Earlier today, during his National Signing Day press conference, Gary Patterson announced that freshman cornerback Julius Lewis suffered an injury during offseason workouts that will likely keep him out for the 2016 season.

Patterson said CB Julius Lewis got hurt in offseason. Probably going to miss the year. Impact player a year ago as a freshman. — Carlos A. Mendez (@calexmendez) February 3, 2016

Losing Lewis is a huge blow to a TCU secondary that is already dealing with several injuries that have carried over from 2015. Safety Kenny Iloka tore his ACL against Stephen F. Austin, and cornerback Ranthony Texada tore his ACL against SMU, keeping both out for the remainder of last season, and preventing either from participating in spring drills this year.

Lewis emerged during the back half of the 2015 season as arguably TCU's best cornerback (while Texada was out), taking time from Corry O'Meally and Torrance Mosley, and allowing Nick Orr to slide back to safety. In 12 games he accounted for 18 tackles and four pass breakups, and very well could have begun the spring as the No. 2 corner for TCU, preparing to start across from Texada.

Now, with Lewis potentially out and O'Meally lost to graduation, TCU will look to guys like Mosley, DeShawn Raymond, 2016 JUCO signee Markell Simmons, and soon-to-be freshman KeShawn Somerville, who signed his National Letter of Intent earlier today, to step in.