College Football Freshmen We're Most Intrigued to See in 2025 Spring Games

The 2025 college football recruiting class is done, and there are a lot of kids around the country already in month two of classes and ready to lace things up in the spring.

These days, if you aren't an early enrollee ready to rock through spring practice drills, you're already behind.

Plenty of the best players in this year's class are going to get their chance to impress coaches this spring, and many have the ability and talent to prove they shouldn't be watching from the sideline.

After all, it didn't take long for guys like Jeremiah Smith, Colin Simmons, Ryan Williams, Dylan Stewart, Demond Williams Jr. and others to show they were ready to go, did it?

For many, that journey will begin in less than a month in spring practice. From a handful of elite quarterbacks (including a couple who have legit chances to win starting jobs) to some exciting defenders, this year's spring games will offer an early look at some of the best young guys out there.

Here are some dudes we can't wait to watch showing out in spring games.

Vernell Brown III, Florida Wide Receiver

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There are a lot of reasons to be excited if you're a Florida Gators football fan, and how long has it been since you could say that?

Coach Billy Napier's team ended 2024 on a heater, and it has surrounded promising sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway with some incredible, young talent. While Dallas Wilson was a cherry-on-top receiver who flipped from Oregon, the most talented and ready-to-play pass-catcher may be Gators legacy Vernell Brown III.

Nicknamed "Trey," he may be called "Six" sooner rather than later, because Brown is a threat to make a house call every time he gets his hands on the ball.

The 5'11", 170-pound Orlando native was a 5-star prospect and the No. 30-ranked overall player in the class, along with being the sixth-ranked receiver. He just kept surging up the rankings and proving just how talented he is no matter what stage he was on. The college gridiron is next.

Blessed with lightning-in-a-bottle quickness and elite change-of-direction, Brown is a unique talent who adds an element the Gators haven't had in the receiver room in a long time.

He's already on campus and ready to break out. Florida has some receivers, but Brown brings a different element to the table and could really begin to blossom and show everybody just how good he is right away.

Caleb Cunningham, Ole Miss Wide Receiver

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The Southeastern Conference is full of elite, young pass-catchers, and it's only fitting that the top two freshmen we've listed here are part of that new-look fraternity.

Vernell Brown III will wow everybody with his speed, and Ole Miss first-year receiver Caleb Cunningham is more of the complete package who already looks like a seasoned college target before stepping foot on campus.

The Choctaw County High School product was a massive win for coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels when they flipped him from Alabama and kept him within the Mississippi state borders. He didn't leave home, and he's likely to be rewarded with some serious playing time.

The Rebels went out and got some reinforcements in the transfer portal, but Kiffin lost a lot of weaponry on the perimeter. Cunningham has the size (6'1", 190 pounds) and the clout (No. 32-rated overall player in the nation and a 5-star who was the No. 7 receiver) to make noise right away.

There's no better "stay-at-home" recruiting pitch than to showcase your young, instate talent right away, and Kiffin is known for doing that for guys who prove they can. Just ask Suntarine Perkins, after all.

Cunningham is the complete package at receiver, and he will work his way into the rotation this spring.

Linkon Cure, Kansas State Tight End

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We promise there are lots of players on this list besides guys whose primary role will be to catch the football, but not only is that one of the easiest places for top-level prospects to break in, but there also happen to be a few guys ready to show it.

One of them is in Manhattan, Kansas, where Linkon Cure is ready to take the "Little Apple" by storm.

With offers from basically everywhere in the nation, Cure decided to stay in the Sunflower State and play for coach Chris Klieman at Kansas State. The Wildcats will be the beneficiary of getting one of the top players at his position.

Cure was rated the nation's No. 2-ranked tight end and the 37th-ranked overall player. He is a 6'5", 223-pound weapon who probably needs to add a few pounds to be a sturdy in-line blocker but is already an important part of the passing game.

He spurned Oregon, Alabama and others to build something at K-State.

With talented offensive players like quarterback Avery Johnson and running back Dylan Edwards ready to break out for the Wildcats, Cure will have a lot of good-looking players around him.

He could be one of the most interesting, productive first-year players in the nation, and you can expect if he's ready, Klieman will make him a big part of the offense right away.

Gideon Davidson, Clemson Running Back

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Gideon Davidson is the perfect example of opportunity meets talent meets need, and that is just the perfect occasion for a breakout performance.

There aren't any bones about it: The true freshman Clemson Tigers running back has a legitimate chance to win the starting job this spring. At the very least, he can lock down meaningful carries in what is expected to be an explosive offense.

With quarterback Cade Klubnik back along with a stable of talented receivers in Garrett Riley's system, the passing game isn't an issue at all. But Phil Mafah is gone, and so are any guaranteed rushing yards.

Enter Davidson, a talented running back from Lynchburg, Virginia, who is 5'11", 185 pounds and already looks like a dude who can carry the load. He was among the nation's top 70 players and the third-rated running back.

This is a guy Clemson hand-picked, and he has the patience, vision and explosion to show that coach Dabo Swinney knows what he's talking about. The Tigers have enjoyed some rugged runners recently with guys such as Will Shipley and Mafah, but Davidson has another level.

This spring, he needs to be a man on a mission, because there are carries to be seized, and Davidson could find himself as the primary back sooner rather than later.

Elijah Griffin, Georgia Defensive Tackle

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It's easy to get caught up in the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs couldn't close on elite defensive tackle Justus Terry late in the recruiting cycle (more on that later), but don't lose sight of just what coach Kirby Smart did sign.

The Dawgs put together another phenomenal class loaded with dynamic defensive talent, and there may not be a better, more versatile defensive lineman in the nation than Elijah Griffin.

The 6'5", 300-pound Savannah, Georgia, native decided to stay in his home state when he could have gone anywhere, and that was huge news for Smart. Griffin is the nation's top-rated defensive lineman and third-rated overall player.

He has the strength and agility to collapse the line from the interior, pressuring quarterbacks without having to get off the edge. He has the size to be a force against the run, and he already is a seasoned technique guy.

With UGA's defensive line underperforming last year, Griffin has the opportunity to step right in and help fortify that unit. It's not easy at all to play right away along the defensive front, but he is a special case. He's ready right now.

Antwann Hill, Memphis Quarterback

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How long has it been since the Memphis Tigers had a prospect who deserves your attention from the moment he steps on campus?

Yes, this is a proud mid-major program that has produced some extraordinary players over the years, but those came from mining for lower-ranked talent and developing guys who wound up stars on the college level and onto the NFL.

This year, the Tigers' NIL collective and recruiting acumen landed a legitimate 4-star quarterback in Antwann Hill who has a ton of raw, exciting ability.

Players like the 6'4½", 220-pound Warner Robins, Georgia, native simply don't normally go to schools like the AAC's Memphis Tigers, but Hill signed, and he has the chance to blow folks away right away.

Standing in Hill's way is Nevada transfer Brendon Lewis, who will have the opportunity to replace departed, record-setting quarterback Seth Henigan. But Hill is too talented to shrug away.

Guys like him don't sign with Memphis to watch. If he doesn't get the chance, he may be off to the transfer portal. He will get the chance to prove he's the man this spring, and the bet is that he will.

Ousmane Kromah, Florida State Running Back

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The Florida State Seminoles must pick up the pieces from a forgettable 2024 season, and they know that while they probably will take a step forward this year, they are a long way away from the undefeated regular season in 2023.

Young guys are going to have prime opportunities, and while coach Mike Norvell has enjoyed success recruiting high school ranks and the transfer portal, both of those backfired on him a season ago.

Getting Ousmane Kromah to flip from Georgia on the first day of the early signing period was a gargantuan piece of the puzzle, though.

Even though the 6'0", 205-pound Leesburg, Georgia, native was ranked the 76th-rated overall player and the fourth-ranked running back in the class, the belief here is that he's the best.

This is a high-character kid who is a winner and an absolute "Dawg" with the ball in his hands, even if he isn't playing for Georgia. He runs with violence and sometimes simply refuses to be brought down.

Kam Davis will get plenty of carries for the 'Noles this year, but Kromah is a next-level runner who will steal the show.

Husan Longstreet, USC Quarterback

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It wasn't long ago during the 2024 football season that Husan Longstreet was committed to Texas A&M and Julian Lewis was heading to USC. Oh, how quickly things change in recruiting.

Lewis decommitted from the Trojans and ultimately signed with coach Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes. Then, Longstreet flipped from the Aggies to stay closer to his Corona, California, home and play for coach Lincoln Riley.

I'm not sure the Trojans didn't wind up with the better quarterback.

Longstreet is a 6'1½", 195-pound signal-caller who is ultra-athletic and has a big-time arm. He may not be the most polished QB in the class, but he has a lot of raw, moldable ability that could translate into exciting play-making ability sooner rather than later.

A year ago, USC was Miller Moss' team for most of the year, and then Jayden Maiava took over the job and, for the most part, did a good job. But it's not like he's a superstar who has the position locked down.

Longstreet has the "it" factor and a cannon for an arm, and while USC certainly feels a sense of urgency to perform better in Year 2 in the Big Ten, Riley has to focus on rebuilding this thing for the long haul.

There may not be a better centerpiece than Longstreet, who wound up the No. 25-ranked overall player and fourth-rated quarterback in the class.

Dakorien Moore, Oregon Wide Receiver

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We've said it several times over the course of the past few months, but even though nobody can be Jeremiah Smith v.2.0, Dakorien Moore has the sheer athletic ability to come close to that sort of Year 1 production.

With most of the attention on Evan Stewart next year in Eugene, don't sleep on a big year from the nation's top-ranked pass-catcher in his first season with the Ducks.

In high school, the nation's fourth-rated overall player caught passes from Alabama signee Keelon Russell at Duncanville (Texas) High School. In all-star games, he grabbed throws from Husan Longstreet.

No matter where he was or who was slinging, Moore turned heads.

With Dante Moore entering the fray as Oregon's quarterback, he's going to need some playmakers around him, and the 5'11", 182-pound Moore's picture could be next to that word in the dictionary.

Should we expect a 1,000-yard season? That's a tall ask for any true freshman, but what would be a terrific step forward this spring is if Moore goes onto a roster that was ranked No. 1 for much of the 2024 season and demands reps right away.

The more he gets on the field, the more he is going to show everybody he is simply undeniable.

Keelon Russell, Alabama Quarterback

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There's no bigger pressure cooker in all of college football than Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Coach Nick Saban spoiled that fanbase into believing the team should be competing for national championships every year.

After all, some of those fans are old enough to remember when Bear Bryant did, and then Saban just retired from the most prolific college coaching career ever.

What did Kalen DeBoer step into?

The answer is a seat that's hot before he even got there, and after a four-loss first season, Year 2 is vital. One thing's for certain: DeBoer has recruited his tail off, and one of the juiciest fruits of that labor is 5-star quarterback Keelon Russell.

The 6'3", 175-pound former Duncanville High School standout was a winner and a mass-producer in high school, and he has elite athletic ability and can make all the throws.

Russell finished the cycle as the No. 2 overall recruit, and he easily could be No. 1 overall. He's the most college-ready signal-caller, and all that stands in the way of him starting for the Crimson Tide is Ty Simpson, another former top prospect, but one who hasn't sniffed a starting job yet.

Don't sleep on Russell winning this job. He has what it takes not only to start but to star in Title Town.

Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, California Quarterback

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Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele's heart was always in Berkeley with the Bears. Will it stay there through a full-fledged quarterback battle?

That's what likely will be waged this spring for California coach Justin Wilcox's team.

The question is if Sagapolutele will realize that no matter what happens, he's the long-term answer and a future star for a program needing it.

He was all set to go to Cal but then flipped to Oregon in an 11th-hour recruiting win for coach Dan Lanning. After he got to Eugene and it became evident he wasn't going to beat out Dante Moore for the gig, he decided to enter the portal and head back to where he'd originally wanted to go.

Then the Bears got a transfer portal commitment from Ohio State backup quarterback Devin Brown, who isn't coming to Berkeley to hold a clipboard.

He's got his work cut out for him to beat out Sagapolutele, a southpaw from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, who is big and has an elite NFL arm already. He can make all the throws, and when the college game slows down for him, he will be special.

The only question is whether the kid needs seasoning. If he steps on campus ready to star this spring, Brown will be a backup once again.

Devin Sanchez, Ohio State Cornerback

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You can bet the Ohio State Buckeyes are always going to have a load of talent no matter what position you're talking about.

The same can be said for cornerback, but the national champions are losing Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom, meaning there are flashing vacancy signs alongside Davison Igbinosun.

That's an ideal scenario for incoming true freshman Devin Sanchez, yet another major recruiting victory for the Buckeyes in the Lone Star State.

The 6'2", 180-pound Houston native is maybe the most polished cornerback prospect in either of the past two classes, and he could be special. Blessed with size, speed, long arms and coveted closing speed, he is the full package.

Without question, this is a kid who has NFL ability written all over him, and he played for a quality high school prospect, is the son of athletes and looks like a polished product ready to step onto the field and star.

Sanchez is about as close to a can't-miss defensive back as you'll see in college football. We will all get a chance to see what he can do this spring, and while covering Jeremiah Smith may prove to be a wakeup call, he is game.

He may wind up being this year's version of Smith on the other side of the ball.

Justus Terry, Texas Defensive Tackle

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Without a doubt, the most high-profile early signing period decision-day announcement was Justus Terry taking Texas' big-time NIL deal and heading to the Longhorns.

The Georgia native seemed destined to join friend Elijah Griffin with the Bulldogs. If not, then surely Auburn's late surge would have closed the deal. But instead, coach Steve Sarkisian quietly recruited him with a vengeance, he liked what he saw with the College Football Playoff participants and got a big deal.

Now, Terry is set to star in Austin.

The 6'5", 290-pound Manchester, Georgia, native is the nation's No. 12-ranked overall player and the second-rated defensive tackle in the nation. He is an explosive lineman with more upside than any player at his position in the nation.

The past two years, Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has taken a true freshman defender and turned him into a megastar who everybody knew by the end of his first season. In 2023, it was Anthony Hill Jr., and Colin Simmons was the man who stole the show this past season.

In the 2025 class, there are a few options like Terry and hard-hitting safety Jonah Williams, who easily could have made their way onto this slide, too. Choose one of those guys (or both). They're going to be starring soon.

Bryce Underwood, Michigan Quarterback

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By now, you must be wondering if Bryce Underwood is going to be a focal point of every recruiting article you see from the 2025 class. The short answer is likely, "Well, yeah."

Why? Well, it's not everyday the nation's top-ranked player stays instate to be the face of a proud program one year removed from a national championship with every opportunity to step in and start as a true freshman at the toughest, most important position on the field.

But the Belleville, Michigan, native is on campus in Ann Arbor and ready to battle to be the starting quarterback for coach Sherrone Moore in 2025.

You don't back up the Brinks truck to keep the superstar at home so he can throw up signals standing by the offensive coordinator on the sideline.

So, the biggest question everybody wants answered this spring—probably the biggest storyline in all of college football—is: Is Underwood ready to carry the Wolverines on their trip back to the national spotlight?

This is a kid with all the talent in the world but, like Arch Manning, he wasn't real big on the high school camp circuit. He's betting on his ability to come in and show everybody just how special he is.

We all want to see it, and we may get glimpses this spring.