Freshman Power Rankings of the Week: Top 5

Another week of college football is behind us. It was another opportunity for freshmen across the country to make an impact for their team.

That's why the B/R freshman power rankings are back. 

The freshmen on this list didn't technically have to start—as in, they didn't have to be the first player on the field at their respective position—but they did have to play at least a complementary or rotational role with at least one recordable stat. 

These rankings are also subject to change from week to week depending on who shines. As the season progresses, power rankings should even out more. 

So which freshmen stood out in Week 3? Which ones had the most jaw-dropping highlights? Which ones underwhelmed? The answers are in the list below.

Name	School	Position	Stats
1. Myles Garrett	Texas A&M	Defensive End	2.5 sacks, 5.5 sacks on the year
2. K.D. Cannon	Baylor	Wide Receiver	189 yards, 1 touchdown
3. Malik McDowell	Michigan State	Defensive End	3 tackles, .5 sacks (season)
4. Shaun Wilson	Duke	Running Back	12 carries, 245 yards, 3 touchdowns
5. Anu Solomon	Arizona	Quarterback	278 passing yards, 3 touchdowns

The Standout 

I keep coming back to a pair of freshman defensive ends: Myles Garrett for Texas A&M and Malik McDowell for Michigan State. Since Sparty was off this week, the attention was solely on Garrett. And he didn't disappoint.

In a 38-10 win over Rice, Garrett had two-and-a-half sacks. That gives him five-and-a-half three games into the season, which is already a school record for a freshman, according to the Associated Press. A&M has a few key freshmen contributing this season, but Garrett has been a force since the first game. 

Through three games, he's second in the country in sacks and is closing in on Jadeveon Clowney's single-season record. 

Think about how good he's going to be when he gets better. It's terrifying. 

The Highlight

Duke running back Shaun Wilson had nine carries for 89 yards—averaging just a touch under 10 yards per carry—heading into the Blue Devils' Week 3 game against Kansas.

If you can believe it—and against Kansas, perhaps you can—Wilson doubled his yards per carry. Twelve rushes, 245 yards, three touchdowns. That's what Wilson recorded in a 41-3 win. Through three weeks, Wilson is the No. 18 rusher in the country on just 21 carries (h/t Ben Swain). 

Who's Rising?

How much longer can you overlook Baylor wide receiver KD Cannon? The competition to date has been sub-par, but Cannon nevertheless leads the nation with 471 yards. 

Following his 223-yard, three-touchdown performance against Northwestern State, Cannon had 189 receiving yards and a score in a blowout win over Buffalo.

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Without a doubt, he's the Bears' best deep threat, filling in the role that Tevin Reese had last year. Like all true freshmen, he's still learning, but it's been mostly a seamless adjustment to college for him. 

"I've watched a lot of receivers, seen a bunch over 30-something years in coaching," said head coach Art Briles about Cannon after the Week 2 win against Northwestern State (via ESPN.com). "I came back and said that's the best guy I've ever seen as a high school receiver, no doubt. He's good. He's different."

Who’s Falling?

USC wide receiver/defensive back Adoree' Jackson. Look, everyone's going to have freshman moments and Jackson had them at the wrong time in an upset loss to Boston College as noted by the Los Angeles Register: 

"

Adoree’ Jackson set up USC’s second touchdown with a 50-yard kickoff return early in the second quarter. On the next BC kickoff, Jackson muffed the ball, returning it just 3 yards to the USC 10-yard line. That tilted field position in the Eagles’ favor.

"

Jackson also had a reception of the game, but it was for a loss of four yards. It just wasn't his best game. It wasn't USC's best game. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football.