2014 Rookies Who Came in with a Bang
There's been a rookie tidal wave in 2014 and man, has it been glorious.
Doesn't matter what the sport is, there have been some outstanding first-year players who have taken to the field and proven they can hang with the veterans.
This list takes a look at 20 of those names and breaks down what makes them so special. There's no need to wait, start the slideshow and let's find out which of these young athletes have already started to turn a few heads.
Honorable Mention: Leonard Fournette
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If you weren't able to sit down on the couch and get educated on LSU football this past season, you would have missed 19-year-old running back Leonard Fournette.
Fournette was a five-star recruit, who committed to Les Miles' program to be its lead tailback of the future. The future started during his freshman year, as Fournette ran the ball 176 times for 891 yards and eight touchdowns.
He was one of the most hyped prospects to enter the program in a long time. ESPN.com's Sam Khan Jr. explained just how hyped up he was:
"It hasn’t been a perfect freshman season, though some might have expected it. As the No. 1 recruit in the 2014 ESPN 300, Fournette arrived at LSU with nearly impossible expectations to live up to. There were comparisons to Adrian Peterson. There were Miles’ own comparisons at SEC media days of Fournette to Michael Jordan. The praise heaped upon, again, a 19-year-old, was immeasurable.
"
Sure, Fournette didn't finish with 2,000 yards on the ground or score 30 touchdowns. However, as a freshman, he was overly powerful at times, decisive at others and proved time after time that he's going to be a very good tailback.
A bunch of good college halfbacks burst onto the scene in 2014. At the end of the day, Fournette may end up being the best one of the cluster.
Khalil Mack
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The Oakland Raiders aren't quite there yet, but they do have some young pieces they can lean on. None have been better than rookie linebacker Khalil Mack.
Mack's 62 combined tackles, three sacks and 11 stuffs are just the icing on an extensively designed cake. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has the ex-Buffalo star as the No. 2 ranked 3-4 outside linebacker.
He's not only a good run-stopper, but he also has been able to effectively come off the edge when he's asked to. Mack is by no means a dominant pass-rusher. Still, the good news is he is athletic enough to become one down the road. His 34 QB hurries so far showcase that.
Despite playing on a 2-11 team, Mack is right in the thick of things when it comes to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Filip Forsberg
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The Nashville Predators have to be thankful that they got their hands on right-winger Filip Forsberg after the 2012 NHL draft.
The team they have to thank is the Washington Capitals. Had they not traded him to the Predators, Forsberg would probably be thriving in the nation's capital.
Forsberg has been excellent this season. The 12 goals he's scored are tops for any rookie in the league, and his 15 assists are just two less than Calgary Flames standout Johnny Gaudreau.
He's quickly becoming a cornerstone piece for the Predators. A scoring machine draped in gold. The team has played well with him helping steer the ship this season, and hopefully, that trend will continue down the road.
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Samaje Perine
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Out of the entire field of rookie running backs, it felt like Oklahoma's Samaje Perine came out of nowhere compared to some of the other names.
Leading the Sooners' offensive attack with 1,579 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns, he became an instant star. Perine was so good this season, that against Kansas, he casually ran for a record-setting 427 yards.
All of those accolades and monumental achievements led to him winning the AP’s Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year award, per Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World. An award that he earned throughout the year.
Kevon Looney
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UCLA freshman Kevin Looney doesn't get the recognition that some of the other freshmen do, and that's a shame. The forward has turned in a solid debut campaign.
His averages of 14.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game are big time. He's shown a nice touch on the offensive end, and he positions himself well to come down with a lot of boards. His natural size and skills should make Looney an enticing NBA prospect after UCLA's 2014-15 reaches its conclusion.
For now, the hope is that the program can make a run at the tournament in March. Because seeing Looney go against some of the other top big men in the country would be a great test for him.
Odell Beckham Jr.
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Odell Beckham Jr.'s debut year in the National Football League will be remembered by one catch. A behind-the-back, "no way that just happened," insane catch.
To think, the infamous grab that came against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football was just the tipping point for what we were about to see from Beckham.
Even before he hauled that pass in, the young wide receiver was a target machine. Checking out his game-by-game output, the targets started flowing in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts with 11.
Since then, Beckham hasn't been targeted less than eight times. Obviously, he's developed a nice rapport with Eli Manning.
On film, he looks like the second coming of Antonio Brown. He's so fluid off the line of scrimmage that defensive backs have a hard time keeping up with him.
The always outspoken and talented Richard Sherman even called Beckham a "great player," per Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News, after he caught seven balls for 108 yards against the Seattle Seahawks.
In a rookie wide receiver class that's armed with plenty of talent, Beckham may be the best. After posting another 130-yard performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, the former LSU Tiger is now the only Giants pass-catcher to have four 100-yard receiving games as a rookie.
Aaron Donald
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The St. Louis Rams' quest to build a fearsome defensive line has been accelerated, thanks to the outstanding play of newcomer Aaron Donald.
Listed as a defensive tackle, Donald has become an unruly presence on the field. PFF (subscription required) have been singing his praises with their ratings system. On the 573 snaps they've marked him down for, Donald is the No. 1 defensive tackle in the NFL.
That's staggering, when you consider veteran players like Gerald McCoy, Ndamukong Suh and Marcell Dareus have all been great this year.
Leading up to last May's draft, the tape on Donald was endearing. You couldn't fathom that type of quickness and power. He was dominant at the University of Pittsburgh, finishing his senior season with 11 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss.
That production has carried over, as Donald has already produced seven sacks.
He's a front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors at the moment. There simply hasn't been anyone as good when the tape is rolling.
Jose Abreu
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The Chicago White Sox have themselves a star in Jose Abreu.
Abreu arrived in Major League Baseball in 2014 and immediately won the American League Rookie of the Year award. After defecting from Cuba, he was lured over to Chicago with a six-year contract worth $68 million.
The first baseman came out right away and provided a ton of pop for the Sox. Batting .317 with 36 home runs and 107 RBI, so far he looks like he's going to be worth every penny of that generous price tag.
If his totals weren't enough to sink your teeth into, he also led the MLB in slugging percentage at .581.
Suffice it to say, Abreu will be a popular fantasy pick next spring. He's got a clean stroke and he can drive the ball into the gap.
Following up that excellent rookie campaign won't be easy. He really put up great numbers. Our only hope now is that he can live up to that first season.
Mike Evans
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't very good. Overall, head coach Lovie Smith's inaugural season has been a disaster.
But if Smith and his team did one thing right, it was drafting wide receiver Mike Evans. Pairing his 6'5", 231-pound frame with long-time big man Vincent Jackson has created quite the combo down in Florida.
To date, Evans has been targeted 103 times between quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Josh McCown. He's turned those targets into 53 catches for 935 yards and 10 touchdowns. That TD total has him seven off the record set by Randy Moss in 1998 with three games left to go.
It's doubtful he'll surpass Moss, but that doesn't take away from what Evans has done for this Tampa Bay offense. Whoever winds up becoming the franchise quarterback there is going to thank the football overlords for Evans.
D'Angelo Russell
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D'Angelo Russell is not only one of the best freshmen in the country, but he's also one of the best players, regardless of experience.
Russell's stats have been great for the Buckeyes. Averaging 30.1 minutes a game, he's been able to score 18 points, dish out 5.3 assists and come down with 4.3 rebounds per game. Along with those great numbers, he's also shown off his good defensive instincts and quick hands, posting 1.9 steals per game as well.
He's a leading member of a dangerous Ohio State basketball team. He can get to the hoop, find his teammates and when he needs to, buckle down and play good defense.
Ohio State needs Russell to play well if they want to make a splash later on in the year. Without Aaron Craft, this team desperately has a need for a sufficient floor general.
Kelvin Benjamin
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Cam Newton understands the best way to put up points this season is by throwing the ball to rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.
On the year, Benjamin has caught 59 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns on 115 targets. As a reference, tight end Greg Olsen has 103 targets on the year and he's been paired with Newton since 2011.
The chemistry between Newton and Benjamin has been outstanding all season long.
"There is already a runaway winner for the title of most fascinating player for the Carolina Panthers in 2014: Kelvin Benjamin," Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer proclaimed. He's right as rain.
Benjamin is a nightmare to deal with in the red zone. On top of that, he's getting better at working the intermediate parts of the field. Depending on his development and how Newton progresses as well, we could see a slew of Pro Bowl years for the big man out of Florida State.
Johnny Gaudreau
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Along with Filip Forsberg, fellow rookie Johnny Gaudreau has been great this season for the Calgary Flames.
The 5'8" winger has compiled five goals and 16 assists as he attempts to find his way on the ice. Gaudreau is already making a name for himself on the Flames' second line.
To the surprise of many, he's been creative setting up his teammates and finding his own way to the net. "The biggest surprise is how good Gaudreau has been coming in," former Flames player Peter Maher said to Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun.
Surprises like Gaudreau are a good thing because, ultimately, the better he gets, the better this club gets.
Billy Hamilton
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton may have only hit .250 his rookie year, however, that doesn't mean he didn't come into 2014 with a bang.
Hamilton's claim to fame is his speed. Swiping 58 bags, he finished second in the MLB—Dee Gordon of the Los Angeles Dodgers was first with 64. Checking out the rest of the numbers, Hamilton hit 25 doubles, eight triples and scored 72 runs on the year.
The Reds leadoff man was a nice addition for this club. Assuming he can boost his batting average, he should continue to score runs at a high rate in 2015.
Joel Bitonio
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Offensive linemen don't usually get a ton of love, but on this list, we're out to change that paradigm.
The Cleveland Browns best rookie hasn't been Johnny Manziel—yet—or first-round cornerback Justin Gilbert. It's been left guard Joel Bitonio.
There's been a lot of praise handed out to Dallas Cowboys rookie guard Zack Martin for all of the great things he's done this season, but Bitonio has been better. Starting all 13 games for the Browns, he's the rookie with the second-highest rated guard, according to what the crew over at PFF (subscription required) has seen.
Holding down the interior of the line, Bitonio hasn't given up a sack and has only allowed eight QB hurries. He's been a fantastic addition, especially considering he wasn't a lottery selection.
Bitonio is a balanced guard who can opening up rushing lanes and protect his quarterback. It sure looks like Browns general manager Ray Farmer hit the jackpot with this pick.
Myles Garrett
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College Station was missing something after Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans packed their bags and headed for the NFL draft. Sure, they had head coach Kevin Sumlin, but fans of the program were used to a hyper-talented playmaker they could root for.
Looking for that next star, attention quickly turned to freshman edge-rusher Myles Garrett.
Garrett has been tremendous all season for the Aggies. Since the jump, he's been able to come off the edge and shake things up.
In 11 games this year, he finished with 11 sacks. Bleacher Report's R. Cory Smith gave a comparison on how big that is, saying he "eclipsed Jadeveon Clowney's freshman record of eight sacks."
It's going to be exciting to watch Garrett during his tenure at College Station. He's already showcased a superstar skill set. Forget Johnny Football and Evans, it's about time the Aggies got themselves their own version of Clowney.
Jacob DeGrom
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Jose Abreu may have been the American League Rookie of the Year, but over in the National League, where pitchers are forced to swing the bat, New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom took home those honors.
At face value, a 9-6 year doesn't even begin to tell the whole story. It was a sensational rookie campaign for the 26-year-old right-hander. He came in, struck out 144 batters and finished the year with a sparkling 2.69 ERA.
The controlling forces in New York shut him down before he could make his last start of the season, with the hopes of protecting their prized asset down the road. That right there proves how much deGrom means to this team.
With their other ace, Matt Harvey, hoping to return from Tommy John surgery, it's not outrageous to think that we could see the Mets take a major step forward in 2015 and get into the postseason.
Jahlil Okafor
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Does anyone think Jahlil Okafor can be stopped by the time March comes around? Seriously, does anyone?
Okafor was all of the hype and then some heading into his freshman season. All he's done since tossing on a Duke jersey is go to town. The freshman is the focal point of the team, averaging 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game for the Blue Devils.
Duke's fabulous core of freshmen has been great this season. That being said, without Okafor, though, they could falter. He's the stalwart player on a young team coached by the great Mike Krzyzewski.
Nick Chubb
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The University of Georgia just keeps churning out beastly running backs, don't they? Knowshon Moreno, Todd Gurley and now we have freshman sensation Nick Chubb.
Chubb has looked the part of a workhorse back thanks to a wave of power and velocity. On 186 rushing attempts, he ran for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns. It was an impressive start to what should be a great career in a Bulldogs uniform.
When the tape is fired up and you're watching a runner like Chubb, the first thing you take away is that he doesn't stop moving forward. His legs keep churning and picking up yards. Besides willing his way to the end zone, Chubb also has a nice ability to cut back and find the open lane.
Based on what we've seen so far, he should be a dangerous Heisman Trophy candidate over the next couple of seasons—an award no Georgia player has won since Herschel Walker did it in 1982.
C.J. Mosley
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You really can't say enough about the 2014 NFL draft class. So many quality players have emerged right away for their respective teams and made an impact.
The guy with the biggest shoes to fill was the inside linebacker the Baltimore Ravens took in Round 1. C.J. Mosley, out of Alabama, came to Baltimore looking to replace one of the greatest linebackers of all time—Ray Lewis.
Slotted as the team's new middle linebacker, Mosley has done a remarkable job in his first professional season. Tackles aren't the most telling statistic, but at the moment, his 113 combined tackles have him sixth in the NFL.
PFF's (subscription required) rankings have the rookie as the fifth-best inside linebacker in the league and for good reason. He's taken control of a complex defense and thrived in that role.
It may be comparing apples to oranges based on how the league has evolved, but putting Lewis' rookie year up against Mosley's is still fun.
In 1996, Lewis finished with 110 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and six passes defensed. Already, Mosley has 113 combined tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and eight passes defensed.
Needless to say, it looks like he's headed down the right trail.
Justise Winslow
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What Duke freshman Justise Winslow has done this year is unlike anything he teammates have put forth.
Winslow is slowly but surely transitioning into an elite wing defender who can shut down any position on the floor. The 6'6" forward's numbers are steadily rising while he slows down opposing defenders. He's scoring 12 points and corralling four rebounds per game.
What gets lost in Winslow's numbers is the fact that he plays with Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones. Playing with those two guys automatically pushes him down the pecking order when it comes to scoring opportunities.
"Winslow's value also stems from his defense and motor. That was most recently evident in Duke's 10-point win over Wisconsin on Dec. 3. You didn't hear Winslow's name much, but he was there, making plays that mostly never made the final box score," Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote discussing his NBA future.
There's a lot to like when you watch him play. He scores when he has to, plays great defense and oh yeah, he can also do this.
Chris Borland
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Chris Borland is a guy who flat-out understands how to play the game of football.
He will never have all of the physical tools like some of his peers do, but that doesn't mean he won't be able to consistently contribute to the San Francisco 49ers.
Filling in because of injuries to the position, he's really done a great job this year. With 101 combined tackles, two interceptions and a sack, Borland's value outweighs his third-round draft status.
He may have physical limitations, and at times he really struggles in coverage, but the latter part should improve at least slightly as he figures out the nuances of the inside linebacker position in the NFL.
Flaws or not, PFF (subscription required) has been singing his praises, ranking him as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the league. Seriously, you read that right. There's no need to adjust your eyes.
Borland is less than two grading points behind Luke Kuechly as the advance metrics website's best inside linebacker.
If that's not coming in with a bang, I don't know what is.
All MLB, NBA, NHL, college football, college basketball and NFL information and stats provided by ESPN.com, unless noted otherwise.
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