The 10 Most Impressive Freshmen Performances in Spring Games so Far
Experience matters? Tell that to the standout freshmen in college football.
Spring games are a good way to get a snapshot into where things stand with a team. It doesn't tell the whole story of what has happened so far and won't necessarily determine the final depth chart. However, it can show which freshmen are on their way to being impact players.
There can be a variety of reasons a freshman plays well (or a lot) during a spring game. Injuries can play a role, but sometimes, young players are simply ready for the challenge. However it works out, here are 10 freshmen who impressed in their spring game performances.
This list includes early enrollee freshmen and redshirt freshmen. The only thing that really matters is that they played in the spring game, and they maintain that classification. How that player stood out during regular spring practices was taken into consideration, as well.
Florida State Seminoles Wide Receiver George Campbell
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The Florida State Seminoles early enrollee freshmen were the stars of their spring game earlier this month. Of the handful that saw playing time, wide receiver George Campbell was one of the most impressive.
Campbell caught two passes for 99 yards, one of which was a 65-yard touchdown in which he evaded what looked to be a sure tackle and sprinted down the sideline for the score. Granted, Campbell scored against backups, but there's no denying his raw physical ability.
“From the first day of spring to now, it is like night and day,” quarterback Sean Maguire said of Campbell on FSU's website. “He was always a raw athlete and great, but he just got so much better throughout spring.”
With so many new faces at wide receiver—sophomore Travis Rudolph is the best option for 2015—Campbell should see significant playing time this fall. He's still growing as a polished receiver, but there's no denying he's a playmaker.
Texas Longhorns Linebacker Malik Jefferson
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With the loss of so many defensive stars from last year's team, the Texas Longhorns will need some immediate help. At least one player, early enrollee Malik Jefferson, looks like he's willing to oblige.
The freshman recorded five tackles, one of which went for a loss, had a pass break-up and forced a fumble during the Longhorns' spring game, according to Max Olson of ESPN.com. Jefferson was pretty much everywhere.
"Jefferson packed a punch and sniffed out some plays most freshmen wouldn't," wrote Bobby Burton of 247Sports.
Obviously, Jefferson has good instincts, and that's giving him a head start. He has still only been a college player for a few months, though. Consistency is going to be an issue because he's still learning concepts. But man, oh man, is he going to be a stud.
Auburn Tigers Wide Receiver Myron Burton
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Duke Williams may be the Auburn Tigers' leading returning receiver, but it doesn't look like he'll be the only target. Redshirt freshman Myron Burton stole the show during Auburn's A-Day game this month.
Burton led all receivers with seven catches for 124 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
"That was all spring. We all knew Myron could make plays the way he did," Johnson said of Burton on Auburn's website. "He's explosive, he's fast, he can make plays, he can make the unbelievable catches, so it really wasn't a surprise to us."
Despite losing quarterback Nick Marshall, running back Cameron Artis-Payne and receiver Sammie Coates, the Tigers offense looks like it will remain as explosive as ever.
Florida State Seminoles Defensive Back Derwin James
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If Campbell was the freshman MVP for Florida State on offense, Derwin James was the freshman MVP for the Seminoles on defense.
The defensive back has been generating buzz since stepping on campus in January, and he didn't disappoint in the Seminoles' spring game. On one of the first plays from the scrimmage, James picked off projected starting quarterback Maguire and took the turnover 41 yards for a touchdown.
James worked his way into the starting 22 in the spring game because of injuries, as Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat noted, but has been impressing as a backup, as well:
"James — who as working with the second-team defense for the majority of spring with the exception of playing with the first team in FSU's dime package — brings speed, versatility and range to the back end of FSU's defense evident by his pick-six interception on the second play of the game.
At 6-2, 212 pounds, James is already more filled out than [Nate] Andrews (5-11, 204), [Lamarcus] Brutus (6-0, 208) and [Tyler] Hunter (5-11, 204). But he'll have to depend on the maturity and experience from the older players as he continues to cement his role in FSU's defense.
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Injuries were an issue for Florida State this spring. Assuming everyone's healthy by Week 1, James could technically be on the second team. Either way, he's going to see the field this year.
TCU Horned Frogs Linebacker Mike Freeze
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TCU Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson has developed a reputation for recruiting under-the-radar athletes, molding them and getting the absolute most out of them.
It looks like Patterson's next great success story is linebacker Mike Freeze. A 3-star athlete, Freeze had offers from TCU and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He committed to the Frogs almost a year ago and missed his senior season of high school with a shoulder injury.
TCU's spring game wasn't much of a game, at all, and that's how Patterson likes it. It's about as low-key and non-official as it gets. However, Freeze has impressed Patterson throughout the spring, as noted by Ryan Gerbosi of the Dallas Morning News:
"Freeze, a three-star recruit out of Graham, has never played the position before arriving at TCU as an early enrollee, Gary Patterson told reporters earlier this month.
“Mike Freeze does some things naturally that you can’t teach,” Patterson said. “And he was a safety in high school, never has played linebacker, so every day is a new day for him.”
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Coming out of TCU's spring scrimmage, Freeze was named the starting middle linebacker. It doesn't mean Freeze will start in Week 1 against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, but it does show how highly Patterson thinks of him.
Florida Gators Tight End C'yontai Lewis
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Tight end hasn't been a key position for the Florida Gators over the past couple of years—not since Jordan Reed in 2011-12 have the Gators had a go-to player at the position.
That could change in 2015, thanks to redshirt freshman C'yontai Lewis. Lewis has been building up hype during the spring and recorded four receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Gators' spring game. Thomas Goldkamp of 247Sports explains what makes Lewis an ideal target in head coach Jim McElwain's offense:
"Lewis is a smooth, fluid athlete with good hands and the willingness to block, even if he doesn't always know exactly where he's supposed to be yet.
Florida will use the tight end position heavily in 2015, which means even if he's not in a starting role Lewis will get plenty of opportunities to break out in the fall.
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2015 is going to be a learning experience for a lot of Florida players because of new schemes and inexperience. However, it sounds like McElwain is OK with letting a pure athlete like Lewis get out on the field and grow. There will be mistakes, but that'll be part of the process.
Michigan Wolverines Defensive Back Jabrill Peppers
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Michigan Wolverines defensive back Jabrill Peppers actually played in three games last season, making one start. However, a leg injury cut that season short, and Peppers was able to receive a redshirt.
So, as a redshirt freshman, Peppers is starting over, both at a new position (safety) and under a new coach (Jim Harbaugh). And the results have been good enough to produce all sorts of optimism.
Peppers was all over the place in the Wolverines' spring game with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up. Michigan's coaches, including defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, have raved about Peppers' natural leadership ability and versatility. According to Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com, Durkin said:
"He can communicate on the field and communication for our defense is critical. We need guys talking and we need guys who can get others lined up, especially with the way we play. Especially at safety and the inside linebacker position. We've put him in several different spots, but he's vocal wherever he's at.
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Peppers' disappointing true freshman campaign has taken a backseat to what lies ahead. No matter Michigan's record in 2015, Peppers is going to be a dominant playmaker, if he can stay healthy.
USC Trojans Linebacker Cameron Smith
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The primary concern for the USC Trojans' playoff hopes in 2015 revolves around the defensive front seven. Specifically, can that new-look group get healthy and up to speed quickly enough?
Early enrollee linebacker Cameron Smith is slowly but surely easing some of those concerns. Smith was one of five players to record a game-high five tackles in the Trojans' spring game. However, he has been impressing head coach Steve Sarkisian all spring.
Earlier this month, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reported Smith had been given the No. 35 jersey, a number that has significant meaning within the program:
"The number was worn by standout linebackers such as Riki Ellison, who played at USC as Riki Gray from 1978 to 1982, and also by 1990 All-American Scott Ross and Jeff Kopp, who played in the early 90s.
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For a freshman to receive that kind of recognition says a lot about how he's viewed within the program.
"I sat Cameron down and explained to him that when I was growing up, the No. 35 meant a lot here," Sarkisian told Garry Paskwietz of ESPN.com. "I kind of like that we were able to put him in that number. For him to be in it, and playing well, is good for the tradition of the number."
Nebraska Cornhuskers Quarterback Zack Darlington
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Of all the players on this list, Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Zack Darlington may have the least likely chance of starting in 2015. Really, that's just the nature of the quarterback position. Tommy Armstrong Jr. has started plenty of games. While he hasn't always been the most consistent quarterback, his experience does count for something.
That doesn't mean Darlington didn't raise some eyebrows in the Cornhuskers' spring game, however. The redshirt freshman went 7-of-11 passing and had a touchdown.
Initially buried on the depth chart, Darlington has made strides that have caught the attention of head coach Mike Riley, according to Rich Kaipust of the Omaha World-Herald:
"Coach Mike Riley took notice Saturday, saying he liked how Darlington started seeing things and playing with confidence as his snaps mounted in the spring game. Riley said he liked Darlington’s quick release and athleticism, which blend well with the intangibles that come from being the son of a high school coach.
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Could Darlington move up another spot or two between now and Week 1 of the season? It's definitely possible. One game does not define an offseason, but Darlington certainly showed he has determination.
Ohio State Buckeyes Linebacker Nick Conner
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Was the Ohio State Buckeyes' next great linebacker on display in the spring game Saturday? Certainly, early enrollee freshman Nick Conner's teammates were raving about him.
"I call him Water Boy," linebacker Joshua Perry said (via Bill Landis of Cleveland.com), referencing the Adam Sandler movie, "The Waterboy." Landis explains:
"Not because Conner, an early-enrolled freshman from Dublin Scioto, is a jittery aquaphile like the character played by Sandler. It's because Conner has the same look -- mostly the bulging neck brace that sticks out of his jersey -- and plays with the same kind of reckless abandon.
"He finds a way to get to the ball," Perry said. "That's what you want in a linebacker. His fundamentals aren't quite there, he doesn't know what he's doing all the time but he finishes on the ball."
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Conner led all defensive players with seven tackles, plus recorded an interception and a forced fumble. While the Buckeyes are pretty much set at linebacker, Conner's spring performance shows he could see some playing time as a freshman in 2015.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited, unless obtained firsthand. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
