College Football Redshirt Freshmen to Watch in 2015 Fall Camp
One of the best aspects of fall camp for fans of college football and the media members who cover the sport is the early chance to see possible instant-impact freshmen.
In today's 24/7/365 cycle of recruiting, newcomers are turned into campus celebrities before they even play a single snap in college. People clamor to see the next big thing for a program.
A group of freshmen that is sometimes overlooked during fall practices is the one that consists of those who received a redshirt in the previous year. The strong buzz surrounding their signings has been replaced by the most recent class, and they normally don't receive as much hype as the players who are fresh out of high school.
But redshirt freshmen are still major playmakers for programs year in and year out. Thanks to a year in the weight room and the new playbook, these players can be valuable first-year starters in key areas for major programs.
Here are 15 redshirt freshmen fans need to keep their eyes on during fall camps. Some have positioned themselves to become starters in their second year on the team, while others will be embroiled in huge position battles in the final weeks leading up to the season.
Alabama CB Marlon Humphrey
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 12 | CB Ranking: 3
Alabama has a few redshirt freshmen who fit this list—quarterback David Cornwell may win the big battle for the starting job in Tuscaloosa this fall—but Marlon Humphrey is a talented redshirt freshman of special importance for the Tide.
The son of a former two-time All-American running back at Alabama, Humphrey sat out last season in football but has already made a huge impact on the school's track team. After a redshirt campaign, the former 5-star recruit is expected to nail down a key spot in a pass defense that finished 11th in the SEC last season.
"Since nickel packages have evolved into more of the base defense in college football, that means there's even more of a chance for Humphrey to earn playing time and become a star," Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote. "Humphrey has the talent, is at a school that needs help and has the opportunity to shine thanks to a new position coach."
Auburn DT Dontavius Russell
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 153 | DT Ranking: 12
With six veteran defensive tackles leaving Auburn this offseason, the Tigers have to completely revamp the heart of a line that struggled at times in 2014. Georgia native Dontavius Russell has emerged this offseason as a potential starter thanks to his work ethic and top-of-the-line technique.
"The coaches were so impressed with [Russell] last fall that there was talk of removing his redshirt, but because of the depth, they stuck with it," Greg Ostendorf of ESPN.com wrote. "This spring, with playing time at stake, the redshirt freshman amped up his game even more, and his coaches and teammates took notice."
Russell lined up as the first-team nose tackle when Auburn opened fall camp Tuesday, according to Ryan Black of 247Sports. Look for him to nail down a starting job over the next few weeks and show Auburn fans what the coaches have been seeing for several months.
Florida QB Will Grier
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 48 | QB-PRO Ranking: 2
While fellow freshman Treon Harris filled in for Jeff Driskel at the end of the disastrous Will Muschamp tenure in Gainesville, Will Grier was on the bench. Now, with a new coaching staff in charge, Grier is in a quarterback battle with Harris that will continue well into fall camp.
According to Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel, Grier has put on considerable weight and muscle since arriving at Florida, going from 172 pounds to now 215 pounds. He doesn't bring the athleticism like Harris, but Grier's skill set falls more in line with the pro-style offense new head coach Jim McElwain uses.
"I lead by example," Grier said, per Thompson. "I think you raise the level of play of the guys around you by limiting your mistakes, which is something that I'm big on, and fixing the ones they make and putting them in position to be successful."
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Maryland OT Damian Prince
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 27 | OT Ranking: 2
Maryland had plenty of veterans on its offensive line last season, so head coach Randy Edsall and his staff were content to redshirt massive 5-star recruit Damian Prince. Now, according to 247Sports, Edsall has Prince penciled in as the first-team right tackle for the Terps.
Prince will be a key figure in rebuilding an offensive line that wasn't impressive last season—the Terps ranked No. 105 nationally in sacks allowed and No. 118 in power success rate, the "percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage," from Football Outsiders.
The Terrapins are hoping Prince can live up to his high recruiting ratings from the opening week of the season. Maryland returns only 10 starters from a 7-6 team, and Edsall's job could be on the line if this younger program takes a step backward this season. No pressure, Prince.
Michigan ATH Jabrill Peppers
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 3 | ATH Ranking: 1
Jabrill Peppers arrived at Michigan with plenty of fanfare last year, but injuries kept him from making a big impact for the Wolverines. After a medical redshirt, Peppers is poised to start at safety for new head coach Jim Harbaugh—and he could do a lot more.
Peppers was a stud athlete out of New Jersey, and his plays on offense and special teams are some of the most amazing on his high-school highlight film. Harbaugh said late last month "there's a possibility" Peppers is a three-way player this fall for Michigan, per MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner.
More news of Peppers lining up as a running back or wide receiver is certain to come out of Ann Arbor during fall camp as well as some reps as a dangerous return man. The redshirt freshman's athleticism could be a major difference-maker in all facets of play for Michigan in the first year of the Harbaugh era.
Minnesota WR Jeff Jones
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 60 | RB Ranking: 9
Jeff Jones was academically ineligible at Minnesota last year, but the Golden Gophers' prized 2014 recruit is ready to roll this season on an offense that could use his immediate help. While the former Under Armour All America running back was thought to be a strong candidate to replace David Cobb, Jones has found a different home.
According to the Associated Press (via the Star Tribune), Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday that Jones will line up at wide receiver. Starting quarterback Mitch Leidner spoke highly of Jones' talents as a wide receiver—a position of great need for the Golden Gophers—during spring practices.
"He’s looking real good, and I think all the [defensive] backs agree," Leidner told Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune. "He runs some of the best routes on the team, and he’s relatively raw. He catches the ball real well. ... When he’s blocking, he’ll blow you up."
Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 62 | OT Ranking: 5
Notre Dame redshirted Quenton Nelson in 2014, and now the New Jersey native is in a heated battle with fellow redshirt freshman Alex Bars for the starting left guard position in South Bend. He gained an advantage over the more agile Bars in spring camp because of his work in pass protection.
"We know if you put a guy in front of him, he's going to win a one-on-one matchup," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of Nelson, per Nick Ironside of Irish247. "It's movement, it's the ability to move and adjust when you've got games and slant and angles and things of that nature where if it's in front of him, he's going to knock that guy out."
Nelson and Bars will continue to battle it out in fall camp, but Nelson is expected to win the starting job when it's all said in done. He'll play an important role as a brand-new contributor on a Notre Dame roster that is loaded with veteran talent and possible playoff buzz for 2015.
Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 52 | CB Ranking: 6
Marshon Lattimore would've had a chance to contribute in Ohio State's secondary last season, but he underwent surgery on his hamstring and was out for the year. Now a redshirt freshman, Lattimore has an opportunity to grab a starting cornerback job opposite sophomore Eli Apple.
According to Bleacher Report's David Regimbal, projected starter Gareon Conley didn't inspire a lot of confidence with his performances last season. That opens the door for Lattimore to fight for the job this fall on what should be a dominant Ohio State defense.
Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated picked Lattimore to be Ohio State's X-factor for the 2015 season, with former high school coach Ted Ginn Sr. calling the young cornerback "one of the freakiest athletes" he's ever coached. That athleticism might give Lattimore the edge in the race to replace Doran Grant.
Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 21 | APB Ranking: 1
Joe Mixon received plenty of national attention last year at Oklahoma, but it was for the wrong reason—he was suspended for his entire true freshman season after being charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly punching a female student.
Mixon was reinstated to the program earlier this year and is now a redshirt freshman looking for his role in the Sooners' deep running back corps, which is led by fellow 2014 signee Samaje Perine. Mixon will continue to compete for playing time during fall camp under new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley.
"[Oklahoma's new Air Raid offense] maybe is a bigger change for the running backs than anyone else," Riley told Jason Kersey of the Oklahoman. "We've thrown a lot at him and he’s handled it well. He loves to play. He loves to be in meetings. He loves to practice. His motivation is so high that learning that stuff is going to be no problem for him."
Oregon RB/WR Tony Brooks-James
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 278 | APB Ranking: 7
It can be easy to get lost in the shuffle of Oregon's insane talent at skill positions, especially for an underclassman. But Tony Brooks-James turned heads this spring with his blazing speed—he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.59 seconds for the Oregon track team earlier this year.
After a redshirt year in 2014, Brooks-James received reps this offseason behind senior Byron Marshall in Oregon's versatile "Taser" position. According to Brianna Amaranthus of CSNNW.com, the Florida native's coaches have compared him to recent program greats LaMichael James and De'Anthony Thomas.
If Brooks-James keeps impressing his coaches well into fall camp, he could find a way to record some touches for the veteran Oregon offense this season. Oregon loves to rotate through a large number of playmakers, and Brooks-James fits the Ducks' bill.
South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 821 | WR Ranking: 109
South Carolina has the SEC's top returning receiver this season in Pharoh Cooper, but the talented junior is going to need some help around him this fall. Enter Deebo Samuel, who had a strong spring practice for the Gamecocks.
Samuel didn't arrive at South Carolina with a ton of hype. The former 3-star recruit received a scholarship offer from the Gamecocks late in November 2013, fewer than three months before national signing day. He then received a redshirt because of the high number of veteran receivers at South Carolina in 2014.
The redshirt freshman is projected to start for South Carolina, where he'll use his bigger size (6'0", 202 lbs) to be physical with opposing defensive backs and take some of the pressure off of Cooper. Coaches raved about his strong hands and explosiveness this offseason, making him a prime candidate to break out this fall.
Stanford DE Solomon Thomas
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 25 | SDE Ranking: 2
Stanford had plenty of veterans on its defensive line last season, so the team was determined to redshirt 5-star recruit Solomon Thomas. Whether that was a good decision or not for the 8-5 Cardinal, Thomas will definitely be out on the field in 2015, as Stanford must replace all three of its starters up front.
"Solomon Thomas, the 5-star crown jewel of Stanford’s 2014 recruiting class, was reportedly borderline unblockable in the spring," Do-Hyoung Park of the Stanford Daily told Inside the Irish's Keith Arnold. "The ridiculous combination of Thomas’ size, agility and drive have the potential to make him one of the breakout defensive stars in not just the Pac-12, but the nation this year."
The Cardinal will rely on Thomas (6'3", 271 lbs) and fellow underclassman Harrison Phillips to make big plays for them as they look to bounce back from last season. If Thomas can continue to blow people away at practice, he'll definitely be one to watch this fall.
Tennessee LB Dillon Bates
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 95 | OLB Ranking: 7
Dillon Bates broke into the linebacker rotation at Tennessee last season, making six tackles in four games before a torn labrum cost him the rest of his true freshman campaign. Bates, the son of former Tennessee and Dallas Cowboys safety Bill Bates, received a medical redshirt and got on the road to recovery for 2015.
Bates moved to middle linebacker during a spring camp in which he wasn't fully recovered from his injury. After a summer to get healthier, he'll battle true freshman Darrin Kirkland, junior Kenny Bynum and redshirt freshman Gavin Bryant for a starting job.
"When you combine Bates’ pedigree with his ability, his intellect, his desire to be a great player and the time left on his eligibility clock, you should come away with a sunny-side-up view of his long-term potential," Wes Rucker of GoVols247 wrote. "There are no guarantees at this level of the game, but Bates remains a safe bet to succeed at some point."
Texas QB Jerrod Heard
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 72 | QB-DT Ranking: 2
After a redshirt season in Austin, Jerrod Heard is competing with 2014 starter Tyrone Swoopes for the No. 1 spot on the Texas depth chart. According to Chris Low of ESPN.com, the more athletic Heard is quickly becoming a favorite among the rest of his teammates.
"Heard will be one of those guys who will break a run for 60 yards, make somebody miss, and boom, it’s a touchdown," Texas head coach Charlie Strong told Low. "But just be ready, because he’s going to turn that thing over too. You’ve got to be ready to live with that... The players like Heard. Now it’s about winning the team."
With his quickness and confidence in practice, Heard could be the offensive spark the Longhorns need to make a breakthrough in 2015. If he takes over as the starting quarterback, the Texas offense should look a whole lot different than what fans saw with the Swoopes-led attack last season.
Wisconsin LB T.J. Edwards
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247Sports Composite Ranking: 2,787 | ATH Ranking: 218
T.J. Edwards has made a meteoric rise since signing and redshirting with Wisconsin as a 2-star recruit in the class of 2014. Now he's found a home as a projected starter at middle linebacker—even though he was a quarterback and a safety in high school.
"He looks like he's a natural out there," Wisconsin safety Michael Caputo told Jesse Temple of Fox Sports Wisconsin. "He looks like he's been playing it for a while now. I'm definitely not worried about any type of run splitting up the middle. Him and Leon [Jacobs] are going to be there to fill it up."
According to Temple, Edwards had nine tackles and a sack in the annual spring game, and Kevin O'Connell of Bucky's 5th Quarter said he had a practice in which he recorded two interceptions and two sacks. If Edwards cements his spot as a starting middle linebacker in fall camp, be ready to hear his name and his story a lot in the coming season.
Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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