A new college football season means a new group of true freshmen ready to impart their impact, with a handful of players not letting the transfer portal impede their progress. Pushing learning curves to the side, which 2024 true freshmen will have the biggest impact in college football?
5 Instantly Impactful True Freshmen in 2024
5) Cameron Coleman, WR, Auburn
A composite five-star prospect on the major recruiting sites, Cameron Coleman hauled in 61 catches for 1,372 yards and 18 TDs his senior year at Central High School. The 6’3″ speedster from Alabama was committed to Texas A&M all through the season, but he flipped and signed with Auburn in December.
Coleman joined the Tigers for spring practice and had a terrific showing at the spring game that had fans salivating in Auburn.
Welcome to college football, @CamColeman12 🍿 pic.twitter.com/VYrR4H4UpJ
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) April 6, 2024
He has proven size, speed, and ability to be an instant impact for the Tigers despite not turning 18 until August.
4) KJ Bolden, SAF, Georgia
Another composite five-star, KJ Bolden, was a dominant force on both sides of the ball at Buford High School in Georgia. He had 33 tackles and four interceptions as a senior, and 30 catches for 663 yards (22.1 yards per catch) with 14 scores as a junior.
The top safety prospect in the nation, Bolden signed with the Georgia Bulldogs to play defense and received rave reviews from head coach Kirby Smart, saying “(Bolden) got 15 practices in spring, and he approaches every practice like a veteran. Where he is right now is ahead of probably where Malaki (Starks) was at that time.”
3) Jordan Seaton, OT, Colorado
The Colorado Buffaloes had plenty of talent at skill positions in 2023 but were severely lacking in the trenches. Buffs head coach Deion Sanders addressed that issue through traditional means, securing top-rated high school offensive tackle with Jordan Seaton.
Jordan Seaton ready for his first Spring Game pic.twitter.com/U1HH6bZCvA
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) April 27, 2024
Rebuking his transfer portal tendencies, Sanders brought in the 6’5″, 285-pound IMG Academy product to protect the blindside of his signal-caller son, Shedeur Sanders. He was on the first-team at left tackle for the Buffaloes’ spring game, paving the way for the big man from Florida to make an instant impact as a true freshman in 2024.
2) Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska
In the transfer portal era, not many true freshmen quarterbacks are afforded the opportunity to start right away. Dylan Raiola is likely the exception to that rule.
A second player on this list out of Buford, Georgia, along with Bolden, Raiola is the consensus No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country. He joins a Cornhuskers’ offense that finished dead-last in the Big Ten in passing offense, averaging 136 yards passing per game, with just 10 touchdowns to 16 interceptions through the air.
We are in the dog days of summer, so f**k it, Dylan Raiola spring game performance with Higher by Creed
🎥 @CornhuskerCole pic.twitter.com/SIoJEmvFtb
— Nightmare🌽 (@NebNightmare) July 11, 2024
A starter for Nebraska hasn’t been officially named, but after an impressive spring game performance, and the Cornhuskers massive need for improvement passing the ball, Raiola almost tops the list of 2024 true freshmen that will have an immediate impact.
1) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
The top overall prospect in the country, Jeremiah Smith also tops this list as he’s well on his way to be the most impactful true freshman in 2024.
Smith is as dangerous a weapon as there is at wide receiver and he made waves this spring with the Buckeyes. A 6’3″ target, Smith can do it all on the field, making plays at all three levels.
When it’s all said and done, Smith will likely have the most prestigious career of anyone on this list, making him the top true freshman to watch in 2024.
STICK AROUND: Big Ten Power Rankings for 2024
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