Ranking the Best Redshirt Freshmen of 2014 College Football Season
Perhaps a player was shielded by a longtime starter or sustained a season-ending injury last year, which caused the prospect to observe from the sideline and take a redshirt.
But during the 2014 regular season, that young athlete had an opportunity, and he shined.
Redshirt freshmen contributed to college football programs throughout the recent campaign, and some even earned national recognition for their exploits.
But how do they stack up against each other? Let's take an in-depth look at 10 of the best redshirt freshmen college football had to offer during the last four months.
Honorable Mentions
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Taylor Lamb, QB, Appalachian State
The former 2-star recruit started slowly, but Taylor Lamb helped the Mountaineers finish their inaugural season in the Football Bowl Subdivision 7-5 and on a six-game winning streak. Lamb amassed a 61.4 percent completion percentage and threw for 2,381 yards and 17 touchdowns, running for 483 yards and four scores.
Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, DE, Arkansas State
Though he only managed 30 tackles, Ja'Von Rolland-Jones registered a team-high 7.5 sacks—which tied for the No. 3 FBS mark by a freshman.
Jerod Fernandez, LB, North Carolina State
The coaching staff held out Jerod Fernandez during his first season on campus, but the 3-star linebacker tallied a team-high 76 tackles. Fernandez also recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups.
Parry Nickerson, CB, Tulane
After suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, Parry Nickerson nabbed six interceptions in 2014. He picked off two passes against Houston, including a game-sealing interception in the end zone as time expired. Nickerson added 51 tackles and six pass breakups.
Austin MacGinnis, K, Kentucky
Austin MacGinnis connected on all 41 extra points and connected on 15 of his last 17 attempts. He buried three 50-yard field goals and set a single-season school record with 104 points.
10. Matthew McCrane, K, Kansas State
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Specialists are people, too, you know. Ranked as the No. 17 kicker in his recruiting class, Matthew McCrane chose Kansas State but sat behind Jack Cantele last season.
However, McCrane shined as the Wildcats placekicker in 2014, converting on 16-of-17 field goals and 38-of-39 extra points.
In late October, Kellis Robinett of the Kansas City Star noted coach Bill Snyder said McCrane "puts it through the uprights. That doesn't mean he is going to be 100 percent his entire life, but he is doing well and we anticipated he would do well."
College football expert Phil Steele named McCrane a first-team Freshman All-American.
9. Kemoko Turay, DT, Rutgers
3 of 11
Since 3-star defensive end Kemoko Turay was a raw prospect, the local New Jersey product spent one season bulking up for the elevated physicality of the college game. Now 25 pounds heavier, Turay played defense and special teams as a freshman.
The 26-tackle clip wasn't particularly impressive, but it was his efficiency and additional contributions that drew attention. Turay soared to a team-best 7.5 sacks—which were spread over seven games—and three blocked kicks.
As noted by Dan Duggan of NJ.com, Turay's block against Penn State created a spectacular picture.
Scout listed him on its Freshman All-America Second Team following his outstanding campaign with the Scarlet Knights.
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8. DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
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Allen Robinson was Penn State's leading receiver in 2013, but he declared for the NFL draft and left a serious void outside. But DaeSean Hamilton filled that gap quite nicely.
Hamilton notched the 22nd-most receptions in the nation with 75, highlighted by a 14-catch effort during a near-upset of Ohio State. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times, snaring Christian Hackenberg's passes for 848 yards.
"I'm learning from him and at the same time he's learning from me—what type of player I am and what he can expect from me," Hamilton said, according to Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia.
Big Ten Network spotlighted Hamilton as a first-team freshman in the conference.
7. Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
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The No. 6 cornerback in the 2013 class, Eli Apple was redshirted so he could adjust to the demands of the college game.
"Mentally and physically, I wasn't ready at all as far as tackling," Apple said, per James Grega Jr. of The Lantern. "As far as getting in the weight room, I wasn't really strong enough to really play out there, I was getting tossed around a little bit."
This year, though, Apple didn't shy away from contact and logged 41 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss. He tallied seven pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one recovery and one defensive touchdown.
Among others, Athlon Sports named Apple first-team All-Freshman.
6. Kamari Cotton-Moya, S, Iowa State
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Kamari Cotton-Moya was billed as the No. 1,616 player in the 2013 class, so he certainly had something to prove. However, the 3-star athlete sustained an Achilles injury during his first season in Ames.
One redshirt and one year later, Cotton-Moya became the leader of the Iowa State defense. The 6'1", 194-pound safety smashed his way to a team-high 77 tackles, breaking up eight passes as well.
According to Dylan Montz of The Gazette, coach Paul Rhoads said Cotton-Moya is not close to his ceiling because it's very high.
"There's a lot of little things about the game he doesn't understand yet," Rhoads said. "He's still understanding the playbook as opposed to the next step."
Yet even with all the potential improvement, Cotton-Moya was tabbed the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
5. Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV
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Devonte Boyd is a unique member of the crew because the 2-star wide receiver was greyshirted coming out of high school. Boyd is still unique, though it's now a product of his on-field exploits.
He shredded opposing secondaries to the tune of 64 receptions, 973 yards and four touchdowns. Ultimately, Boyd was 30 catches and nearly 400 yards better than the Rebels' No. 2 target.
UNLV crawled to a 2-11 record, but the 6'1" pass-catcher provided a legitimate bright spot as the nation's second-most prolific freshman receiver.
Boyd was given the honor of Mountain West Freshman of the Year, becoming the school's fifth player to earn the award.
4. Taylor Young, LB, Baylor
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A 5'10" linebacker, Taylor Young was hidden on recruiting boards, notching a 2-star rating and the No. 2,105 overall prospect. Of course, the DeSoto, Texas, player boasted a 225-pound frame, which he still uses to his advantage.
"I know I'm the smallest but I can be the toughest," Young said, per John Werner of the Waco Tribune. "I hope that my play says that I'm going to be full speed every play and that I pack a lot of punch when I bring it. That's what I hope people see out there and not just that I’m small."
Young thumped 76 ball-carriers, recording 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. Additionally, he broke up two passes, forced two fumbles and registered a quarterback hurry.
The undersized linebacker made a massive impact on postseason award ballots, securing a first-team spot with USA Today, Scout, Athlon and Steele.
3. Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
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Similar to a handful of others in the rankings, Darron Lee was sidelined as a true freshman due to an injury. He logged six snaps over two games before missing the rest of the year and receiving a medical redshirt.
But as a starting linebacker for playoff-bound Ohio State in 2014, the 6'2", 228-pounder was an absolute menace.
Lee racked up 66 tackles—13.5 for loss including 5.5 sacks—intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles, both of which were returned for touchdowns.
Unsurprisingly, USA Today, Scout, Athlon and Steele also placed Lee on their respective first-team freshman All-American lists.
2. Anu Solomon, QB, Arizona
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Anu Solomon was the best prospect from Nevada, but Arizona considered B.J. Denker the best quarterback on the team.
Following that season of learning, Solomon won the starting job and led the program to its first 10-win campaign since 1998.
He finished the year with 3,458 passing yards and 27 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions. Plus, Solomon managed 259 rushing yards and another score.
Like he did on Athlon and Scout's freshman All-America teams, Solomon takes a back seat to the No. 1 player in B/R's rankings. But considering what the next player accomplished, Solomon being the second-best redshirt freshman remains a terrific accomplishment.
1. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
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Although J.T. Barrett was the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the 2013 class, Ohio State had this Braxton Miller character playing quarterback. Barring injury, it was safe to say Barrett wasn't jumping Braxton.
But then that injury came, and Miller's absence nearly shattered the Buckeyes. An inexperienced Barrett took over, limped through his debut against Navy and lost to hapless Virginia Tech.
Following those games, though, Barrett emerged as one of the best players in the nation, not just in his class. He tallied 2,834 passing yards, 935 rushing and 45 total touchdowns en route to being named first-team All-Big Ten.
Had Barrett not sustained an ankle injury during the regular-season finale, he almost certainly would've been invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation. Barrett was without a doubt the best redshirt freshman in the country.
Note: Stats courtesy of CFBstats.com and recruiting information via 247Sports.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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