15 College Football Freshmen Who Look Like the Real Deal
The first two weeks of college football season are behind us, which means every freshman in the country has had at least one and probably two chances to get on the field (unless he plays for Cincinnati).
It's impossible to make fixed judgments after only two weeks, in no small part because the level of competition varies from team to team, providing some players a better stage than others. Despite this, though, certain guys have stuck out for the way they have started their careers, and for that, they deserve to be commended.
This is not a conclusive list of the 15 best freshmen in the country. Rather, it's a list of the 15 most impressive so far—the ones we feel most confident saying are "for real" based on how they've performed through two weeks.
Mainly, what we're looking for is production against quality opponents. In some cases, the level of production against inferior opponents was too good to ignore, but that was rare. If there was big production in one game against substandard competition but small production in one game against solid competition (*cough* Leonard Fournette), that means we need to see more.
Sound off below, and let us know (respectfully) whom we left out.
Just Missed the Cut
1 of 16
Below are 16 players (the next 15, plus one) who have seen the field early but just missed the cut on this list. They have looked good in spots, though, and we'll keep an eye on them moving forward:
- OG Brian Allen, Michigan State
- LB Bryson Allen-Williams, South Carolina
- DB Budda Baker, Washington
- LB D.J. Calhoun, Arizona State
- RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
- RB Jalen Hurd, Tennessee
- WR Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
- CB/WR Adoree' Jackson, USC
- RB Marlon Mack, South Florida
- OG Damien Mama, USC
- RB Shai McKenzie, Virginia Tech
- WR Trey Quinn, LSU
- WR JuJu Smith, USC
- DB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame
- QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
- RB Nick Wilson, Arizona
CB Eli Apple, Ohio State (Redshirt)
2 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 48
Pos. Recruit Rank (CB): 6
Eli Apple was one of the few bright spots for Ohio State in its loss to Virginia Tech, intercepting the first pass of his career on the Hokies' first series—and making a great play on the ball to come down with it—and showing a willingness to mix things up in run support.
The Buckeyes have allowed just 109.5 passing yards per game through two weeks, a number that is obviously inflated (deflated?) by playing Navy and Virginia Tech but has to be mentioned nonetheless. Chris Ash is doing well with this pass defense, and the play of youngsters such as Apple is a big reason why.
DL Derek Barnett, Tennessee
3 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 206
Pos. Recruit Rank (SDE): 11
Of all the Tennessee freshmen being counted on to play this season—and yes, there are a lot—none has been more impressive through two games than Derek Barnett, a true freshman starter.
Per Wes Rucker of 247Sports, teammates called Barnett "the epitome" of effort along the defensive line during fall camp, and that effort has been obvious through two games. Barnett is 10th on the team with six tackles (one for a loss) and also has a QB hurry.
We'll learn more when UT takes on Oklahoma this weekend.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
S Quin Blanding, Virginia
4 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 6
Pos. Recruit Rank (S): 2
Quin Blanding has lived up to the hype for Virginia this season, making his first career start in his first career game against UCLA—which at the time was a Top 10 team—and recording nine tackles.
The following week against Richmond, he recorded seven tackles, two pass breakups and his first career interception, showing well against the run and the pass for an underrated Cavaliers defense.
The year has not been without its humbling moments (see: getting trucked by Brett Hundley on a touchdown run), but for the most part, Blanding has shown the skills that made him a 5-star prospect and the No. 6 overall player in the 2014 recruiting class.
It is hard to find a weakness in his game.
WR KD Cannon, Baylor
5 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 30
Pos. Recruit Rank (WR): 4
KD Cannon posted video-game numbers in Week 2, catching six passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns on Baylor's first six possessions before spending the rest of the game on the sideline.
Yes, that performance came against Northwestern State, but, as I've previously written, I don't care if it came against Northwestern City or Northwesternville: Numbers that huge can't be ignored.
Cannon also caught a long touchdown in the season-opening win over SMU, and although it is difficult to judge exactly how dominant he'll be until Baylor plays a real opponent, it is clear that he'll be dominant in some capacity under Art Briles and Philip Montgomery.
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia
6 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 33
Pos. Recruit Rank (RB): 6
Georgia has played only one game, and Nick Chubb has touched the ball only four times, but for certain players, four touches is enough. Chubb made a big, strong, veteran-heavy group of Clemson defenders look small and weak and young on a 47-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 70 yards.
It's unclear what Chubb's role will be moving forward—a lot depends on the health of Keith Marshall—but it's a great luxury for Georgia to have perhaps the best freshman running back in college football behind the best overall running back, Todd Gurley.
Best of luck this weekend, South Carolina run defense.
(You're gonna need it.)
RB Royce Freeman, Oregon
7 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 37
Pos. Recruit Rank (RB): 7
Royce Freeman is the closer in Oregon's backfield, a big, strong, downhill runner who kicks dirt on defenses after the Ducks' offensive pace has worn them out. He certainly looked the part in the fourth quarter against Michigan State Saturday, capping his 13-carry, 89-yard performance with a pair of late touchdowns to seal the game.
On the year, Freeman has rushed for 164 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries, playing well enough to move last year's leading rusher, Byron Marshall, into the "Taser" position (a slot-back hybrid) formerly occupied by De'Anthony Thomas.
Freeman and Thomas Tyner form a scary one-two punch.
DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
8 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 2
Pos. Recruit Rank (WDE): 1
The physical gifts with Myles Garrett were obvious; 6'5", 255-pounders with this kind of speed don't grow on trees. The only question coming into the year was whether he was skilled enough to play.
Two games in, those questions have been answered.
Garrett had two QB hurries and an 11-yard sack in the season-opening win at South Carolina and added two more QB hurries and sacks in Week 2 against Lamar. His three total sacks on the season place him in a six-way tie for No. 5 in the country.
He's one of the many young stars who's shown well for the Aggies this season, and he won't be the last one mentioned on this list. Come 2015, this team could be a legitimate national title favorite.
WR DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State (Redshirt)
9 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 437
Pos. Recruit Rank (WR): 60
Penn State's passing offense has looked good despite the loss of Allen Robinson, and the emergence of redshirt freshman DaeSean Hamilton (18 catches, 234 yards) has been a big reason why.
The Nittany Lions' offensive line is brutal, and the running game is averaging just 2.76 yards per carry, so don't expect much deflation from those numbers either. Christian Hackenberg needs to work on his decision-making (four interceptions on 83 attempts). But he's able to sling the ball into tiny slivers of space, and Hamilton has shown reliable hands in becoming one of his top targets.
OG Toa Lobendahn, USC
10 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 130
Pos. Recruit Rank (OG): 8
Toa Lobendahn and Damien Mama—both true freshmen—have started the first two games at guard for USC. Neither player has looked bad in that role, but Lobendahn has looked a little better.
Especially against Stanford last weekend, Lobendahn was a road-grader in the running game, using his mobility to pull as a lead blocker for Buck Allen but not backing down from the physical nature of the Cardinal defensive line (particularly up the middle).
USC's interior running game is in great shape for the future.
DL Malik McDowell, Michigan State
11 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 32
Pos. Recruit Rank (SDE): 3
Malik McDowell is the rare true freshman who's been called upon to play for Michigan State, and despite the Spartans' loss at Oregon, the 5-star recruit made his presence felt up the middle.
McDowell recorded three tackles and a half-sack against the Ducks, earning praise from head coach Mark Dantonio in the process.
"Malik played as well and is gonna be an outstanding player," Dantonio said, per Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal. "I think he played with toughness, he made some plays...and he's just beginning to touch the surface in terms of how good he can be."
LT Cam Robinson, Alabama
12 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 4
Pos. Recruit Rank (OT): 1
Before Cam Robinson, Nick Saban had never started a true freshman at left tackle—not just at Alabama, but dating all the way back through his years at LSU, Michigan State and Toledo.
It takes a special player to force Saban into a first, and although Robinson has not yet had to play against SEC defensive linemen, he has looked the part of a special player through two weeks. Especially against a plucky West Virginia defense, Robinson acquitted himself well and did not allow a sack on Blake Sims' blind side.
At 6'6", 323 pounds, Robinson is obviously big and strong enough for his position, but he moves well and is surprisingly proficient with his hands for a player so huge and young. He is someone an offensive line can build around.
WR Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M (Redshirt)
13 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 25
Pos. Recruit Rank (ATH): 1
Ricky Seals-Jones was good enough to contribute as a true freshman last season, catching three passes for 84 yards in the Week 1 win over Rice. However, a torn ACL forced him to take a medical redshirt, throwing his effectiveness for 2014 into doubt.
If the first two games of the season are any indication, though, RSJ has come back bigger and stronger than ever on his surgically repaired knee. He generally looked unguardable against South Carolina and Lamar, using his 6'5" frame and deep speed to rack up eight catches for 112 yards and two scores despite limited reps.
Provided he stays healthy, Seals-Jones is one of the few players (and may well be the only player) in college football who is not a massive talent downgrade from Mike Evans. He is just as much of a physical anomaly as the No. 7 overall draft pick.
QB Anu Solomon, Arizona (Redshirt)
14 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 461
Pos. Recruit Rank (DUAL): 21
No, Anu Solomon is not trending ahead of Jameis Winston and Connor Cook (as ESPN's Danny Kanell might suggest), but he already looks like an upgrade over B.J. Denker at quarterback for Arizona.
Yes, he struggled a little bit against UTSA, but the Roadrunners have a sneaky good defense, and Solomon did still manage to pull out the win. Against UNLV one week prior, the redshirt freshman had 475 total yards (425 passing, 50 rushing) and four touchdowns.
Running back Nick Wilson (mentioned on the first slide of this article) played better in Week 2, but Solomon makes the list because he plays the more difficult position. As good as Wilson has looked, the running back will always do well in Rich Rodriguez's offense. The quarterback has more on his plate.
RB Justin Stockton, Texas Tech
15 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 513
Pos. Recruit Rank (RB): 42
It was tempting to ignore Justin Stockton's production because of the competition he has faced. Like some of the players left off this list, his first two opponents (Central Arkansas and UTEP) are not representative of the defenses he will play all year.
However, Texas Tech has found itself in a dogfight against both of those teams, forcing Stockton to see meaningful carries in crunch time. And the true freshman has responded well, rushing for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns and mounting up a highlight reel to boot.
Stockton is 5'10" and shifty enough to break tackles, and it should be fun to see how Kliff Kingsbury uses him against Arkansas in Week 3.
S Armani Watts, Texas A&M
16 of 16
Overall Recruit Rank: 207
Pos. Recruit Rank (S): 19
Texas A&M had two other players on this list and one more in the honorable mentions, but no Aggies freshman has contributed more through two games than safety Armani Watts.
Starting in a thin secondary, Watts made his presence felt against South Carolina, breaking up a couple of passes with big hits in the first half and recording an interception later in the game. Against Lamar, Watts broke up his third pass of the season and added six tackles and his first career tackle for loss.
Bleacher Report's Michael Felder said Watts is "the biggest impact freshman in the country right now, because he understands what to do on the back end." When a defense is relying on so many young players, football IQ is even more important than physical tools.
All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
