Injuries have sparked some big changes to our Freshmen To Watch list. Several true freshmen backups entered the fray last week after starters at key positions went down. While some of our most frequently covered freshmen will still appear on this list, there are several new players to cover.
In our 10th installment of the Freshmen To Watch list, we’ve got some new faces and a few top freshmen in key matchups.
Top 10 Impact Freshmen in Week 9
10) Fluff Bothwell, RB, South Alabama
Welcome back to the Fluff Bothwell hype train. Some of us never left.
Bothwell ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns last week, and this week he has an extremely favorable matchup against a Georgia Southern team that has struggled to stop the run. As long as South Alabama remembers he’s their best offensive player, he should have a huge game.
9) Jay Crawford, CB, Auburn
If there’s a bright side to Auburn’s struggles this season, it’s that the Tigers are playing true freshmen everywhere on the field. This is an indication that Hugh Freeze and staff like the class they put together last year and think those younger players give them a better chance to win now.
Jay Crawford’s snap count has exploded in the last few weeks, and on Saturday, he pulled down his first career interception. This week, a date with Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense could provide more opportunities to make an impact.
8) Koi Perich, S, Minnesota
Koi Perich has had as good of a three-game stretch in the last month as any defender in college football. He pulled down his fifth interception of the season, his third straight game with a pick. In that stretch, Perich has four interceptions, 12 tackles, and has only allowed one reception.
He plays Illinois Saturday, and if the Illini aren’t careful, he’ll pick off another pass.
7) Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville
Isaac Brown is one of the best young running backs in the country, and he has his biggest test to date this weekend against the Clemson Tigers. Brown can absolutely fly, and he’s averaging nearly 100 yards per game from scrimmage. He hasn’t been an explosive receiver out of the backfield, but he has the skill set to do so.
If he can’t find room up the middle Saturday, I’m wondering if that’s something Louisville prioritzes by getting him deeper on wheel routes.
6) Kameryn Fountain, EDGE, USC
While USC is in the midst of a brutal stretch in its first Big Ten season, the Trojans got to rotate in some new defenders last Friday against Rutgers. One of those guys was true freshman Kameryn Fountain, an enormous edge rusher the Trojans were able to lure away from SEC suitors last year.
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He had a sack and two tackles against the Scarlet Knights and seems to have earned his way into the rotation with 37 snaps Friday. We’ll see if that continues on Saturday against the Washington Huskies.
5) Will Hammond, QB, Texas Tech
When starting quarterback Behren Morton went down with a shoulder injury, many were surprised to see Will Hammond step up as his replacement Saturday. The results were mixed for Hammond, who threw for a touchdown and ran for another. But he had a key fumble as the Red Raiders were lining up for a potential game-winning field goal.
4) Braylon Russell, RB, Arkansas
We really liked Braylon Russell out of high school, but he didn’t really get much playing time until Saturday, when he ran for 175 yards on just 16 carries for the Razorbacks against Mississippi State. The question I have is whether he can continue his hot streak against one of the top rushing defenses in the country this weekend when Ole Miss comes to town.
3) Mazeo Bennett, WR, South Carolina
South Carolina is starting multiple true freshmen on its roster. Not only are they holding their own, but two have become top players on their side of the ball. We’ve written extensively about edge rusher Dylan Stewart, but receiver Mazeo Bennett hasn’t gotten the same coverage, despite leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
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Bennett is operating primarily out of the slot where he’ll look to find mismatches against a strong Texas A&M secondary.
2) Stephiylan Green, IDL, Clemson
Stephiylan Green was just starting to hit his stride when he missed a few games with an injury. He returned last week and logged 32 snaps against Virginia. He’s already flashed as a pass rusher and has the chance to make his presence felt Saturday against Louisville.
1) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith’s game log is one of the most remarkably consistent statistics you’ll ever see. Smith has between 70 and 119 yards in all eight games and has 10 total touchdowns (and at least one TD in every game).
At some point, Ohio State will need him to be Superman, though. Can that happen in a huge game against Penn State in Happy Valley on Saturday? The true breakout game is coming, and I’m waiting in anticipation because it’s going to be awesome.