Head football coach Gary Patterson announced the signing of 24 new players for next season, bring in the 26th ranked class in the country by Rivals.com.

This is the highest in TCU’s history. It also marks the third year the Horned Frogs have had the highest rated class in the Mountain West Conference.

“This is a great group of people,” Patterson said. “Not only is it good athletes that we feel like met our needs, but it’s a great group of people … they all came with the emphasis of understanding that they want to win a championship.”

The class is highlighted by three four-star athletes, but all the athletes are rated three-stars or higher.

LaDarius Brown is the highest rated athlete in the class by Rivals. The Waxahachie native was offered scholarships to several Big 12 schools as well as the national champion Auburn Tigers, but signed with TCU.

Brown is a member of the prestigious ESPNU 150, prospects considered by ESPN to be the top 150 in the country.

According to Rivals, Brown could fill in at wide receiver where the Frogs are diminished by graduation, but some believe he could also play safety in college.

Another versatile player in the class is local product Brandon Carter of Trinity High School. Carter led the Trojans to the Texas 5A state championship this year by receiving, rushing, passing, and even returning punts.

Carter was originally committed to the University of Oklahoma, but switched to the Horned Frogs just a few weeks before signing day.

While 18 of the 24 recruits came from Texas, the Frogs grabbed a highly-touted Louisiana star in defensive tackle Chuck Hunter. The four-star recruit was rated as one of the best players in Louisiana.

Another local product, linebacker Deryck Gildon, has already graduated from Arlington’s James Martin High School and will practice with the team this spring. ESPN recruiting rated him as one of the best linebacker prospects in the nation.

The class also features offensive guard Brady Foltz, younger brother of current TCU player Blaize Foltz.

The 24 signees are split offensively and defensively. The Frogs filled some very thin positions by signing five wide receivers, four safeties, and three cornerbacks and linebackers.

While this class may be the highest rated in TCU’s history, Patterson said the stars don’t mean a lot to him.

“Once they get here, their slate’s clean,” Patterson said. “You have no stars anymore, you haven’t scored any touchdowns for TCU or beat any tackles, and you’ve got to move forward.”

Patterson also said the class that just broke the TCU record for wins was not highly-rated coming out of high school.