TCU running back B.J. Catalon will watch from the sideline when the Horned Frogs meet the Ole Miss Rebels in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. Catalon missed the final four contests of the season due to a concussion, and it appears the symptoms have lingered over into his preparation for the Peach Bowl.
Carlos Mendez, a source close to the team, delivered the news via Twitter, saying, “Patterson says Catalon will not play in Atlanta. Is past the concussion but he and family evaluating for next year.”
The Horned Frogs utilize a rather pass happy offense, but in eight games worth of action, Catalon managed to compile 493 yards on the ground to go along with ten touchdowns. Over the course of his career, Catalon has amassed over 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns, but his junior season has been a major disappointment.
In his absence, classmate Aaron Green has stolen the show, rushing for over 100 yards on three separate occasions. With Catalon still out, Green will remain the top tailback as he hopes to guide TCU past a difficult Ole Miss team. The Rebels have an extremely talented front line and will need Green to run effectively in order to slow the strong pass rush.
If Green can keep the Rebels’ “Landshark” defense at bay, the floodgates should open for TCU’s electrifying QB, Trevone Boykin. TCU’s success on offense can be heavily credited to Boykin’s breakout year, as well as Patterson’s excellent coaching display. During his tenure, Coach Patterson has done an excellent job revamping the TCU program and building them into a national powerhouse. Patterson was the 2014 recipient of the AP Coach of the Year award.
This year marks the third major bowl appearance with the team’s first coming in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos. It wasn’t until the following season, however, that TCU won its first major bowl by topping Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, but beating Ole Miss would be the team’s first bowl win over an SEC opponent since 2001.
*Section Photo credit to Ronald Martinez, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Tommy Gilligan, USA Today Sports
