Ben Banogu – Noteworthy
TCU defensive end Ben Banogu made history at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday. Banogu posted an impressive broad jump at 11 feet, 2 inches, the longest by a defensive linemen since 2003. Banogu checked in at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds. Banogu went on to put up solid times in the 40-yard dash. He had a 4.58-second unofficial time on his first try, and then a 4.62-second unofficial time on his second try. His 10-yard split on the 40-yard dash was 1.47 seconds, the best among D-linemen, ahead of Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat (1.50), Ohio State’s Nick Bosa (1.55) and Michigan’s Chase Winovich (1.55). Banogu is working out in the defensive line group at the Combine after spending time with the linebackers at the Senior Bowl. Banogu led TCU with 18 tackles for loss, 8 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries (including one for a touchdown) last season. He had 57 tackles on the year, including a career-best 10 in TCU’s 16-9 win over Baylor that earned him Big 12 defensive player of the week honors. – Fort Worth Star
Kavontae Turpin – Noteworthy
KaVontae Turpin will be allowed to participate in TCU’s Pro Day later this month if his legal issues are resolved, coach Gary Patterson said. Turpin is facing domestic violence charges in New Mexico and Fort Worth, and each case is still pending. The Fort Worth incident with his then-girlfriend happened last October, and an incident from March 2018 in New Mexico involving the same woman came to light afterward. That prompted Patterson to dismiss Turpin from the program. But Patterson is willing to welcome Turpin back and provide an avenue for Turpin’s professional dreams should the legal issues be resolved by TCU’s Pro Day on March 29.
“He’s one of ours,” Patterson said after a spring practice Sunday. “He’s supposed to be going to counseling, and if he gets everything cleared up, it’s not going to be one of those things where TCU’s going to say, ‘No.’ If he clears up and he does what he’s supposed to, he’ll have an opportunity to run on Pro Day because he was a TCU Horned Frog.” Patterson said he and Turpin have discussed the conditions for Pro Day, and the reports Patterson has received have been positive about Turpin getting his off-field life in order. “If he can get everything cleared up, and everybody thinks that he’s done a good job of trying to better himself, then he’ll have an opportunity to run for us and help himself in his NFL career,” Patterson said. “If he doesn’t do that, then I have people that I have to answer to and you have to do the right thing. He knows that.” – Fort Worth Star