Projecting 2015 College Football Freshman All-American Team
Projecting the 2015 Freshman All-America Team is a difficult assignment, and not just because it's January. That statement would hold true at any place on the calendar.
Last year's team, for example, featured nine former 5-star recruits: Leonard Fournette, Myles Garrett, Cam Robinson, Quin Blanding, Adoree' Jackson, KD Cannon, Malik McDowell, Mackensie Alexander and Nick Chubb. But it also featured Ja'Von Rolland-Jones of Arkansas State, who in high school ranked outside the Top 2,800.
Obviously, these predictions can't all be correct. They can't account for all of those out-of-nowhere seasons, those overlooked recruits at smaller schools. They can't account for injuries, either.
What they can do is nail as many of the usual suspects as possible. To do that, we've considered not just the skill of next year's freshmen, but the opportunity each prospect has for playing time.
Christian Kirk, for example, is my favorite wide receiver in the class. I love the way he plays, and I don't think he has a steep learning curve. He is good enough to make this team, but he's playing at Texas A&M next season, which means he's fighting for targets against Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds, Edward Pope and Ricky Seals-Jones.
He didn't make the team for that reason.
Sound off below and let us know where you agree/disagree.
Quarterback
1 of 8
Morgan Mahalak, Oregon (Redshirt)
2014 Composite Rank: 228 QB Rank: 16*
Morgan Mahalak has a long quarterback battle ahead of him, one in which he's not even considered the favorite. But if he does win the job ahead of backup Jeff Lockie, Georgia Tech transfer Ty Griffin and true freshman Travis Waller, he will be considered the favorite to make the Freshman All-America team. The past five QBs to make it (J.T. Barrett, Jameis Winston, Johnny Manziel, Sean Mannion and Danny O'Brien) have all been redshirt freshmen.
*Includes pro-style quarterbacks
Running Backs
2 of 8
Ronald Jones II, USC
2015 Composite Rank: 39 RB Rank: 3
In a weak class of running backs, Ronald Jones II stands out for his ability to crack long runs. USC has lacked a true home-run threat in its backfield—one of the few things its offense has lacked—and has touches to distribute after losing Buck Allen and Nelson Agholor. Tre Madden and Justin Davis are potential roadblocks, but Jones is too good to keep off the field. He takes the Trojans to another level.
Larry Scott, Michigan State
2015 Composite Rank: 59 RB Rank: 7*
Larry Scott enters a vacant Michigan State backfield with college-ready skills. He is 6'2", 228 pounds and the highest-ranked offensive recruit of the Mark Dantonio era. He made a late push up the rankings after owning the Semper Fi All-American Bowl and has a clear path to playing time with Jeremy Langford and Nick Hill set to graduate. From frame to opportunity, he looks a lot like Oregon's Royce Freeman.
*Includes all-purpose backs
Receivers/Tight Ends
3 of 8
WR George Campbell, Florida State
Composite Rank: 18 WR Rank: 2
George Campbell has a rare blend of size and speed, the type that comes around only once or twice per cycle. He is 6'3", 184 pounds and ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at The Opening. Travis Rudolph has one starting spot locked down, but Florida State's other star sophomore, Ermon Lane, is basically a lesser version of Campbell. With Rashad Greene out of the picture, there are targets to be had in this offense. And it doesn't hurt that Campbell enrolled early.
WR Trent Irwin, Stanford
2015 Composite Rank: 70 WR Rank: 8
Trent Irwin comes to Stanford at the perfect time: right as the Cardinal lose Ty Montgomery. Irwin is a different player than Montgomery, so he won't fill that exact role, but he's a polished target whom Kevin Hogan will learn to lean on. "Irwin has the opportunity to step in, be a starter [and] fill a void for the Stanford Cardinal," said Bleacher Report's Michael Felder. "And I expect he fills it very well."
TE Devonaire Clarington, Texas
2015 Composite Rank: 201 TE: 7
Texas fans have clamored for a better tight end, and they appear to have gotten their wish in Devonaire Clarington. He is 6'5", 238 pounds, and 247Sports graded him a nine-out-of-10 in catch radius and an eight-out-of-10 in mismatch ability. Jeff Howe of 247Sports projected Clarington to start next season, and if he does, he will play a key role in replacing Texas' top two receivers (John Harris and Jaxon Shipley).
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Offensive Line
4 of 8
OT Martez Ivey, Auburn/Florida
2015 Composite Rank: 2 OT Rank: 1
No matter where he plays next season, Martez Ivey is too good to keep off the field. The former No. 1 overall recruit, who has since been dropped to No. 2, follows in the footsteps of Cam Robinson (Alabama) and Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss), both of whom made the Freshman All-America team after grading as the top offensive lineman.
OG Tanner Farmer, Nebraska (Redshirt)
2014 Composite Rank: 251 OG Rank: 16
Tanner Farmer was the top player in Nebraska's 2014 class, but depth along the offensive line allowed him to redshirt. Now that depth is gone, however, and Farmer is being counted on to replace it. New head coach Mike Riley brings a pro-style offense that relies on running downhill. Nebraska will still be Nebraska (big, tough, rugged up the middle), even with the new regime.
OC Dalton Risner, Kansas State (Redshirt)
2014 Composite Rank: 503 OC Rank: 6
B.J. Finney was a four-year starter and the quiet heart of Kansas State's offense. Replacing him will be impossible, but after redshirting in 2014, Dalton Risner has a chance to step in, take what he learned from Finney and start his own Manhattan legacy. He was the highest-ranked high school recruit in Kansas State's 2014 class.
OG Damian Prince, Maryland (Redshirt)
2014 Composite Rank: 27 OT Rank: 2
Maryland made the rare decision to redshirt a 5-star tackle, even though its offensive line had issues. More than that, it moved Damian Prince to guard, which is an "easier" position to learn. Assuming he stays inside, his mobility, feet and frame should make him a valuable part of Maryland's offense. The Terps couldn't handle the size of bigger teams last season, but Prince has the tools to change that.
OT Keenan Walker, Arizona
2015 Composite Rank: 128 OT Rank: 9
Arizona has a win-now mentality but loses both of its starting offensive tackles. Enter 4-star freshman Keenan Walker, the jewel of the Wildcats class and the highest-ranked lineman Rich Rodriguez has brought to Tucson. Strength might be an issue early—he's only 280 pounds, and he got wrecked by Byron Cowart in practice for the Under Armour All-America Game—but the way he moves in space makes him a perfect fit for Rich-Rod's offense.
Defensive Line
5 of 8
DE Canton Kaumatule, Oregon
2015 Composite Rank: 16 DE Rank: 5*
Canton Kaumatule ends the cycle with a ton of momentum. He rose to No. 16 in the overall rankings after dominating the Under Armour All-America Game practices, and then he promptly enrolled for spring ball at Oregon. The Ducks lost Arik Armstead to the NFL draft, which means they need a new physical freak to line up opposite DeForest Buckner. At 6'7", 290 pounds, Kaumatule fits the bill.
DT Breiden Fehoko, Texas Tech
2015 Composite Rank: 50 DT Rank: 8
Breiden Fehoko brings a much-needed physical presence to Texas Tech's defense. As a junior, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 37 times; in July, he benched 185 pounds 42 times at The Opening. But Fehoko brings more than just power to the table; he also shows quickness off the line and the ability to make plays in the backfield. He should thrive under defensive coordinator David Gibbs, whose Houston defenses led the country in turnovers the past two seasons.
DT Trent Thompson, Georgia
2015 Composite Rank: 1 DT Rank: 1
Trent Thompson is the No. 1 overall player in the class for a reason. He is 6'2.5", 313 pounds and equal parts physical against the run and explosive against the pass. Georgia has a need at defensive tackle, and Thompson is the perfect man to fill it. Even if it doesn't always show up on the box score (for interior linemen, it rarely does), he will occupy blockers and play a massive role in UGA's defense.
DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford (Redshirt)
2014 Composite Rank: 25 DE Rank: 4*
Solomon Thomas took a redshirt in 2014, learning behind a veteran cast of players and staggering his eligibility for Stanford. But that shouldn't make you think anything less of him. He is deadly at the point of attack and has a clear path to playing time for a defense whose linemen have always put up big numbers.
*Includes weak-side defensive ends
Linebackers
6 of 8
Byron Cowart, Auburn/Florida/Florida State
2015 Composite Rank: 3 DE Rank: 1
This pick assumes two things: (1) that Byron Cowart will commit to Auburn, where the past eight predictions on his 247Sports Crystal Ball have him going, and (2) that he is moved to "Buck" linebacker. Will Muschamp made the Buck position famous at Florida, and Cowart (6'4", 250 lbs, lightning first step) fits the prototype like a glove. Dante Fowler Jr., Muschamp's last Buck linebacker, had 8.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman in 2012, 10.5 in 2013 and 15 in 2014.
Ben Humphreys, Duke
2015 Composite Rank: 163 OLB Rank: 10
Ben Humphreys isn't moving from Southern California to Durham, North Carolina, to sit. The rangy linebacker has a college-ready game and joins a defense that loses both starting linebackers. He moved up after a great showing at the Army All-American Bowl and now has the highest grade of any Duke recruit in the 247Sports database, which dates back to 2002. Expect him to start (and play well) from Day 1.
Jahvoni Simmons, Virginia
2015 Composite Rank: 151 ILB Rank: 4
Mike London survived the hot seat in 2014, but he won't if Virginia doesn't make a bowl game next season. He can't afford to let his best recruit, Jahvoni Simmons, waste away on the bench. Simmons is a quick-twitch athlete with advanced instincts who should see the field early, especially with the loss of senior linebacker Henry Coley. UVA safety Quin Blanding made the Freshman All-America team out of high school last season; can Simmons make it two in a row?
Defensive Backs
7 of 8
Justin Dunning, Texas A&M
2015 Composite Rank: 135 S Rank: 6
Texas A&M loses boundary safety Howard Matthews, its leading tackler in 2014, and must replace him with a physical presence. The situation could not be more perfect for Justin Dunning, a 6'3.5", 204-pound hybrid between a safety and an outside linebacker. His speed isn't great, but Dunning can get downhill, shed blocks and tackle at an FBS level. His aggressive style of play will endear him to John Chavis, Texas A&M's new defensive coordinator (by way of LSU).
Derwin James, Florida State
2015 Composite Rank: 5 S Rank: 1
Florida State will reshuffle its secondary after losing cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby. A fluid piece like Jalen Ramsey, who can play all five positions in the defensive backfield, ensures the five best players will see the field. Derwin James is one of the five best players, and at 6'2", 201 pounds, he gives the Noles a physical presence they have lacked on the back end. He enrolled early and will play a big role on this defense, probably as a Day 1 starter.
Iman Marshall, TBD*
2015 Composite Rank: 4 CB Rank: 1
It doesn't matter where Iman Marshall goes: He is going to be a star regardless. The past two No. 1-ranked cornerbacks, Adoree' Jackson (USC) and Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida), both made the Freshman All-American team, and Marshall projects as well as either. Especially if he heads to USC, where he would line up opposite Jackson, teams might be coaxed into throwing at him. That could lead to early interceptions, just as it did for Hargreaves in 2013.
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (Redshirt)
2014 Composite Rank: 3 ATH Rank: 1
Jabrill Peppers injured his leg in September and missed the rest of his true-freshman season. He didn't set the world on fire when he played, but his resume from high school precedes him. He is one of the most electric recruits of the decade, but he's not by any means a "finesse" player; in fact, he was one of the best all-around tacklers in his class. If you don't think Jim Harbaugh will get the most of him, you haven't seen a lot of Jim Harbaugh.
*USC is the heavy favorite; Florida State and Michigan are in the mix
Specialists
8 of 8
Ret. Donte Jackson
2015 Composite Rank: 56 ATH Rank: 3
With Terrance Magee and Kenny Hilliard graduated, LSU can no longer afford to let Leonard Fournette return kicks. Fortunately, the Tigers landed a commitment from Donte Jackson, whom 247Sports considers the No. 10 player in the class. Jackson has world-class speed and explosiveness, and LSU always has solid return units.
K Justin Yoon, Notre Dame
2015 Composite Rank: 1,244 K Rank: 2
Justin Yoon is the No. 2 kicker in the class, and there's an opening as Kyle Brindza leaves Notre Dame. Brindza akso had an awful senior season, so every kick Yoon makes at the beginning of 2015—even the little 20-yard chippies—will be greeted with loud applause. Kicking is roughly 1,000 percent mental, so every little bit of that helps.
P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina
2015 Composite Rank: 1,306 P Rank: 2
Joseph Charlton is the No. 2 punter in the class, and South Carolina loses two seniors, starter Tyler Hull and backup Patrick Fish, at the position. He has big footsteps to follow after JK Scott (Alabama) ripped up the SEC as a true freshman in 2014, but the 6'4" Charlton, who doubles as a kicker, has the leg to carve his own path.
Unless otherwise cited, all recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings. Previous Freshman All-America teams refer to the teams compiled by the Football Writers Association of America.
Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeigh35
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