Freshmen dominated headlines in the 2024 college football season. As the year winds down, College Football Network takes a look at the top true freshmen in the sport.
You likely know all about the players at the top of this list, but true freshmen all across the country had strong seasons. Here are the top 100 true freshmen in college football in 2024.
Top 100 True Freshmen
100) Michael Smith, TE, South Carolina
While Michael Smith’s raw numbers weren’t eye-popping, his contributions in an offense that relies heavily on tight ends were impressive. His lone touchdown came late in a key matchup with the Missouri Tigers to help push the Gamecocks into the win column there.
99) Michael Hawkins Jr, QB, Oklahoma
I personally thought Michael Hawkins Jr. was the better of the Oklahoma Sooners’ two quarterbacks in 2024, but he seems to be getting lost in the offseason shuffle. Aside from a total failure by the entire offense against South Carolina, Hawkins was great this season, throwing for 783 yards and adding 204 rushing yards.
98) Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas
One of the top prospects in the country, Ryan Wingo flashed his potential as an elite deep threat this season, especially when Arch Manning was playing quarterback. However, some felt his contributions fell short of expectations. His 28 catches for 450 yards are enough to crack the top 100 and he’s one of the likeliest candidates on this list to take a huge leap in the offseason.
97) Jerrick Gibson, RB, Texas
Few expected Jerrick Gibson to contribute right away, but the Texas Longhorns had so many early running back injuries that he was thrust into action. The future is bright for the Longhorns at the position, as Gibson played well this season. He’s not getting as many offensive reps down the stretch, but his contributions early were important.
96) Chris Jones, LB, Southern Miss
The entire Southern Miss Golden Eagles defense struggled in 2024. But, Chris Jones was a bright spot, as he had 46 tackles and two forced fumbles this season. He also had a sack and interception over the course of the season.
95) Preston Watson, IDL, Duke
Preston Watson played limited snaps for the Duke Blue Devils this season, but racked up nine pressures and nine run stops on the year. He played his best in the bowl game against the Ole Miss Rebels.
94) T.J. Pride, WR, New Mexico State
There wasn’t much that went right for the New Mexico State Aggies offense in 2024, but T.J. Pride was the leading receiver for a struggling pass offense. Pride caught 34 balls for 376 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman campaign.
93) Jayden Studio, LB, Kent State
Jayden Studio was one of the lone bright spots for a Kent State Golden Flashes team that was the first FBS team in half a decade to finish the season winless. He had 38 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception over the course of the season.
92) Demarcus Riddick, Edge, Auburn
In what will become a theme on this list, Demarcus Riddick was a productive freshman piece for the Auburn Tigers defense. He racked up 15 pressures and three sacks this season to go with 27 tackles while playing primarily as an edge rusher.
91) Braylen Russell, RB, Arkansas
The Arkansas Razorbacks running back rotation was odd at times, but when freshman Braylen Russell found himself in the favor of his coaching staff he didn’t disappoint. One of the biggest backs in college football, Russell ran for over 175 yards against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
90) Drelon Miller, WR, Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes receiver Drelon Miller had one of the lowest averaged depths of target in the country, with his 37 targets coming an average of just 3.5 yards down the field. Still, he was great after the catch, and reliable for the Buffaloes. There will be plenty of opportunities next year with several leading pass-catchers leaving for the NFL.
89) Glenn Seabrooks III, IDL, Vanderbilt
Glenn Seabrooks III is a massive human being, giving the Vanderbilt Commodores some much needed size on the interior of the defensive line. Accordingly, many of his 263 snaps were in key downs and distances and his 10 run stops were sixth among freshman interior linemen.
88) Rhys Dakin, P, Iowa
After taking over for Tory Taylor, Rhys Dakin proved that the punting culture is alive and well for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Dakin put 33 of his 64 punts inside the 20, with only five touchbacks all season. He was second among true freshmen with a 44.1 yards per attempt.
87) Asher Hale, OG, South Alabama
Asher Hale was one of the better freshman offensive guards in the country this season and he didn’t allow a sack all season for the South Alabama Jaguars. He was also great in the running game, helping open up holes for one of the better rushing attacks in the Sun Belt.
86) Cash Cleveland, OC, Colorado
Cash Cleveland didn’t take his first collegiate snap until mid-October, but once he took over at center he quickly secured the starting job. In the Colorado Buffaloes pass-heavy system, he allowed just one pressure over the last 5.5 games of the year.
MORE: 2024 College Football Network All-Americans
85) Elijah Green, CB, Tulsa
Elijah Green was a full-time starter — and a productive one, at that — when healthy but missed half of the season with an injury. Still, he’s one of just seven freshmen with multiple interceptions this season. He also finished with 21 tackles in six games.
84) Harrison Moore, OG, Georgia Tech
Harrison Moore wasn’t one of the starting five on the offensive line for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. However, he was the sixth guy on an offense that loved to bring on extra linemen. In 71 pass blocking snaps, he allowed just one pressure. With a bigger sample size, he could have pushed for the title of Freshman Offensive Lineman of the Year.
83) Kaj Sanders, S, Rutgers
Kaj Sanders struggled a bit early, but really improved his play late, earning one of the starting safety positions for the last month of the season. Sanders had 42 tackles and four pass breakups, playing his best football late in the year.
82) Jayden Jackson, IDL, Oklahoma
Jayden Jackson was impressive against both the pass and the run, as his 10 pressures are tied for third among freshman interior linemen and his 13 run stops are tied for second. He was a key part of a strong Sooners defensive line in 2024.
81) Jiquan Sanks, S, Cincinnati
Jiquan Sanks played a safety-linebacker hybrid role in 2024, racking up 42 tackles and a forced fumble in just under 300 snaps. He was at his best down the stretch, with 16 tackles and a forced fumble in his final four games.
80) Caden Chittenden, K, UNLV
Our regular season kicker of the year, Caden Chittenden was excellent for the UNLV Rebels. He hit 55 of 56 extra points and 26 of 33 field goals, including an impressive 25 of 29 from inside of 50 yards.
79) Deshawn Purdie, QB, Charlotte
Though he had a tendency to be a bit erratic in some spots, Deshawn Purdie’s rise to the starting quarterback position for the Charlotte 49ers was huge in helping them leave the cellar of the FBS ranks. He finished the year with 1,802 yards in nine games, including a 396-yard outburst against FAU.
78) Miles Coleman, WR, North Texas
Miles Coleman was one of the stars of North Texas’ bowl game, racking up a career-high 104 receiving yards on six catches. That was part of a three-game stretch to end the year that included 17 of his 35 catches and both of his touchdowns on the season.
77) Ashton McShane, CB, Boston College
Ashton McShane was one of several impressive reshman corners in the ACC. McShane didn’t have a ton of ball production — just four pass deflections and 20 tackles — but he was solid in coverage against a strong schedule of receivers.
76) Francis Brewu, IDL, Pittsburgh
In limited snaps, Francis Brewu flashed as a high-level interior run defender with pass-rushing upside. He had 1.5 sacks and did a great job of clogging up running lanes on the inside. He played well, even if his raw stats don’t show it.
75) Nolan Hauser, K, Clemson
A year after setting the all-time record for field goals made in a high school career, Nolan Hauser kicked for one of the county’s best teams. He had some issues early with blocks, but he was at his best down the stretch, hitting a 56-yarder to win the ACC Championship and put the Tigers in the College Football Playoff.
74) Quinton Hammonds, S, North Texas
Certain teams were more willing to play younger players, and the North Texas Mean Green under Eric Morris fit that billing. Quinton Hammonds more than held his own on the back end, finishing in the top five among true freshmen with 51 tackles. Most recruiting services had him as a receiver, but he has a bright future in the defensive backfield.
73) Bryson Donelson, RB, Fresno State
One of several change-of-pace backs that could have a bigger role in 2025, Bryson Donelson was impressive in limited reps. He averaged over 4.5 yards after contact per rush en route to a 476-yard season.
72) Juwaun Campbell, Edge, Jacksonville State
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks were young on defense this season, which contributed to an inauspicious 1-3 start to the season. Once the Gamecocks got into conference play, though, guys like Juwaun Campbell really started to play well. Campbell racked up 47 tackles and 11 pressures this season.
71) Telly Johnson Jr., RB, Northern Illinois
Telly Johnson Jr.’s overall numbers look just okay, until you realize he only played the final six games of the season, averaging 80 yards a game and scoring four touchdowns. It’s more impressive that Johnson was a late-summer enrollee, and only started practicing with the team about two weeks before the season began.
70) Jordan Napier, WR, San Diego State
Jordan Napier was a boom-or-bust receiver for the San Diego State Aztecs, both from a play-to-play and game-to-game basis. He had five catches of 30-plus yards, but averaged just 6.4 yards per reception outside of those big plays. Still, the potential was there and his overall numbers were good.
69) Myles Graham, LB, Florida
While the overall volume of snaps wasn’t there for Myles Graham, he was part of the freshman wave that frankly saved Billy Napier’s job. Down the stretch, he was everywhere, making 20 tackles and picking off a pass in his final five games, despite playing just 106 snaps during that time.
68) Javion White, DB, Tulane
Playing mostly in sub packages and mop up duty, Javion White was fantastic this season for the Tulane Green Wave. White picked off a pass and broke up three others while playing primarily in the slot. Next season, he’s going to have a much bigger role.
67) Jaylen Mbakwe, CB/WR, Alabama
While it remains to be seen if the Alabama Crimson Tide could have their own two-way player in the vein of Travis Hunter, Jaylen Mbakwe was a solid corner who switched to receiver for the bowl game. He played as the fourth corner, picking off a pass and making 15 tackles over the course of the season.
66) Amare Grayson, OG, Jacksonville State
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks ran one of the most unique offenses in college football this season, and that’s not possible without solid offensive line play. Amare Grayson was a strong pass blocker and flashed in the running game for the Gamecocks’ lightning-quick offense.
65) Mazeo Bennett, WR, South Carolina
Mazeo Bennett dealt with injuries late in the season. Otherwise, he’d be higher on this list. A great route-runner with speed, all three of his touchdowns on the year were over 30 yards. Bennett will have a much larger role in 2025 as one of LaNorris Sellers’ favorite returning targets.
64) Khmori House, LB, Washington
Khmori House lined up everywhere from slot corner to edge rusher with some volume, picking off a pass and creating eight totla pressures. He was used as a versatile chess piece, a skill set that coaches love to talk about, but rarely get to use.
63) Braydon Nelson, OG, North Texas
The North Texas Mean Green had the youngest offensive line in college football and it rarely held them back. Braydon Nelson started every game, six at right guard and six at left tackle, allowing just one sack all season.
62) Aidan Banfield, OG, North Carolina
Quarterback injuries doomed the North Carolina Tar Heels, but the offensive line did a great job in the running game all season. Freshman guard Aidan Banfield was a huge part of that, helping Omarion Hampton lead the ACC in rushing.
61) Bryce Young, Edge, Notre Dame
Bryce Young is playing significant snaps on one of the College Football Playoff Semifinalists, and he’s holding his own. He picked up his first full sack in the first-round game against the Indiana Hoosiers and played well against the Georgia Bulldogs.
60) Nate Frazier, RB, Georgia
While Trevor Etienne was out this season, the Georgia Bulldogs running game barely missed a beat, as three-star freshman Nate Frazier was productive from the start. His role took a hit when Etienne returned (and he had a few costly fumbles) but Frazier still racked up nearly 700 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
59) Yannick Smith, WR, East Carolina
Yannick Smith was one of the best receivers in college football down the stretch. He took a while to get off thhe ground, but once he did, he was fantastic. Smith caught 18 passes for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns in his last four games.
58) Malcolm Simmons, WR, Auburn
The “other” freshman receiver for the Auburn Tigers was pretty good in 2024. Malcolm Simmons caught over 80% of his targets this year for 451 yards and three touchdowns. Playing primarily out of the slot, he caught a pass in every game this season.
57) Antwan Raymond, RB, Rutgers
Antwan Raymond did most of his damage at the end of the year, racking up five scores in his final two games. He was the star for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their bowl game against the Kansas State Wildcats, running for 113 yards and three touchdowns. When he got opportunities, he took them.
56) Malik Blocton, IDL, Auburn
Malik Blocton had 1.5 sacks in 2024, but he could have been credited with a couple more throughout the year. He flashed occasional dominance, but more impressively, he didn’t make many rookie mistakes.
55) Simeon Coleman, LB, Cincinnati
Simeon Coleman struggled in pass coverage, but he was an elite run defender for the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2024. Credited with 32 tackles, he played his best football down the stretch, forcing a fumble against the Kansas State Wildcats and making nine tackles in his final two games.
MORE: Take a look at which true freshmen made it on our Freshman All-America Team
54) Stephiylan Green, IDL, Clemson
Stephiylan Green didn’t thrive right away like some of his young Clemson teammates, but as the season progressed, he became a key part of the defense. Green’s upside is as high as anybody on this list and in a year or two, he could be one of the top interior linemen in the country.
53) Quentin Reddish, S, Virginia Tech
Quentin Reddish started only the bowl game for the Virginia Tech Hokies, but he was an important part of the defense throughout the year. Logging over 300 snaps for the season, Reddish lined up everywhere defensively, and he played well in a variety of roles.
52) Michael Van Buren, QB, Mississippi State
Thrust into SEC play when it was clear that the Mississippi State Bulldogs were not going to win much this season, Michael Van Buren handled himself well, throwing for 1,886 yards in nine games, most against a who’s who of SEC defenses. The Bulldog coaching staff didn’t seem to think so as they aggressively pursued other quarterbacks, so Van Buren left to go to LSU.
51) Kameryn Fountain, Edge, USC
It took highly-touted edge recruit Kameryn Fountain half of the season to break his way into the rotation, but once he did, he put up some great numbers. He logged six pressures in Week 8 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights after having just 22 total snaps in the six previous games. He started the last four games of the year and looked great.
50) Talan Carter, IDL, Jacksonville State
Jacksonville State won by controlling the clock on offense and keeping the opposition off-schedule when on defense. Talan Carter had a big role in stuffing the run and keeping offenses in second and third-and-long situations. He didn’t get many accoloades, but he did the dirty work.
49) Anthonie Knapp, OT, Notre Dame
It isn’t often that true freshmen left tackles help lead their teams to a College Football Playoff Semifinals appearance, but that’s what’s happened with Anthonie Knapp and Notre Dame. Like many young tackles, he’s had his share of struggles in pass protection, but Knapp is a mauler in the running game.
48) Jacorey Barney, WR, Nebraska
Jacorey Barney didn’t rack up a ton of yards as a freshman, but he was a reliable safety valve for Dylan Raiola. He caught 54 of his 76 targets without dropping a pass, the most catches without a drop in the country.
47) Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
As the season progressed, the Florida Gators began relying more heavily on their younger players. Jadan Baugh was one of the best running backs in the SEC down the stretch, once he got an opportunity. He burst onto the scene against the Kentucky Wildcats, scoring five touchdowns aftter having 32 carries in the first six games of the season.
46) Danny O’Neil, QB, San Diego State
Danny O’Neil took his lumps as a full-time starter at quarterback, but the year as a whole was successful. He threw for nearly 2,200 yards and tossed 12 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He left the San Diego State Aztecs to go to Wisconsin this offseason.
45) Duke Watson, RB, Louisville
If not for fellow freshman Isaac Brown taking the majority of the carries, more people would know about the incredible year that Duke Watson had in 2024. He averaged nearly nine yards a carry, scoring eight touchdowns on just 72 touches. Despite limited opportunities, Watson made college football’s fastest players list twice.
44) Tyler Mercer, C, North Texas
Center is one of the toughest positions to play as a younger player, and Tyler Mercer performed admirably on a young offensive line. He allowed just three pressures in almost 400 pass blocking snaps.
43) Kelvin Hill, CB, UAB
UAB Blazers freshman corner Kelvin Hill might have been the best-tackling corner in the country, regardless of class. He was credited with 42 tackles and I don’t think I saw him miss a tackle all season. Hill was solid in coverage as well, with three pass deflections as UAB’s top corner.
42) Josiah Thompson, OT, South Carolina
Josiah Thompson came to the South Carolina Gamecocks as the highest-rated offensive line recruit in team history. A bit undersized, he earned the starting left tackle role. Despite struggling early, he locked down the position late in the year, allowing just two pressures in his final three games.
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41) Maraad Watson, IDL, Syracuse
It wasn’t a banner year for young interior defensive linemen, but Maraad Watson was one of the best freshman defensive tackles in the country. His 493 snaps were nearly 80 more than any other freshman at the position and he picked up nine pressures over the course of the season.
40) Amarion Fontenberry, CB, South Alabama
Amarion Fontenberry was another one of several productive freshman corners in 2024. While he gave up some big plays, he had two interceptions and five pass breakups, making him one of the most productive defensive backs in the Sun Belt.
39) Demond Williams Jr., QB, Washington
Playing as a change-of-pace quarterback for most of the year, Demond Williams Jr. finally got his shot as a full-time starter late in the season and he put on two impressive shows. Against the Oregon Ducks and Louisville Cardinals, Williams threw for 575 yards and five touchdowns. That has to have Washington Huskies fans feeling good about the future.
38) O.J. Frederique, CB, Miami (FL)
There weren’t many bright spots on the Miami (FL) Hurricanes defense, but freshman O.J. Frederique was fabulous as a full-time starter. He allowed just 14 completions all season while tackling at one of the country’s best rates.
37) Decker DeGraaf, TE, Washington
There weren’t a lot of fireworks from freshman tight ends during the 2024 season, but Decker DeGraaf was the most productive by a wide margin. He caught 15 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns for the Washington Huskies as one of the more reliable targets on the team.
36) Boo Carter, CB, Tennessee
Boo Carter played a huge role for the Tennessee Volunteers and he has serious upside as a kick returner and corner. He was forced into a bit more action than expected on the defnesive side of the ball, and he gained experience at the position that should help, given his elite athletic profile.
35) Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
Zabien Brown finished the season with three picks, including one in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan. He was solid in coverage all season for the Alabama Crimson Tide in a young secondary that needed a leader.
34) Emmett Mosley V, WR, Stanford
Emmett Mosley V was a sweet surprise for an inconsistent Stanford Cardinal offense. Even better for the Cardinal, Mosley is likely returning in 2025, and he’ll be the featured receiver following the departure of Elic Ayomanor. Mosley finished with 525 yards and six touchdowns for the Cardinal in 2024.
33) Eli Bowen, CB, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners defense was stout all season and Eli Bowen was one of the better freshmen corners in the country. He was able to hold his own in big matchups, playing especially well against Alabama.
32) Caden Durham, RB, LSU
LSU Tigers fans didn’t expect Caden Durham to become the top back in 2024, and even the coaching staff didn’t seem to think he would have such a strong year. But by the third game of the season, it was obvious that Durham was the guy. He ran for 753 yards and six touchdowns, adding 28 catches for 260 yards and two more scores.
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31) Jay Crawford, CB, Auburn
Auburn Tigers litter this list and that has to be encouraging for a team that just endured a disappointing season. Jay Crawford started eight games at corner for the Tigers, only allowing 13 catches and 179 yards in coverage.
30) Wayshawn Parker, RB, Washington State
Playing in a fun, pass-heavy offense, Wayshawn Parker didn’t get the attention he probably deserved in 2024 after a strong freshman season. He only had four touchdowns but averaged 5.4 yards a carry, running for nearly 750 yards.
29) Joseph Williams, WR, Tulsa
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane struck gold when they hit on Joseph Williams, who played well on both sides of the ball in high school but wasn’t highly recruited. He had over 600 receiving yards and six touchdowns in a struggling offense and has parlayed that into a transfer to the Colorado Buffaloes.
28) Kaleb Harris, S, Auburn
Kaleb Harris wasn’t supposed to be one of the many freshman contributors for the Auburn Tigers. Yet, he was one of the best players on the team, making 44 tackles and picking off four passes. Not bad for a three-star recruit at an SEC school.
27) Malaki Ta’ase, IDL, New Mexico State
Malaki Ta’ase didn’t get the accolades a lot of the other guys on this list received, but he was dominant on the inside for the New Mexico State Aggies. His 17 pressures were fourth-most among freshmen and most by a freshman interior defender.
26) Xavier Lucas, CB, Wisconsin
While this was one of the more disappointing seasons in recent memory for the Wisconsin Badgers, Xavier Lucas was a bright spot. Unfortunately for the Badgers, he expressed interest in entering the transfer portal and claimed that Wisconsin is “refusing to release him.” Over a week later, there still doesn’t seem to be a resolution.
25) T.J. Moore, WR, Clemson
T.J. Moore was best when the lights were brightest, catching nine passes for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Moore’s body control and route-running make him one of the best possession receivers Clemson has had in years.
24) Cameron Calhoun, CB, Utah
There were a ton of talented freshman corners who contributed in 2024 and Cameron Calhoun flashed as one of the best. He had a tremendous game early in the year against the Utah State Aggies and from there, the coaching staff couldn’t keep him off the field.
23) Bryant Wesco Jr., WR, Clemson
Despite having better numbers than his fellow freshman receiver, Bryant Wesco was the less-heralded of the two Clemson stars. Still, his big-play ability was something the Tigers have been missing over that last few seasons and his eight-catch, 143-yard performance in the ACC Championship against SMU led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff.
22) Nick Marsh, WR, Michigan State
Nick Marsh was a bit of a boom-or-bust receiver for the Michigan State Spartans, going for a combined 16 catches and 307 yards against the Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins. He had 341 combined yards the rest of the season, but the flashes are there to indicate he’s going to be an elite playmaker.
21) Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
One of several Clemson Tigers on this list, Ashton Hampton quietly had a fantastic year. He picked off two passes and didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage. He’s another building block for a young Clemson defense.
20) Kyran Duhon, Edge, UTEP
Kyran Duhon wasn’t expected to put up the numbers he did as a freshman for the UTEP Miners, but his seven sacks were tied for second among first-year players. Now, he’s likely moving up to the Power Four level.
19) Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska
If this piece was about future projections, Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola might be in the top three or four. As a pure look back, Raiola’s season was marred by a poor regular season finish. Still, he led the Cornhuskers to their first bowl win in nearly a decade.
18) CJ Bailey, QB, NC State
C.J. Bailey wasn’t expected to start for the NC State Wolfpack, which is what makes his success so impressive. Once forced into action, Bailey became an exciting dual-threat quarterback who has Wolfpack fans excited, despite a losing season for just the third time under Dave Doeren.
17) Sincere Edwards, Edge, Pittsburgh
Without two dominant edge rushers ahead of him in these rankings, casual fans probably would have been more aware of Sincere Edwards. Despite being undersized, Edwards racked up the third-most pressures among true freshmen.
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16) Jordan Seaton, OT, Colorado
As much as people wanted to hate on the Colorado Buffaloes’ offensive line, the left tackle position was locked down. Jordan Seaton was probably a bit better than people had hoped the five-star true freshman could be and he’s a building block for Deion Sanders’ future teams.
15) C.J. Heard, S, FAU
It was a banner year for freshman safeties, as Heard is the 15th-best freshman on this list but just the third-ranked safety. He had 80 tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries, parlaying that season into a transfer up the SEC with the Vanderbilt Commodores.
14) Ja’Marley Riddle, S, East Carolina
The East Carolina Pirates have something cooking in the defensive backfield. When Shavon Revel tore his ACL, Ja’Marley Riddle stepped up as the leader of the secondary with three interceptions and 63 tackles.
13) Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn
It’s not coincidence that Auburn’s offense got substantially better once the staff decided to make Cam Coleman a priority. He had a strong finish to the year, including a massive showing in an upset win over the Texas A&M Aggies.
12) DJ Lagway, QB, Florida
The Florida Gators went from extreme pessimism to unbridled optimism on the back of freshman quarterback D.J. Lagway, who (if I may remind you) nearly flipped away from Gainesville on Signing Day. Now, the Gators feel great about the future with our Freshman Quarterback of the Year.
11) Fluff Bothwell, RB, South Alabama
The only thing slowing Fluff Bothwell this season was a lack of late-year opportunities. Bothwell ran for 832 yards on just 111 carries, including just 27 in his last four games. He’s transferring after a year with the South Alabama Jaguars, and his speed and contact balance should translate to the SEC when he plays for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
10) Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville
I’d heard before the season that Isaac Brown was making noise in Louisville Cardinals camp, but I did not expect him to have the year he had. He put up over 1,300 yards from scrimmage and showcased some of the best speed in the country.
He finished third in the ACC in rushing, a feat that earns him a spot in the top 10.
9) Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
The top-ranked linebacker in this list, Sammy Brown was Clemson’s best defensive player for the majority of the season. The Clemson Tigers’ defense had more deficiencies this season than we’ve seen in the past, but Brown wasn’t the issue.
He was arguably the best player on Clemson’s defense and got better as the season progressed. He’s one of the top returning defenders in the ACC and a key building block for the next defensive coordinator.
8) Ahmad Hardy, RB, UL-Monroe
The highest-ranked Group of Five player on our list, Hardy was the UL-Monroe Warhawks offense. Hardy racked up 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns on an offense that struggled to do much else.
Hardy transferred to the Missouri Tigers in the first transfer portal window and his skills should translate to the SEC. He was one of the top workhorse backs in the entire country.
7) Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
There’s a dropoff after the top five or six, but Leonard Moore has still been outstanding for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this season. The Fighting Irish secondary has been banged up this year, forcing Moore to step up as the leader.
He’s picked off two passes and has allowed just 42% of his targets to be caught. He’s allowed less than six yards a target while primarily covering the oppositions’ top receiver.
6) K.J. Bolden, S, Georgia
Most of the time, freshmen safeties are strong at either pass coverage or stopping the run. However, Georgia Bulldogs safety K.J. Bolden bucks that trend. At various points during the season, opposing offenses have tried to isolate Bolden, either as a run stopper or in man coverage.
Every time, he’s answered the call, turning into a key player on one of the nation’s best defenses.
5) Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams burst onto the scene with an electric first half of the season that included a six-catch, 177-yard breakout against the Georgia Bulldogs, but he cooled a bit down the stretch.
That being said, he’s still one of the youngest players in college football and put up over 800 yards in 2024. That alone makes him worthy of top five inclusion.
4) Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas
Colin Simmons got better as the year went on for the Texas Longhorns and has, so far, shown up in a huge way throughout the College Football Playoff. He’s a powerful pass rusher who has lived up to his five-star hype.
Simmons had nine sacks so far this year and played his best when the lights were the brightest, dominating during College Football Playoff games against the Arizona State Sun Devils and Ohio State Buckeyes.
3) Koi Perich, S, Minnesota
Koi Perich wasn’t quite as heralded of a recruit as the rest of the top five, but a stretch of four interceptions in three games put him on the map. He was a standout returner and safety for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, even though he didn’t get significant playing time until after their first bye week.
He can do it all, and he was named our overall Freshman of the Year due to his contributions in multiple phases of the game.
2) Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina
Our Defensive Freshman of the Year was one of the best pass rushers in the country this season, regardless of class. His 52 quarterback pressures were six more than the next-best freshman (Simmons) and were twelfth-best in the country.
A superstar from the first snap of his career, Stewart wasn’t just a great player as a freshman, he’s one of the top returning defenders in the country and is the star of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ defense going forward.
1) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
No one should be surprised that the Ohio State Buckeyes’ superstar receiver takes the top spot in our rankings. In our all-eligible mock draft, Smith was the first-overall pick, a testament to his place among college football’s elite.
Smith’s combination of athleticism, hands, and route running is rare for any player, let alone an 18-year-old true freshman. Smith should be considered one of the top players, if not the best player, in the country, regardless of class.
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