Since the NCAA restored freshman eligibility in college football in 1972 freshmen have been taking lager roles on the field. Whereas freshman used to spend their first year on campus redshirting no matter how talented they were.
As the college football landscape has changed and teams are force to win quickly super talented freshman have found their way into starting line ups. Even now Joe Paterno once out spoken about freshman playing has now reversed that thought and has started to allow freshman to start.
With the new college football set to start in about a month freshman will surely be a big part of a few teams upcoming season and quite possibly make a run at some of the freshman records. So let’s open up the NCAA record books and see the current record holders for freshman.
Michael Turner: Running Back, Northern Illinois Huskies
Turner owns one NCAA freshman record that being the most carries in a single game. On November 18, 2000 against Central Michigan Turner rushed for 281 yards on 52 carries (record) and one touchdown.
Turner’s rushing performance helped Northern Illinois beat Central Michigan 40-6 in the final game of the season. With the victory Northern Illinois finished the season with a winning record at 6-5.
Turner not only had a successful freshman year at Northern Illinois but a great career as well. Turner set several school records while with the Huskies and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2004.
Steve Bartalo: Running Back, Colorado State Rams
In 1983 Bartalo set an NCAA freshman for most rushes per game. After walking on the Colorado State football team and missing the first two games of the 83’ season averaged 29.2 carries a game.
Bartalo had 292 carries in just ten games and the 29.2 carries is still an NCAA record.
Bartalo would go on to set several records for the Rams during his career there. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986. In 1995 Bartalo was inducted in to the Colorado State Hall of Fame.
Jamario Thomas: Running Back, North Texas Mean Green
Thomas burst onto the college football world in 2004 setting a NCAA freshman record with six games rushing over 200 yards. Thomas’ record started with 247 yards on 32 carries against Colorado.
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