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.
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.
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.
