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[SIZE=14pt]TCU Camp '10: Carder Keys Linebacker Unit[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Horned Frog junior is a preseason All-American and the MWC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year[/SIZE]
FORT WORTH, Texas -- GoFrogs.com begins its preview of the 2010 TCU football team with a look at the linebacker position.
Preseason All-American Tank Carder (6-3, 232, Jr.) is one of the leaders of the Horned Frogs. At the Mountain West Conference Media Days last month in Las Vegas, Carder was voted the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Dave Campbell's Texas Football named him the Best Linebacker in Texas.
Carder also appears on watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award.
Carder was an All-MWC selection in his first season as a starter. He ranked second on TCU with 89 tackles, including 10 for loss. The 89 stops were 19 more than the next-closest Horned Frog (Alex Ibiloye, 70).
A native of Sweeny, Texas, Carder topped TCU while tying for second in the MWC with 10 pass breakups. He received MWC Defensive Player of the Week accolades following a win over Utah when he totaled nine tackles, including one for loss, while returning an interception 15 yards for a touchdown. The performance earned him a Helmet Sticker from ESPN's Rece Davis.
Carder was a success in athletics before he ever stepped foot on the gridiron. As a 9-year-old, he captured the world championship in BMX racing.
Kenny Cain (6-1, 210, So.) and Greg Burks (6-1, 222, So.) add depth behind Carder.
Cain and Burks saw most of their action last season on special teams. Burks recorded both of TCU's punt blocks.
Tanner Brock (6-3, 233, So.) entered the fall in a No. 1 position opposite Carder. Brock earned Freshman All-America honors last season as he topped all TCU rookies with 32 tackles, including a team-best 14 on special teams.
Brock received national attention for his helmetless block on Jeremy Kerley's 71-yard punt return for a touchdown against SMU. After losing his helmet earlier in the play, he delivered a hard hit on a Mustang to spring Kerley loose.
Kris Gardner (6-1, 235, Jr.) will push Brock for playing time. Eight of Gardner's 19 tackles last season came on special teams.
BY THE NUMBERS:
[SIZE=14pt]2[/SIZE] - Punt blocks recorded by Greg Burks last season
[SIZE=14pt]4[/SIZE] - Former TCU linebackers from the last three seasons who are now active in the National Football League (David Hawthorne, Seattle Seahawks; Robert Henson, Washington Redskins; Jason Phillips, Baltimore Ravens; Daryl Washington, Arizona Cardinals)
[SIZE=14pt]5[/SIZE] - Consecutive seasons linebackers coach Tony Tademy has produced at least two all-conference players
[SIZE=14pt]7[/SIZE] - Field goals made by Tank Carder as a senior at Sweeny High School
[SIZE=14pt]14[/SIZE] - Team-high special teams tackles by Tanner Brock as a true freshman in 2009