Can Andy Avalos Push TCU’s Defense into the Big 12 Elite in 2025?

The TCU Horned Frogs‘ defense went in a different direction with new coordinator Andy Avalos in 2024, and it worked.

Here was how the TCU defense ranked last season in FBS:

Points allowed per game: 24.6 (No. 63)

Rushing yards allowed per game: 160.5 (No. 83)

Passing yards allowed per game: 185.2 (No. 23)

Total yards allowed per game: 345.6 (No. 45).

With Avalos back for a second season as defensive coordinator, he and five returning starters hope to lock things down just a bit more for the Horned Frogs in 2025.

Here are three defensive players to keep an eye on for the TCU Horned Frogs.

S Bud Clark

It feels like Clark has been in Fort Worth forever. But he’s back for another season, and the Horned Frogs love that he’s back.

His PFF season grade of 89.8 ranked third nationally among Power Four Conference safeties in 2024, while he led the Horned Frogs with three interceptions. He now has 11 picks for his career and ranks ninth on TCU’s all-time career list. He had 67 tackles, which was a career high and was fourth on the team. He was named second-team All-Big 12.

Clark has been a part of the program since 2020, when he sat out the year due to COVID. This should be his final season, and he’ll want to go out with a bang.

LB Namdi Obiazor

Obiazor remained a steady producer in the move to Avalos’ defensive scheme, even if he wasn’t an award winner like he was in 2023 when he earned honorable mention for Big 12 defensive player of the year.

Last year, he was second on the defense with 81 tackles. He ranked third with 6.5 tackles for loss and fifth with 2.5 sacks.

In 2023, when he was also an honorable mention Big 12 selection, he led TCU with 84 tackles and four sacks. So the unit got better around him in 2024, but he remains the backbone of the group as they head into 2025.

STUD Devean Deal

While Obiazor racked up the tackles a year ago, Deal had one of the best seasons behind the line of scrimmage of any TCU defender.

He led TCU with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as he finished the year with 46 tackles. He played in all 13 games, but he only started eight games and didn’t earn a full-time starting job until midseason.

The former Tulane star was named a Big 12 honorable mention, an honorable mention Big 12 newcomer of the year, and the New Mexico Bowl defensive most valuable player. He stands to make a huge jump in 2025.