Making an impact as a freshman in college football takes a truly special, talented individual. The transition from high school to the collegiate game isn’t as simple as strapping on a different uniform and getting straight to it. In the 2023 college football season, however, we saw a plethora of true and redshirt freshman leave their mark in the most outstanding way.
Introducing the College Football Network Freshman All-American College Football Team and Individual Honors.
Freshman All-American Football Team Honors for 2023
Follow along with all of the CFN All-Conference teams all the same for individual honors from each conference: FBS All-Americans | ACC | B1G | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC | FBS Ind. | AAC | CUSA | MAC | Mountain West | Sun Belt | HBCU All-Americans
- Freshman Player of the Year
Dillon Thieneman, S, Purdue - Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
Kevin “KC” Concepcion, WR, North Carolina State - Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
Dillon Thieneman, S, Purdue - Freshman Specialist of the Year Award
Zachariah Branch, PR, USC
Freshman All-American Offense
- Freshman Quarterback of the Year
Jayden Maiava, UNLV - Freshman Running Back of the Year
Jalen Buckey, Western Michigan - Freshman Wide Receiver of the Year
Kevin “KC” Concepcion, North Carolina State - Freshman Tight End of the Year
Luke Hasz, Arkansas - Freshman Offensive Tackle of the Year
Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL) - Freshman Offensive Guard of the Year
Wes King, Wyoming - Freshman Center of the Year
Parker Brailsford, Washington
Freshman All-American Offense
QB: Jayden Maiava, UNLV
RB: Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
RB: Jaheim White, West Virginia
WR: Kevin “KC” Concepcion, North Carolina State
WR: Eric Singleton, Georgia Tech
WR: Nic Anderson, Oklahoma
TE: Luke Hasz, Arkansas
FLEX: Zachariah Branch, USC
OT: Spencer Fano, Utah
G: Cayden Green, Oklahoma
C: Parker Brailsford, Washington
G: Wes King, Wyoming
OT: Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
Honorable Mention Freshman All-American Offense
QB: Noah Fifita, Arizona
QB: Anthony Colandrea, Virginia
QB: Josh Hoover, TCU
RB: CJ Baxter, Texas
RB: Makhi Hughes, Tulane
RB: Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV
WR: Chrishon McCray, Kent State
WR: Chris Brazzell, Tulane
WR: Eugene Wilson, Florida
TE: Brett Norfleet, Missouri
TE: Arlis Boardingham, Florida
TE: Jack Endries, Cal
OL: Ethan MacKenny, Georgia Tech
OL: Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
OL: Harris Sewell, Clemson
Freshman All-American Defense
- Freshman EDGE Defender of the Year
Reuben Bain, Miami (FL) - Freshman Interior Defender of the Year
Peter Woods, Clemson - Freshman Linebacker of the Year
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas - Freshman Cornerback of the Year
D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison - Freshman Safety of the Year
Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
Freshman All-American Defense
EDGE: TJ Parker, Clemson
EDGE: Reuben Bain, Miami (FL)
DT: Peter Woods, Clemson
DT: John Walker, UCF
LB: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
LB: Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
LB: Kam Robinson, Virginia
CB: D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison
CB: Jermaine Matthews Jr., Ohio State
CB: Raion Strader, Miami (OH)
S: Caleb Downs, Alabama
S: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
FLEX: Cade Uluave, Cal
Honorable Mention Freshman All-American Defense
EDGE: Nate Johnson, Appalachian State
EDGE: Owen Pewee, UTSA
EDGE: Cameron Lenhardt, Nebraska
DT: Anthony Holmes, Houston
DT: Keanu Tanuvasa, Utah
DT: Paul Oyewale, TCU
LB: Taurean York, Texas A&M
LB: Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
LB: Jordan Hall, Michigan State
CB: Daiquan White, Eastern Michigan
CB: Jaylon Braxton, Arkansas
CB: Jermod McCoy, Oregon State
S: Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma
S: Jordan Castell, Florida
S: Cameron Epps, Oklahoma State
Freshman All-American Special Teams
- Freshman Kicker of the Year
Alex McPherson, Auburn - Freshman Punter of the Year
Ryan Eckley, Michigan State - Freshman Specialist of the Year
Zachariah Branch, PR, USC
Kicker: Alex McPherson, Auburn
Kickoff Specialist: Robert Gunn III, Clemson
Punter: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
Kick Returner: DeAndre Buchannon, Georgia Southern
Punt Returner: Zachariah Branch, USC
Long Snapper: Brett Le Blanc, Missouri