Le Journal

TCU welcome back significant game experience at linebacker in 2025. Despite losing a multi-year starter and an All-Big 12 player in Johnny Hodges, the Horned Frogs returned veterans Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Namdi Obiazor. Obiazor, who earned an additional year of eligibility after the Diego Pavia lawsuit, which allowed former JUCO athletes to gain extra time, played in 53 games over his six-year career with the Horned Frogs. Elarms-Orr, who transferred in from Cal last offseason, played in 47 games over his five-year career. After primarily serving as a top reserve linebacker in 2024, Elarms-Orr exploded onto the scene in 2025, posting a career-high 130 total tackles and leading TCU with four sacks. An All-Big 12 First Team recipient this season, Elarms-Orr added 11 tackles for loss, broke up two passes and started all 13 games. Elarms-Orr posted double-digit tackles six times. The more I watch of TCU's Kaleb Elarms-Orr, the more I am excited to see him in Mobile.TCU asked him to do a lot in their scheme – more NFL-level stuff than most college programs. The IQ looks to be a real plus in his game. pic.twitter.com/YUTmGhV9ZH— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) January 21, 2026 Obiazor, a three-year starter for the Horned Frogs, ranked third on the team with 88 total tackles and posted four tackles for loss in 2025. A converted defensive back, Obiazor concluded his TCU career with 302 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, 8.5 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. With Elarms-Orr and Obiazor aiding the run defense, TCU held opponents to 133.1 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Both Elarms-Orr and Obiazor will be graduating from the roster, meaning the Horned Frogs will need two new starters to take over at linebacker next season. One candidate to emerge will be Max Carroll, a former four-star recruit and a redshirt sophomore who’s played in 30 games over the last three years. A top reserve this season, Carroll recorded 34 total tackles, 20 solo stops, four tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. A (Michael) Short lesson on PBUs 📝 #ThisIsHome | #TeamOverMe pic.twitter.com/af03Yla4l5— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) August 14, 2025 After Carroll, however, things get a bit dicey. The Horned Frogs were very young at linebacker in 2025, rostering five underclassmen and four freshmen (Sam Haley, Dillon Arkansas, Anthony Williams and Keylan Abrams). Sophomore Michael Teason, who transferred in from Missouri State last offseason, had 10 tackles in four games this season. Of the players signed in the 2026 recruiting class, only one is a linebacker (Noriel Dominguez). TCU bolstered its depth through the transfer portal, signing Virginia Tech linebacker Michael Short. A junior who has 45 total tackles over the last two seasons. Short has played at both North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Short should provide the Horned Frogs with an experienced option opposite Carroll. Expect Teason and TCU’s young freshmen to compete for top spots on the depth chart as the Horned Frogs progress through the offseason.

National Championship-winning HC Curt Cignetti has the Longhorns ranked in a pretty advantageous spot heading into 2026.

Former 4-star QB M.J. Morris is officially transferring to Texas from Coastal Carolina.

It's safe to say that PFF is a fan of one of the Longhorns' newest defenders.

Indianapolis, IN — The one position (group) that longtime Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has remained consistently strong at has been that of the offensive line. It admittedly may be too early to tell, but rookie tackle Jalen Travis appears to be Ballard’s latest hit from across the offensive line. Drafted in the fourth round at 127th overall, Travis offered a prototypical canvas to work with, standing at a towering 6’8” and weighing 340 lbs. Long story short, things are trending upward for Travis after his rookie season in the NFL. This is the fourth installment of an ongoing article series that’ll cover each Colts rookie from the 2025-26 season. Expectations — As far as his rookie season goes, there was certainly some responsibility heading into Jalen Travis’s first professional season. He became the offense’s swing tackle following a strong camp battle with fellow tackle Blake Freeland, being penciled in as the de facto backup after Freeland wound up on the season-ending injured reserve with a fractured leg during preseason play. Aside from his anticipated relief duties as a rookie, Travis was viewed on draft day as the future Braden Smith replacement at right tackle. Rookie Season — His rookie campaign went about as expected for an early Day 3 tackle prospect: some highs, some lows, but at the end of the day, the flashes were more promising than they were disappointing. Playing 29% of the possible offensive snaps, Jalen Travis did more than get his feet wet in the NFL with 316 snaps logged (247 at RT, 61 at LT). After longtime Colts starter at right tackle Braden Smith went down late in the season, it was the rookie’s time to shine. Above is Jalen Travis’s official stat line from his rookie season, per Pro Football Focus. He started the last four games of the season for the Indianapolis Colts, offering a strong floor for quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard. Future Outlook — As previously mentioned, Jalen Travis was naturally viewed as the future Braden Smith replacement at right tackle. So far, so good, I’d say. Despite some rookie woes here and there, the succession plan appears to be going off without a hitch. Braden Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent at 30 years old. This could be the offseason where the Colts finally part ways with their longtime right tackle, a staple of the Chris Ballard era, opening the door for Jalen Travis to be a full-time starter in just his second season. Whether or not he’s prepared for the potential opportunity at hand remains to be seen, though he’s certainly the next man up.