As the countdown to the 2026 season opener ticks down, two former TCU standouts are being celebrated for the imprint they left on the program.
Griffin Kell arrived in Fort Worth as a reliable leg and quickly became a clutch performer, most famously delivering a game‑winning kick against Baylor that still echoes through campus memories.
His consistency earned him All‑Big 12 First Team honors in 2022 and an honorable‑mention nod in 2023, while he converted 60 of 79 field‑goal attempts and capped his college career with an 89.5% success rate in 2022.
A lasting impact on the Horned Frogs
Jason Phillips, a four‑time All‑Mountain West Conference selection, compiled 315 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two interceptions before the Baltimore Ravens drafted him in 2009; he went on to appear in 29 NFL games for the Ravens, the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
After his playing days, Phillips returned to TCU as a graduate assistant, rose to coach linebackers and now serves as a defensive analyst, while also being inducted into the university’s 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame.
Together, Kell and Phillips embody the grit and excellence that have defined TCU football for a generation, and their stories continue to inspire the next wave of Horned Frogs as they prepare for the upcoming season.