Ranking the Top 25 Freshmen Heading into the 2015 College Football Season

Another grassroots movement wants to make freshmen ineligible in college football and basketball, though it's unlikely to get much traction considering how impactful freshmen have become in these sports.

This list could be used as Exhibit A.

College football coaches are no longer worried about throwing first-year players into the fire and giving them immediate playing time, not if the prospects are ready to handle the burden and have the skills needed to help the team. The days of redshirting almost every freshman are long gone, though some standout players from the 2014 recruiting class didn't see the field last season for various reasons.

Here's our look at the top 25 freshmen heading into the 2015 season, factoring in their chance to start and make an instant impact. Becoming Heisman-worthy is entirely optional. Check it out and then give us your thoughts in the comments section.

25. Josh Sweat, Florida State

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Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'5", 226 lbs

A major knee injury in September might have ended his final prep season early and dropped his ranking with recruiting services, but Josh Sweat remains one of the best prospects in the country. He planned all along to enroll early in college, but instead of using the spring to ensure himself playing time at Florida State, it's now more of an opportunity for him to back up to 100 percent.

By the fall, though, expect the former No. 1 overall prospect—who ended up ninth—to be in the mix to get major playing time for the Seminoles. Three starters from the defensive line have moved on, including both ends, so look for Sweat to get his shot this season.

24. Will Grier, Florida

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Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 6'2", 197 lbs

Even as Florida's offense struggled to move the ball last year under the guidance of Jeff Driskel and Treon Harris, coach Will Muschamp held off on burning Will Grier's redshirt in hopes to have the highly regarded quarterback prospect available for a long future.

Muschamp will never get to see how Grier pans out in person, as he's no longer with the program and instead coaching defense at Auburn. But chances are he'll get a chance to see Grier's highlights from games this season, as the pro-style passer looks to be Florida's best bet to start in the fall.

Grier couldn't beat out Harris for the backup spot last season, but new coach Jim McElwain provides a fresh start. Grier has many of the same skills that McElwain cultivated so well from Garrett Grayson at Colorado State.

23. Damian Prince, Maryland

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Position: Offensive lineman

Height, weight: 6'3", 325 lbs

Depth on the offensive line allowed the Terrapins to redshirt Damian Prince—Maryland's overwhelming No. 1 signee in 2014—last season and get him better prepared for the rigors of blocking in the Big Ten. That decision appears to have paid off, since Prince has spent plenty of time this spring working as the starting right tackle.

Recruited as a guard but able to play anywhere on the line but center, Prince will be part of a group of Terps filling three starting spots up front. Maryland was 111th nationally in rushing offense last season, but with Prince up front, that ranking should improve dramatically.

22. Blake Barnett, Alabama

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Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 6'5", 200 lbs

Alabama coach Nick Saban has never played a true freshman at quarterback during his tenure in Tuscaloosa, but Blake Barnett figures to change that. Locked in a battle with senior Jake Coker and a handful of other passers to be the Crimson Tide's starter in 2015, Barnett is unlike any other player Saban has had at the position.

Plucked out of California as an early enrollee, Barnett has been getting valuable reps this spring as Alabama's quarterback competition gets ramped up. Coker might end up getting the job, but Barnett is probably too good to just write off as a redshirt if he continues to show progress.

"The depth chart is something I'm not completely worried about right now," Barnett told Bleacher Report's Marc Torrence before spring ball began. "I want to improve myself and my game as much as I can."

21. Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'4", 293 lbs

Missouri's reputation for developing top-tier defensive linemen, including many who are either standouts in the NFL or primed to be drafted in a few weeks, was a key influence in Terry Beckner Jr. choosing to stay close to his East St. Louis home for college. But while the Tigers system has made past linemen into stars, Beckner might already be at that level.

"Beckner's athletic gifts are obvious," wrote David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune. "He's got a body that's already fit for the weekly grind of the Southeastern Conference and...shows an ability to shed blocks that is beyond his years."

Morrison noted that Beckner made 117 tackles during his senior year of high school, which bodes well for his ability to replace departed Missouri linemen who combined for nearly 60 tackles for loss in 2014.

20. CeCe Jefferson, Florida

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'2", 275 lbs

While his decision to sign with Florida but wait a bit before turning in his letter led to some late drama and stress for new coach Jim McElwain, now that CeCe Jefferson is on board, he's set to be a key piece of McElwain's first team in Gainesville.

Jefferson's game is the real deal, as he showed in high school when he dominated opposing offensive lines and continued that strong play in all-star games and at recruiting showcases. Florida has an immediate opening with Dante Fowler Jr. turning pro, and though other blue-chippers are on the roster who are capable of filling that spot, they'll need to contend with Jefferson for playing time.

19. Christian Wilkins, Clemson

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Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'4", 290 lbs

One of the fastest risers on the recruiting circuit during the final months of the 2015 cycle, Christian Wilkins had a masterful performance in the Under Armour All-America Game that saw him record a sack on defense and also block an extra point, which he returned for a score.

Not long after, Wilkins committed to Clemson and now figures into the immediate plans for the Tigers as they look to replace their entire starting defensive line from a year ago.

Wilkins is a little thinner than most defensive tackles, but he's still strong and adds an element of speed that most interior linemen don't possess.

18. Solomon Thomas, Stanford

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Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'3", 256 lbs

A veteran-laden defensive line made it possible for Stanford to redshirt Solomon Thomas last season, and that extra time to let him develop should pay off with a breakout performance from the former 5-star prospect who was rated as the second-best strong-side defensive end in the 2014 class.

The Cardinal have managed to weather major losses to the defense each of the past few years without experiencing a drop-off in production. Thomas should keep that streak alive thanks to some added bulk that has made him even stronger, per David Lombardi of ESPN.com.

17. Byron Cowart, Auburn

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'4", 250 lbs

Auburn's defensive struggles began and ended with its line play last season, as that group failed to get much pressure on quarterbacks, and the Tigers only registered 21 sacks in 13 games. Byron Cowart is expected to provide a major boost to that production, as his skills are those of a linebacker wrapped up in a defensive end's body.

Cowart opted for Auburn over Florida so he could play for former Gators coach (and now Tigers defensive coordinator) Will Muschamp, and as the crown jewel of the Tigers' recruiting class, he will get his chance to be a major player as soon as he arrives this summer.

Along with end Carl Lawson, who missed last season after tearing his ACL, Auburn will have a much-improved pass rush off the edge.

16. Trent Thompson, Georgia

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'2", 313 lbs

As the No. 1 overall prospect from the 2015 recruiting class, per 247Sports, Trent Thompson has the potential to be one of the best players in college by the time his career at Georgia is over. But he doesn't seem like the kind of prospect who will want to wait to make his impact, and with the Bulldogs needing to fill a starting spot at defensive tackle, it could be his position for the taking.

"His exciting blend of strength, explosiveness and acceleration should earn him major playing time for Georgia from the first time he steps on campus," wrote Justin Ferguson of the Sporting News.

Not showing up until the summer might be the only thing holding Thompson back from being a major contributor right from the start of this upcoming season.

15. Marlon Humphrey, Alabama

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Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 6'1", 192 lbs

One of the fastest players in the game, Marlon Humphrey was able to work on technique as a redshirt last season since Alabama had plenty of capable cornerbacks to turn to. While he didn't get a chance to wear a Crimson Tide uniform in football, he did don the school's track attire as a member of the record-setting 4x400-meter relay team.

Now ready to race around on defense for the Tide, Humphrey has been tabbed by Bleacher Report SEC expert Barrett Sallee as a player who's ready to "explode onto the scene in 2015."

"He's got tremendous recovery and ball skills, is good in coverage and has everything it takes to be a star—including the speed of a track star," Sallee wrote. 

14. Dillon Bates, Tennessee

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Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'3", 230 lbs

Dillon Bates was on the fast track to being a star last year when a season-ending injury knocked him out. He had made six tackles in Tennessee's first four games, one of the many freshmen to contribute in 2014, before tearing his labrum and getting shut down.

Bates was redshirted to save his eligibility, and after spending last year as a backup to weak-side linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, he looks like a candidate to potentially start in the middle, assuming he can keep packing on the pounds and getting stronger.

Bates was in the 220s last year, and coach Butch Jones is hoping he can get to 240 before this season, per Christopher Smith of Saturday Down South.

13. Christian Kirk, Texas A&M

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Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 5'11", 200 lbs

It might seem like the last thing Texas A&M needs is more wide receivers, as it returns five players who caught at least 29 passes last season. But Christian Kirk didn't enroll early just to go to the back of the line at that position, and he's already made his mark during spring ball to show he'll be part of the mix when the 2015 season begins.

Workouts in March saw Kirk working as both a slot receiver and a return man, per Jeff Tarpley of 247Sports.

Kirk was the top recruit from the state of Arizona, and he has an existing relationship with A&M quarterback Kyle Allen (the two were on rival teams in Scottsdale), which should benefit Kirk as he continues to work toward playing time.

12. Martez Ivey, Florida

Position: Offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'5", 275 lbs

Florida is severely lacking for offensive linemen after losing nearly its entire starting line from 2014. This spring the Gators have been operating with only eight scholarship blockers up front, and three of those are freshmen who redshirted last year.

Martez Ivey is among a crop of linemen who will show up in the summer, and his reputation for dominating up front could land him a starting spot right out of the gate. He was highly coveted on the recruiting circuit, with Florida and Auburn battling hard to land the nation's top-rated offensive tackle.

Though he'll need to add more bulk to be truly at college size, his present skills make him capable of holding his own.

11. Jeff Jones, Minnesota

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Position: Running back

Height, weight: 6'0", 207 lbs

Minnesota had the luxury of holding Jeff Jones out of action last season, since senior David Cobb was coming off a 1,200-yard season and ended up rushing for more than 1,600 yards. But now that he's graduated, it's Jones' chance to be the focal point of the Golden Gophers offense, something the former 4-star recruit seems more than capable of being.

A Minneapolis native, Jones was MVP of the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game, amassing 72 all-purpose yards with a receiving touchdown. With Minnesota also losing its overwhelming No. 1 receiving target in tight end Maxx Williams, Jones' ability to catch passes out of the backfield will be a valuable asset.

He scored 92 touchdowns in his high school career, rushing for more than 4,600 yards.

10. Daylon Mack, Texas A&M

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Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'1", 330 lbs

While Texas A&M's defense still remains its weakness, the play last season of freshman defensive end Myles Garrett showed there's hope for the future. Now throw in Daylon Mack in the middle of that line, and suddenly the Aggies defense could become a strength.

With the kind of speed and agility normally reserved for a linebacker—just ask the quarterbacks and running backs he mauled during the Under Armour All-American Game, when he was repeatedly blowing up plays in the backfield—Mack figures to get thrown right into the mix when he shows up in College Station this summer.

Mack has been showing off his immense power while getting ready to head to A&M, reportedly pushing a three-ton truck nearly a half-mile just for funsies, according to 247Sports.

9. Calvin Ridley, Alabama

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'0", 170 lbs

What was basically a one-man job last season is going to get divvied up among several this fall for Alabama, as none of the wide receivers the Crimson Tide have on the roster figures to be able to come close to matching the production that Heisman finalist Amari Cooper had in 2014. One who could come close to reaching that potential sooner than others is Calvin Ridley, the nation's top-rated wideout from the 2015 class.

While Chris Black, Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart are looking to be Alabama's starters during spring ball, when Ridley arrives in the summer, that could change.

Ridley will be hard-pressed to match what Cooper did as a freshman in 2012 or what Julio Jones put up in his first season in 2008, but he'll still get his chances.

8. Kahlil McKenzie, Tennessee

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Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6'3", 354 lbs

Tennessee is no stranger to playing freshmen, as coach Butch Jones sent roughly two dozen first-year players out onto the field last season. Another wave of newcomers are expected to have a role with the Volunteers this fall—none more so than Kahlil McKenzie.

A massive space-eater who will perfectly complement standout defensive end Derek Barnett, McKenzie moves much faster than what you'd expect for a player of his size. The son of former Tennessee linebacker Reggie McKenzie, Kahlil didn't play his senior year of high school after being declared ineligible following a transfer.

He continued to work out and hone his skills, though, something he showed off in spades during the Army All-American Bowl as well as the practice sessions leading up to that all-star game.

7. Canton Kaumatule, Oregon

Position: Defensive end

Height, weight: 6'7", 290 lbs

Oregon's run of having impact players from Hawaii continues, as the Marcus Mariota era has ended, but the days of Canton Kaumatule dominating along the defensive line are just beginning.

Kaumatule played both defensive end and offensive tackle in high school, and while he could end up playing on the offensive line with the Ducks, for now his best fit is on the edge, filling the spot left open when Arik Armstead turned pro.

With his long frame that can still put on more bulk, Kaumatule has the potential to be what gigantic Shawn Oakman has been to Baylor's defensive line.

6. Malik Jefferson, Texas

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6'2", 222 lbs

Texas coach Charlie Strong has already changed the culture of the Longhorns program with his no-excuses style and demand for 100 percent commitment and dedication. The players he's recruited must fit this approach, and Malik Jefferson has the makeup of a guy who could be the new face of Texas football.

An early enrollee, Jefferson has a chance to break into the lineup this fall—the Longhorns graduated two starting linebackers—but even as a reserve he'll bring a fire to the field that matches his coach's demeanor. A chiseled block of granite already, Jefferson will only get stronger with access to collegiate workout facilities and trainers.

5. Derwin James, Florida State

Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'2", 212 lbs

Florida State's most visible hole that must be filled this season might be at quarterback, but where the Seminoles are most in need of reinforcements is in the secondary. They don't need as much as originally thought, though, since Derwin James has already shown in spring ball he has the potential to be a contributor this season.

With FSU looking to move Jalen Ramsey over to cornerback to shore up that position, James could find himself in the rotation at either free or strong safety. The latter seems likelier, since he's laid out some teammates during practice already.

"He seemingly brings a mean streak to the field, something FSU's defense lacked last year," wrote Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel. "Teammates have told James to calm down at times in practice because he's always looking for the big hit."

4. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

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Position: Safety

Height, weight: 6'1", 205 lbs

Jabrill Peppers was high on our list of top freshmen in 2014 as well, hyped as a potential two-way player for Michigan as both a defensive back and skill-position player, but that never came to fruition. Multiple lower-body injuries limited him to participating in just three of the Wolverines' first four games, after which he was shut down.

The NCAA granted Peppers a medical redshirt in February to retain his full eligibility, and since then he's also made a switch from cornerback to safety. The move has worked well so far, as Peppers has had a productive spring and appears ready to make an impact.

"He's everything you ask for," secondary coach Greg Jackson told the Detroit Free Press. "It's like he doesn't even play like a freshman. He's experienced out there. And the funny thing is, everyone looks up to him when he's out there."

3. Iman Marshall, USC

Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 6'1", 190 lbs

Even before announcing his commitment to USC on signing day via music video—in collaboration with Bleacher Report—Iman Marshall had the look of a star. The fact he'll be doing it close to Hollywood, and in his own backyard, just adds to the script.

Marshall was the top-ranked cornerback in the 2015 recruiting class, and last season at Long Beach Poly he broke up 16 passes thrown his way. This will make him a valuable asset in the throw-heavy Pac-12, and he could find himself as the person to step in for Adoree' Jackson when that two-way star spends more time on offense this season.

2. Josh Rosen, UCLA

Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 6'4", 205 lbs

Brett Hundley had to sit out a year before getting the keys to UCLA's offense, but Josh Rosen might not have to wait that long. Though the Bruins just began spring practice this week, all signs point to the 5-star quarterback winning the job before the 2015 season begins.

"If UCLA QB competition was to be decided solely on highest ceiling, Rosen would have won the job today," Dan Greenspan of The Associated Press tweeted Tuesday.

Rosen has plenty of experience playing in front of sizable crowds and with massive media attention, as his California high school (St. John Bosco) was regularly ranked among the top teams in the nation and frequently played on television. Combine that with a strong arm and a great awareness on the field, and it will take a lot to keep him off the field this season.

1. Kevin Toliver II, LSU

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Position: Cornerback

Height, weight: 6'2", 185 lbs

No player on this list has been a part of his team's future plans longer than Kevin Toliver, who committed to LSU in November 2012 and stuck with that pledge for more than two years. It's no surprise, then, that he signed and enrolled early, and in doing so he's given himself a strong chance to be one of the Tigers' starting cornerbacks in September.

Even if Toliver had waited until the summer, he might have been able to leapfrog everyone else in camp as one of the top-rated defensive backs in the 2015 class.

"The fact that he specializes in lining up on the outside and jamming bigger receivers at the line of scrimmage makes him a perfect fit for what the Tigers have preferred to do at that position in recent years," Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani wrote.

Toliver has looked great in spring practice, hauling in an interception during one scrimmage and outplaying others who are contending to replace NFL early entrant Jalen Collins.

All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.