Wednesday Big 12 morning rush: Headlines from around the conference

Each morning, Longhorns Wirebrings you the latest news from the Big 12. Wednesday morning’s headlines are courtesy of 247Sports and ESPN.

Each morning Longhorns Wire brings you the latest news from around the Big 12 Conference. Monday morning’s headlines are courtesy of 247Sports and ESPN.

Former LSU LB Marcel Brooks headed to TCU

After picking up their highest rated recruit ever in five-star running back Zach Evans, the Horned Frogs stayed hot via the transfer portal. Former five-star linebacker/defensive back Marcel Brooks has transfered from LSU to TCU. He will be the second-highest rated prospect to ever play in Fort Worth.

TCU is getting a huge addition to their program as multiple sources have told HornedFrogBlitz on Tuesday afternoon that former LSU linebacker Marcel Brooks is headed to the Big 12 program.

Brooks entered the NCAA transfer portal on June 26 and TCU immediately became the favorite as the athletic defender said he wanted to play closer to home. Sources told HFB that Brooks is on campus today (Tuesday) and will be able to start working out with the team as soon as he passes a physical.

A former-five star out of Flower Mound (TX) Marcus, Brooks is the second five-star prospect the Frogs have landed this off-season. In May they landed 2020 five-star running back Zachary Evans, who is currently on campus. Brooks was ranked as the No. 32 overall player in the nation for the 2019 class and ranked as the No. 2 outside linebacker prospect. He will become the second-highest ranked player to play for the Frogs behind Evans.

Brooks saw immediate playing time in his first and only season with the Tigers as he appeared in 11 games and finished with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks during the National Championship run. He was expected to compete for a starting linebacker position for LSU this fall.

As for where he will fit in at TCU, sources have told HFB that hasn’t been fully decided. With his frame and athleticism, he could play safety, linebacker or even rush the quarterback in some situations.

Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley confident there will be a college football season

COVID-19 has taken over the college football world, with the ACC, Big 10, and Pac 12 all expected to cancel nonconference matchups. Neither the Big 12 nor SEC has done so yet. Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley remains one of the few confident in a season happening, either in the fall or spring.

After the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced a move to conference-only play and numerous college football power brokers have expressed concerns about the season being played, Riley said there’s ample reason to find a solution, as long as it meets safety standards.

“I just can’t imagine a scenario [where we don’t explore every option to play],” Riley said. “Whether it’s something we do in the fall, whether it’s a shortened season, whether it’s spring, there’s nothing we should take off the table. Regardless of what we have to do, I don’t think there’s anything we can’t work around and we can’t adjust and can’t make work in order to play college football. We’ve all got to do our part on that.”

Riley has been among the few big names to advocate for the potential of a spring season. He said the key is simply time — giving medical professionals and schools the longest runway to find a workable plan.

Oklahoma State lands commitment from three-star wide receiver John Paul Richardson

Oklahoma State added to their 2021 recruiting class on Wednesday, as John Paul Richardson has committed to the Pokes. A 6-0 wide receiver from Missouri City, Texas, the Cowboys, Kansas, and TCU were Richardson’s only Big 12 offers.

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