College Football: Freshman Report Card Grades Through Week 2

It's been an auspicious start for the class of 2013, which has seen 10 of its top 15 players make an immediate contribution this season.

The ones who haven't—mostly because they're probably playing for Alabama—have struggled to pass more proven players on the depth chart, so it's hard to grade their performances. Or, in the case of USC quarterback Max Browne, it's best not to think too much about why he's buried on the bench.

For the purposes of immediate scouting, though, those guys matter not. Ten of the 15 highest-ranked prospects in college football are already getting starters' reps, seeing the field when their prestige programs most need to make a play.

But how have they fared in that action?

Note: List was compiled using the 247Sports composite, then grading the highest-ranked players who have received meaningful snaps.

DE Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Nkemdiche walked right into the Rebels' starting lineup, and he has already made an impact the size of his reputation since arriving in Oxford.

He hasn't recorded a sack yet, but he's done a decent job pressuring the quarterback and getting hurries. Nkemdiche has also been stout against the run, totaling 6.5 tackles through two games, the most among Ole Miss defensive linemen and fourth on the team.

Three of those tackles have been for a loss, more than any other Rebels defender, and he also flashed his athleticism on an important fake punt run against Vanderbilt.

He hasn't set the world on fire, but Nkemdiche has been closer to a resounding success than anything near a bust. 

Grade: A-

OLB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Smith became the first true freshman linebacker to start at Notre Dame since 1995, and he has made a fast impression in the Irish's highly touted linebacker corps.

He's recorded six tackles in his first two games, though his production has been slightly better in the first two quarters than the next two. He should round into shape throughout the season, though, and better understand proper methods of energy conservation.

Still, even after the defense struggled against Michigan, Keith Arnold of NBC Sports pointed to Smith as the one facet of the defense he can say is performing well. That's a great start to what should be an even greater career.

Grade: B+

CB Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida

Hargreaves flashed his playmaking form in the Under Armour All-American game, and he has quickly translated that potential to the SEC level.

Seeing immediate playing time on the Gators' vaunted defense, Hargreaves notched a pick in his first career game against Toledo. Then, so as not to be accused of "beginner's luck," he followed that up by intercepting Miami's Stephen Morris at a critical juncture in Week 2.

Florida's woeful offense might struggle all season, and it if wants to stay competitive, it will need to find playmakers on the other side of the ball. Hargreaves might see his coverage lumps against SEC receivers, but at the very least, he's proven he can already be a blue-chip force in the secondary.

Grade: A

OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

Tunsil hasn't seen quite as much time as the trio above, not yet cracking the Rebels' official starting lineup, but he's been rotated in frequently enough to make an impact.

The nation's top-rated lineman has seen significant action in both of Ole Miss' games this season, and he helped lead the Rebels to a very strong second half against Vanderbilt.

It would be nice to see him get a little more burn, but for now, cracking the rotation for a ranked team means he's still ahead of the curve. He'll get to strut his stuff against Texas, whom Ole Miss (if last week was any indication) should be able to plow on the ground.

Grade: B-

S Su'a Cravens, USC

Things are starting to implode on themselves at Southern Cal, but Clancy Pendergast's defense is not the unit to blame. And one of the (many) intriguing young stars on that unit has been safety Su'a Cravens.

The five-star ball hawk notched his first career interception against Hawaii, then helped USC shut down a Mike Leach-led passing attack against Washington State. Even though the Trojans lost, the Cougars' offense did not score a touchdown and didn't produce points until late in the fourth quarter.

The pitiful USC offense hasn't given him much time to rest, but Cravens has looked spry and energetic on each and every rep. He'll be the next in a long line of great Trojan safeties.

Grade: A-

DT Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA

Vanderdoes came in late to camp, set back by a tedious transfer saga (which almost rendered him ineligible for 2013) and a back injury in the fall. But he stepped right into the lineup against Nevada and proved why he's accompanied by so much fuss.

The towering tackle, maybe the most college-ready prospect in the class, recorded six tackles and two tackles for loss in the Bruins' opening game against Nevada. He led the defensive line in tackles and was an inspiring force in shutting down the Wolfpack's ground attack.

Much more will be learned in Week 3, when UCLA travels to take on Taylor Martinez, Ameer Abdullah and Imani Cross of Nebraska. But if the early returns mean anything, Notre Dame will sorely regret letting this big fish slip away.

(Though they already knew that).

Grade: A

DT Montravius Adams, Auburn

Fellow freshman lineman Carl Lawson (No. 21 on the composite rankings) made bigger waves in fall camp, but Montravius Adams has closed that gap once the games started to count.

The 6'4'', 305-pound tackle made his presence felt in a big way in Week 1 against Washington State, recording his first career sack and tackling QB Connor Holliday on another loss (this one a rushing play) in the backfield.

The Auburn defensive line is deep and assistant coach Rodney Gardner likes to keep it that way. A lot of bodies will play all season, and the ones who see snaps in crunch time will be the ones who did well to earn it.

Adams is well on his way to that distinction.

Grade: B+

QB Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

Hackenberg won a spirited competition out of camp, beating out highly regarded JUCO prospect Tyler Ferguson, and had quickly led Penn State to a 2-0 record.

He's taken his share of lumps and made some freshman mistakes—sure. A bad, late-game interception against Syracuse was followed by a historically "derp" fumble against Eastern Michigan. But for the most part, Hackenberg has been better than any 18-year-old quarterback should be.

Plus, when you're capable of making throws like this, a lot of freshman mistakes can be forgiven.

Grade: B+

WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss

Through two games, it would be insulting to call Laquon Treadwell "as good as advertised." Even if he was the No. 1-ranked receiver in the class, he has been markedly better than that.

At least right out of the gate, that is. Treadwell has fit right into the Rebels' offense, providing a more-than-capable slot option next to Donte Moncrief and Ja-Mes Logan. He has 109 receiving yards and 11 catches through two games, the latter of which is tied for the lead among BCS-conference freshmen.

Particularly against Vanderbilt, when QB Bo Wallace repeatedly looked his way during a critical series, Treadwell proved he could be a go-to receiver. That Ole Miss has a guy like that in a complementary role—it's really quite a coup.

Grade: A

CB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston has (with good reason) stolen most of the first-year thunder in Tallahassee. But true freshman cornerback Jalen Ramsey is ready to make his name.

Just like Hargreaves, 2013's other top-10 cornerback who plays for a Florida school, Ramsey recorded his first interception in his first career game against Pittsburgh. He took it back 31 yards, too, in addition to making four tackles.

Florida State had a bye in Week 2, so the sample size is small. But for Ramsey to make a quick impact—and to start as a true freshman in the Seminoles' loaded secondary—is hard to overlook.

Grade: A-