The team that used to love pointing out it could compete with the big boys in Texas without recruiting like the big boys in Texas can't really make that claim anymore.

The Horned Frogs landed arguably as good a recruiting class as ever, with several blue chip-potential players picking the Horned Frogs over the likes of perennial BCS-contending teams.

That's what happens when you become a perennial BCS bowl team yourself, as TCU has done, especially after January's Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

"They all came with the understanding that they want to win a championship," TCU coach Gary Patterson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "(And) not just a conference championship, but a national championship. I think that's where the energy has changed."

And while the Horned Frogs are now able to sign a different level of player -- the team landed two four-star recruits according to Rivals.com and three according to Scout.com -- that doesn't make the recruiting process any easier for the coaching staff.

"You're going to be able to get guys in the door, but I don't think it's easier," Patterson said. "For me, we are getting into more doors so we can have a chance to talk to guys. We are getting to where more people are hearing what we have to offer than four or five years ago, but we are still busy evaluating. We spent the last three days (leading up to the Feb. 2 signing day) evaluating over 250 junior tapes from around the state of Texas and other places. The process hasn't changed."

The process may not have changed, but it's hard to argue that results haven't changed. While Patterson has elevated the Horned Frogs to national contender over the past few seasons by finding diamonds in the rough, he's now going to start having to prove whether he can coach known commodities coming out of high school.

TOP OF THE CLASS

WR LaDarius Brown (Waxahachie High, Waxahachie, Texas) -- Brown was ranked by some recruiting services as high as a top-five athlete, and while it appears he could start contributing as early as next fall at wide receiver and in the return game, coach Gary Patterson loves tinkering with position switches for players he sees star potential in. Brown has the pure athleticism to excel anywhere on the field.

DT Chuck Hunter (West Monroe High, West Monroe, La.) -- Ranked as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Hunter is the type of interior lineman who makes stars out of defensive ends beside him and linebackers behind him. That's what TCU's defense has been all about for years, so Hunter may be as good a fit as there is in this class.

WR Brandon Carter (Trinity High, Euless, Texas) -- Carter was once an Oklahoma commit, but his desire to be a wide receiver and not a defensive back turned the tide toward TCU. Carter had more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage as a senior, and that versatility, especially with the likes of WR Jeremy Kerley now graduated, could find its way to the field immediately.

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