Teams Who Will Rely on the Most Freshmen in 2015 College Football Season
Ideally, college football teams would stagger their players by year and never rely on too many freshmen.
Realistically, though, it sometimes happens.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as relying on freshmen pays dividends two or three years in the future. If there's enough (and the right) leadership in place, it can pay dividends in the short term, too. It's just risky for obvious reasons.
The following teams recruited well in 2015. More to the point, they recruited for need. Their new class of players, including 2014 recruits who redshirted, fills holes up and down the depth chart.
They need the young guys to step up...and quickly.
Clemson
1 of 5
On Offense
Tackles Mitch Hyatt (OVR 22, OT 2) and Jake Fruhmorgen (OVR 119, OT 8) enrolled for spring camp and will compete for a spot in the rotation. Clemson loses three starters from the offensive line and needs at least one of those guys to develop quickly.
Also slated to play: receiver Deon Cain (OVR 18, WR 2), running back Ray-Ray McCloud (OVR 81, ATH 7) and tight end Garrett Williams (OVR 187, TE 4), all of whose positions feature potential openings.
On Defense
Clemson loses six of its top eight tacklers on the line and needs its young players to make an impact. Chief among the options: defensive tackles Christian Wilkins (OVR 24, DT 6), Albert Huggins (OVR 92, DT 12) and Sterling Johnson (OVR 373, DT 24) and defensive ends Clelin Ferrell (OVR 115, WDE 7) and Austin Bryant (OVR 200, SDE 12).
Elsewhere, Mark Fields (OVR 95, CB 9) and Kaleb Chalmers (OVR 460, CB 46) will compete for spots at cornerback, and redshirt Jefferie Gibson has a chance to start at safety. Head coach Dabo Swinney called Gibson "as physical a guy as we have on the roster" during bowl practice, per Brandon Rink of OrangeAndWhite.com.
Penn State
2 of 5
On Offense
Saquon Barkley (OVR 123, RB 14) will earn playing time next to Akeel Lynch at running back, and Juwan Johnson (OVR 129, WR 13) can make himself a valuable red-zone option. But really, this has more to do with the offensive line than the skill positions.
Specifically, Ryan Bates (OVR 162, OT 12), Sterling Jenkins (OVR 210, OT 17), Steven Gonzalez (OVR 359, OG 24) and redshirts Noah Beh, Brendan Brosnan, Chance Sorrell and Chasz Wright all have a chance to start or play meaningful reps. Opponents bullied Penn State's line last season, so every spot is up for review.
On Defense
Scholarship restrictions have thinned the depth chart, opening the door for a large group of freshmen to see the field.
The primary candidates: defensive ends Kamonte Carter (OVR 239, ATH 14), Ryan Buchholz (OVR 244, SDE 14), Shareef Miller (OVR 515, SDE 28) and Jonathan Holland (OVR 538, WDE 25); defensive backs Garrett Taylor (OVR 125, CB 16), John Reid (126, CB 17) and Daiquan Kelly (OVR 405, ATH 29); and linebackers Manny Bowen (OVR 262, OLB 17), Jake Cooper (OVR 511, ILB 16) and redshirts Koa Farmer and Troy Reeder.
Tennessee
3 of 5
On Offense
Jauan Jennings (OVR 167, DUAL 6), Sheriron Jones (OVR 255, DUAL 7) and Quinten Dormady (OVR 263, PRO 12) will be the Nos. 2-4 quarterbacks behind Joshua Dobbs, although the order has yet to be determined.
Drew Richmond (OVR 55, OT 3) and early enrollee Jack Jones (OVR 128, OT 9) can contribute along the offensive line, and Preston Williams (OVR 48, WR 7) is too good not to play at receiver.
On Defense
Kahlil McKenzie (OVR 6, DT 2), Kyle Phillips (OVR 36, SDE 4) and Shy Tuttle (OVR 53, DT 9) will join the defensive line rotation alongside Derek Barnett, Danny O'Brien and Corey Vereen. McKenzie (354 lbs) and Tuttle (320 lbs) have SEC size—the new SEC speed?—up the middle and will make this defense difficult to run on.
Michael Felder of Bleacher Report and Bud Elliott of SB Nation have each called McKenzie the No. 1 player in the class.
Darrin Kirkland Jr. (OVR 163, ILB 5) enrolled early and will compete to start at inside linebacker, and Quart'e Sapp (OVR 232, OLB 14) will prove useful in coverage. They and redshirt freshman Dillon Bates, a top-100 player in 2014, will factor into the linebacker rotation.
There's also punter Tommy Townsend (OVR 1,816, P 7), a U.S. Army All-American who will likely start next season.
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Texas
4 of 5
On Offense
Texas loses "X" receiver John Harris and "H" receiver Jaxon Shipley. John Burt (OVR 138, WR 14), Ryan Newsome (OVR 225, WR 27), Deandre McNeal (OVR 309, WR 20) and Gilbert Johnson (PREP 8, PREP WR 2) all have a chance to start, and so does tight end Devonaire Clarington (OVR 203, TE 7).
Redshirt Jerrod Heard is the perceived favorite to start at quarterback, redshirt Donald Catalon and Chris Warren (OVR 77, RB 8) will earn touches behind Jonathan Gray at running back and redshirt Elijah Rodriguez, Patrick Vahe (OVR 130, OC 2) and Connor Williams (OVR 419, OT 44) should all crack the two-deep along the line.
On Defense
Malik Jefferson (OVR 10, OLB 1) is a strong favorite to start at weak-side linebacker, and Anthony Wheeler (OVR 73, OLB 7), Cameron Townsend (OVR 267, OLB 19), Cecil Cherry (OVR 423, ILB 13) and redshirt Edwin Freeman can all play the other two positions.
Seniors Duke Thomas and Sheroid Evans have tenuous claims at cornerback, so Holton Hill (OVR 80, CB 7), Kris Boyd (OVR 98, CB 11) and Devante Davis (OVR 310, CB 29) will push for meaningful reps. Same goes for DeShon Elliott (OVR 182, S 10) and redshirt John Bonney at safety.
USC
5 of 5
On Offense
Ronald Jones II (OVR 39, RB 3) is one of the leading candidates to replace Javorius Allen, especially if Tre Madden, who just missed his second full season in three years, struggles with injuries. Tom Luginbill of ESPN.com named Jones the No. 1 instant-impact recruit in the class.
Chuma Edoga (OVR 26, OG 1) joins a crowded offensive line, but he enrolled early and shouldn't take long to crack the lineup.
On Defense
USC returns Adoree' Jackson, Kevon Seymour and Chris Hawkins at cornerback, but that won't stop Iman Marshall (OVR 4, CB 1) from making a difference. Depending on how they develop, it might not stop safety Marvell Tell (OVR 60, S 4) and cornerbacks Ykili Ross (OVR 84, CB 8) and Isaiah Langley (OVR 97, CB 10) from making a difference too.
Linebackers Osa Masina (OVR 35, OLB 3), Porter Gustin (OVR 41, OLB 4), John Houston (OVR 49, OLB 6) and Cameron Smith (OVR 190, ILB 7) will vie to replace J.R. Tavai and Hayes Pullard (and safety Su'a Cravens, who played outside linebacker last season), while Rasheem Green (OVR 23, DT 5) will vie to replace Leonard Williams.
Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings.
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