Boykin gets a favorite target back in this fast-starting freshman

Gary Patterson has already called him one of the most exciting players he's ever coached, and KaVontae Turpin has played but half-a-season.

How much more of his true freshman campaign Turpin would play came into question when he left the field early at Iowa State on Oct. 17 after taking a hard hit that took him out for the remainder of the game.

Patterson said Tuesday that his undersized receiver who has come up big with six touchdown catches, second-highest on the team, will play Thursday night when No. 5 TCU takes on West Virginia in a nationally televised game on FS1.

“You’re not going to keep Turpin down very long,” Patterson said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “He hasn’t met a day he hasn’t liked. He’s got a great attitude about playing the game. I need a hundred Turpins, to be honest with you.”

Turpin, third on the team with 18 catches for 313 yards, has also played a significant role on TCU's kick return team. He ranks third in the Big 12, averaging 29.1 yards per kickoff return.

Probably the Horned Frogs' fastest receiver, Turpin further complicates things for defenses already focused on quarteback Trevone Boykin targeting one of the nation's top receivers in Josh Doctson, as well as deep threat Kolby Listenbee.

(h/t Star-Telegram)