Terrance Hooks, Grant Nelson back for TCU?

Bronco Mendenhall told reporters at Tuesday’s practice that the linebacker corps would receive a big boost, possibly as early as the TCU game in Fort Worth.

Terrance Hooks, a middle linebacker who had a knee cap injury this past spring, is ahead of schedule and is working out in non-contact drills. Nelson, who had surgery before fall practice and was thought to be lost for the season, is also recovered and practicing with the team.

“Both Terrance and Grant could be with us for the TCU game,” said Mendenhall. “We haven’t really had contact practices since fall camp ended so this is really important for them to get this time.”

Nelson is a 6-3, 226 sophomore linebacker who has seen plenty of playing time, playing 13 games for the Cougars in 2007.

Hooks was slated to challenge for a starting spot at middle linebacker .

Mendenhall thought it was a little strange that neither would be required to go through the NCAA acclamation period required before two-a-days.

“You could be a walk on and on the first day of school be eligible to practice full on.”

The return of these two players mean coaches Barry Lamb and Paul Tidwell won’t have to lean so much on freshmen Daniel Sorensen and Iona Pritchard.

With the injury to Vic So’oto, the return of these two players gives the Cougars depth, versitility in body types and more experience on the depth chart. Where they’ve been plugging in some bodies, adding a nickel package and moving some very inexperienced players around to fill the gaps, now they have proven players who know all the defensive calls and alignments who can fill in. And toe freshmen who’ve been backing up the starters and playing in the UCLA and Wyoming games, are just that further ahead.