TCU’s 2026 season opener is creeping closer, and the Horned Frogs are now down to 39 days before they face North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 29. That puts the spotlight on two former Frogs who wore No. 39: kicker Griffin Kell and linebacker Jason Phillips.
Kell is the one most TCU fans will remember instantly. He was the man behind the “Hypnotoad in a Hurry” kick in Waco, the one that lifted the Horned Frogs past Baylor and kept the unbeaten run alive. Over five seasons with TCU after joining the program in 2019, Kell built a strong résumé, finishing his career 60-for-79 on field goals for a 75.9% clip and making 185 extra points.
His top year came in 2022, when he hit 14 of 17 field goals, good for a career-best 89.5%, and drilled a long of 54 yards. The Arlington, Texas, native came back for one more season in 2023 and set a new personal best with a 57-yarder against Iowa State. He won the starting kicker job in 2020 and held it for four seasons, appearing in 59 games overall and handling kickoff duties in four of his five years with the Frogs.
That Baylor game-winner also brought him Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors, his second time earning the award after being recognized for his work against Texas in 2020. Kell was also named the Lou Groza Award Star of the Week twice, once after the Texas game in 2020 and again when TCU faced Oklahoma State in 2022.
Phillips made his mark on the other side of the ball. A four-time All-Mountain West Conference player, he arrived at TCU in 2004 as a fullback before shifting to linebacker and eventually becoming a defensive starter.
In five years with the Horned Frogs, he piled up 315 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two interceptions. He earned All-MWC Second Team honors in 2005 and 2006, then moved up to First Team in 2007 and 2008.
After college, Phillips was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 137 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The fifth-rounder spent time with the Ravens, Panthers and Eagles before retiring. In the NFL, he played in 29 games, made two starts and recorded 31 tackles with one tackle for loss.
Phillips later came back to TCU in 2015 as a graduate assistant. The Waller, Texas, native coached linebackers in 2016 and 2017 before shifting to a defensive analyst role in 2018.
During those linebacker seasons, he worked with Ty Summers and Travin Howard, both of whom earned All-Big 12 honors and reached the NFL. Phillips is also part of TCU’s 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame class.
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