Amazingly, we’re halfway through the college football regular season and there are more freshmen contributing than can be counted in a single article. After several top freshmen were on byes in Week 6, we’re nearly back to full strength and get several freshmen in huge matchups on Saturday.
There are some true freshmen in key matchups, and for the most part, those are the ones we’ll focus on in this seventh installment of College Football Network’s Freshmen To Watch list.
Top 10 Impact Freshmen in Week 7
10) Jawaun Campbell, Edge, Jacksonville State
Jawaun Campbell has an odd size for an edge rusher, but that’s nothing new for a Jacksonville State defense that has produced several undersized (and oversized) defensive ends in recent seasons. Campbell stands under six feet tall but is over 265 pounds and typically lines up outside of the tackle. He can really get after the quarterback, and despite seeing a slight decrease in snaps, he’s played really well in recent weeks.
He’s in a stand-alone Wednesday game, so try to get eyes on him.
9) Isaac Wilson, QB, Utah
Assuming Cam Rising is out yet again, Isaac Wilson will get another start and since the game is on Friday, Utah is competing with fewer teams for your eyes. Watch Wilson, the younger brother of former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, who is getting better every week and has a favorable matchup with an inconsistent Arizona State defense.
8) Michael Van Buren Jr., QB, Mississippi State
Michael Van Buren Jr. and the Mississippi State Bulldogs have a brutal matchup with Georgia this weekend, but I’m interested to see how the freshman quarterback plays out of a bye. Jeff Lebby is likely rolling with the youngster as his starter; after being thrust into action the past two weeks, he’s now likely to settle in, having taken the majority of first-team snaps in practice.
7) Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville
Isaac Brown took over as the primary ballcarrier in a four-part backfield against Notre Dame, and he looks like the most explosive of Louisville’s running backs. In the last two weeks, he’s led the Louisville offense in touches and had his best game to date as a receiver against SMU. He’ll certainly have room to run against a porous Virginia defense on Saturday.
6) Jordan Seaton, OT, Colorado
The spectacle that is Colorado football brings extra eyes, but as much as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter dazzle, they sometimes take the focus off of other players. Jordan Seaton was a five-star recruit and has lived up to the billing as the starting left tackle this year. If Colorado wants to pull off a ranked upset, Seaton will need to continue to give Sanders time to throw.
5) Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina
Dylan Stewart bounced back nicely last week after a quiet few games. Well, at least he did between the whistles. He wasn’t remembered for his play in a 27-3 loss to Ole Miss but for the silliness of his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Let’s hope that’s a freshman mistake that he’ll never repeat and enjoy watching him against an Alabama offensive line that has allowed some pressure this season.
FREE: Sign up for the College Football Network Newsletter to receive unique stories from the world of college football directly to your inbox!
4) Michael Hawkins Jr., QB, Oklahoma
Michael Hawkins Jr. has held his own against similarly talented teams but now faces his toughest task yet against Texas in the Red River Rivalry. The pass rush will be fierce and the wide receiver group is still banged up, but can Hawkins deliver in the clutch? Either way, we’ll know plenty about the freshman after this weekend.
3) Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas
Colin Simmons has played extremely well against overmatched competition early in the season and now gets the opportunity to shine as Texas hits the heart of its SEC schedule. This weekend, he gets a matchup with a struggling Oklahoma offensive line and a true freshman quarterback. Things could get ugly for the Sooners if they don’t do anything they can to stop Simmons.
2) Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Ryan Williams has typically been at the top of this list, and the only thing that bumps him down this week is that the Crimson Tide play South Carolina and not Oregon. The Gamecocks struggled to cover Juice Wells and Tre Harris last week, and Williams might be better than both of them. The cynical Gamecock fan in me is excited to see Williams against a secondary that has struggled to tackle this season.
1) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
In the headlining matchup of the week, Jeremiah Smith could play a huge role. He’s already Ohio State’s best player and could be a candidate for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. On Saturday, he gets a matchup with Oregon’s stingy defense with the national spotlight on him. I’m willing to bet he shines with the lights brightest.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.