physicality to the edge.
Chapman, with 26 career games under his belt, added 28 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery this past season. Both will be counted on to take the next step as pass rushers.
Depth at EDGE took a hit with junior Jonathan Bax entering the portal and committing to Florida Atlantic. But TCU’s already reloaded.
Sophomore Travis Jackson is in line for a bigger role, and the Horned Frogs have a promising group of young talent waiting in the wings. That includes freshmen Chad Woodfork, Jared Martin, and John Schobel.
On top of that, the 2026 recruiting class brings in two four-star EDGE prospects - Carter Buck and Jesse Ford - along with experienced transfers in Koron Hayward (Western Kentucky) and Cheta Ofili (Texas Tech). That’s a blend of youth and experience that could pay off quickly.
Inside, TCU’s defensive tackle rotation is looking strong. Both Ansel Din-Mbuh and Markis Deal are back for another year.
Din-Mbuh recorded 24 tackles in 2025, while Deal posted 26 tackles, one sack, and two pass breakups. Deal, now a seasoned presence on the interior, has played in 28 games over three seasons - and he’ll be a key figure in the middle of that line.
Depth at defensive tackle is also encouraging. Redshirt freshman Tristan Johnson emerged as a midseason All-American and finished with 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
He’s poised for a bigger role in 2026. The freshman trio of Floyd Guidry III, Brody Whatley, and Blake Robinett is expected to return, giving the Horned Frogs more young talent to develop.
Veterans like Connor Lingren - the team’s No. 2 nose tackle with eight tackles in 2025 - and JUCO products Kelten Mickell and Perry Cole Jr. round out a deep and versatile group.
Bottom line: TCU’s defensive front is trending in the right direction. The run defense made tangible gains in 2025, and while the pass rush needs work, the pieces are in place for continued growth.
With a mix of returning veterans, promising underclassmen, and incoming talent, the Horned Frogs have the foundation to build a disruptive, balanced defensive line in 2026. Now it’s just a matter of turning potential into production.