10 College Football Freshmen Turning Heads in 2015 Fall Practice
We've reached the point in preseason camp when depth charts are beginning to be released. While some open competitions remain, coaches ideally would like to have some separation so that they can begin building chemistry and rapport among first-string players, second-string players and so on.
Mixed into that are freshmen who are showing they can make an immediate impact. In the following slides are 10 first-year players who are turning heads in preseason camp. In other words, don't be surprised if you see them on the field this fall.
The focus here is on true freshmen, many of whom were not early enrollees. Being an early enrollee obviously isn't a deciding factor, but the concentration here is on players who stepped up their game over the last couple of weeks by moving up the depth chart and pushing for playing time or putting themselves in the starting lineup.
Feel we missed anyone? Add the freshmen who have impressed you in the comments section below.
Tennessee DT Kahlil McKenzie
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If you're a Tennessee fan, you know by now that freshman defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie is huge. To be 6'3" and 344 pounds at 18 years old with legs like tree trunks means there's going to be a legend status about you.
But in fairness to McKenzie, he's not just a big kid. He can play, too, and he's impressing Vols defensive line coach Steve Stripling, who sang McKenzie's praises to Wes Rucker of 247Sports:
"There’s some times on the football field where you’re watching him and you just go, ‘Wow.' So no, I’ve never coached [a freshman] like that. Other than being big, he also has unbelievable hand strength and grip strength and use of his hands. For a young guy, his hand use is outstanding. Obviously everybody in the country wanted him for a reason.
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Tennessee's coaching staff has tried, probably to no avail, to temper expectations for McKenzie. Yes, he's a freshman, which means there will be freshmen mistakes. But his size and strength make him a difficult matchup in the interior of the defensive line.
Florida OT Martez Ivey
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Given the sheer lack of depth for Florida along the offensive line, it was well known that 5-star freshman Martez Ivey was going to play right away.
But just because something's necessary doesn't mean it's advantageous. In Ivey's case, however, it sounds like head coach Jim McElwain was going to play Ivey regardless of the depth situation.
"You don't think of him as a freshman, really, the way he's playing,” McElwain told Edgar Thompson of the Orland Sentinel. "That’s great to see. We kind of thought that when we recruited him."
That's a key phrase from McElwain. Transitioning from high school to college is tough for offensive linemen, which is why so many take a redshirt year if/when it's possible. If Ivey doesn't look like a freshman in preseason camp, that bodes well for the Gators down the line.
Running back Kelvin Taylor has described Ivey as a "freak," adding that the freshman "knows exactly what he's doing," according to Nick de la Torre of GatorCountry.com. Ivey is going to be thrust into heavy playing time right away, and there's not a lot of depth to spell him. It's not the ideal situation, but clearly Florida thinks Ivey can handle it.
Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk
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Texas A&M is stating its case to have the best starting wide receiver group in all of the SEC and even in college football. Leading receiver Josh Reynolds and the dynamic Speedy Noil return. Additionally, the depth at wide receiver is spectacular for the Aggies.
So for true freshman Christian Kirk to come into fall camp and lock down one of the starting spots, per Gabe Bock, host of TexAgs Radio, is impressive. Kirk was an early enrollee, but to break into the starting lineup with talents such as Noil, Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones says a lot about his ability to make an impact for the Aggies right away.
From top to bottom, there will be no shortage of playmakers in the receiving game. The Aggies should lead the SEC in passing yards per game for the fourth straight year. The Aggies have had more than their fair share of breakout freshmen at wide receiver, including Noil.
Kirk looks like he's just the next one in line.
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Baylor QB Jarrett Stidham
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Exiting spring practices, early enrollee quarterback Jarrett Stidham was listed as the co-backup with Chris Johnson behind Seth Russell. This was to be expected, as Russell was the early favorite to succeed Bryce Petty.
However, that all-important "OR" has been removed from the quarterback depth chart. Stidham is now officially the No. 2 guy with Johnson's recent move to wide receiver, according to David Smoak of 1660 ESPN Central Texas.
Earlier in preseason camp, head coach Art Briles indicated Stidham may not play this season, telling Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin American-Statesman, "That’s something that we’re working through."
Consider that question answered. Stidham has obviously impressed coaches enough that he'll be asked to run the offense if Russell can't or is hurt. That's saying a lot for someone who's only been on campus eight months.
Oregon RB Taj Griffin
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Technically, Oregon freshman running back Taj Griffin was an early enrollee. However, an ACL injury that ended his high school career early means Griffin spent much of his time at Oregon rehabbing. Entering fall camp, though, head coach Mark Helfrich announced Griffin was "100 percent," per Tyson Alger of the Oregonian.
And just in time, too. Earlier this month, the Ducks lost running back Thomas Tyner to a season-ending shoulder injury. That means Griffin is competing with the likes of Kani Benoit and Tony Brooks-James for carries to spell Royce Freeman.
What Griffin offers the Ducks is that world-class speed that the program has been known for over the past several years.
“Explosiveness. That dude goes from zero to 100 like that," Benoit told Ryan Thorburn of the Eugene Register-Guard. “It’s one cut, and he’s gone. I just keep him motivated. Obviously, he’s a young guy learning everything like we all were, but you can just see the talent in him."
Freeman will be the primary back for the Ducks ground attack, but from the sound of it, Griffin is expected to offer his blazing speed as a complement.
Notre Dame DT Jerry Tillery
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Jerry Tiller, a converted offensive lineman, was an early enrollee for Notre Dame and exited spring as one of the most impressive players for the team, regardless of classification.
However, with the season-ending MCL injury to Jarron Jones, Tillery is going to be asked to take on a bigger role than perhaps initially expected. So far, he's proven to be up to the challenge. He's in game-ready shape and has been taking snaps with the first-team defense. The only unknown is how he'll respond during live game situations.
“The only thing is we have to see how he does in a stressful situation,” defensive line coach Keith Gilmore told JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago. “But he’s not a guy that’s out of shape, an unconditioned kid. When you’re playing at a high level and the anxiety and the stress that comes along with competing with 80,000 people watching and a guy really going after you for keeps, it’s a real big difference.”
By many accounts, Tillery doesn't look, act or play like a freshman. That's a big reason why the Irish coaching staff expected him to contribute this year. The injury to Jones, while unfortunate, is only confirming those beliefs about Tillery during preseason camp.
Texas WR John Burt
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Texas is in desperate need of playmakers at wide receiver. The top two pass-catchers from a year ago—John Harris and Jaxon Shipley—are gone. And when you stack the Longhorns starting wide receivers up to other Texas programs such as Baylor, TCU and Texas A&M, there's not much of a comparison on paper.
However, freshman John Burt help change that narrative.
According to Texas' most recent depth chart, Burt is the offense's No. 1 "X" receiver, according to Wescott Eberts of Burnt Orange Nation.
Keep in mind this is a freshman who enrolled in school just two months ago. Whether that says more about Burt or Texas' wide receivers is a matter of debate, but all signs coming out of camp indicate Burt has consistently shown he's the real deal. Jeff Howe of 247Sports explains:
"The biggest impact has been made by Burt as the 6-foot-2-inch, 184-pound 2015 Under Armour All-America selection not only has the ability to win jump battles, his deceptive speed and ability after the catch makes him a threat to make a play from anywhere on the field. The word from summer workouts had Burt as arguably the best freshman in the program in terms of consistent performance, an impressive run of workouts in a non-contact setting that's carried over to the preseason.
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When you consider that freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson has been the talk of the offseason, that's a high compliment for Burt. The freshman gives Texas that lengthy outside receiver that it misses with Harris.
USC LB Porter Gustin
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USC could play a number of freshmen in 2015, from cornerback Iman Marshall to running back Ronald Jones II. When you haul in the No. 2 class like the Trojans did in February, you'd be crazy not to play some of those recruits right away.
However, the freshman who's been making the biggest waves in preseason camp is linebacker Porter Gustin (pictured right). Garry Paskwietz of ESPN.com wrote last week that Gustin "makes the biggest contribution of the group with his pass-rushing skills."
Remember, the Trojans are rebuilding on defense after losing their top two pass-rushers, including first-round draft pick Leonard Williams. USC has a number of talented players on the back end of the defense, but it needs someone to complement Su'a Cravens, and pass rush is this team's biggest need overall. For Gustin to come in and turn heads right away is a welcome relief in that department.
Ohio State OL Isaiah Prince
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Barring injury, Ohio State freshman offensive lineman Isaiah Prince likely isn't to start in 2015. However, he's been so impressive in preseason camp that he was the first freshman to have his "black stripe" removed from his helmet, a symbolic move by head coach Urban Meyer that recognizes Prince as a true Buckeye.
"Standing out among the five scholarship offensive linemen Ohio State had in the 2015 recruiting class is one thing, being the first to have his stripe removed among a group ranked as the No. 7 class in the country is another. If it were one of Ohio State's early enrollees, maybe linebacker Nick Conner, it wouldn't be as surprising.
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Furthermore, offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Ed Warinner said Prince has been "a little ahead of the other" freshmen in camp, per David Bittle of 247Sports).
So while Prince won't start, he's still going to serve as an impact freshman for the Buckeyes. Rotating along the O-line right away is no small feat, either.
West Virginia WR Jovon Durante
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Forced to replace the production of Kevin White and Mario Alford, West Virginia is need of some new faces to immediately step up at wide receiver. One of the freshmen who's been doing just that is 4-star recruit Jovon Durante.
In the Mountaineer's recent depth chart, Durante was listed as an "OR" co-starter at the "X" receiver position along with Ka'Raun White. Depth isn't an issue for the 'Eers at wide receiver, so take the term "starter" with a grain of salt. Head coach Dana Holgorsen is going to play a lot of athletes in that group of the course of the season.
Still, for Durante, the highest-rated member of the Mountaineers' 2015 class, to come in right away and compete for significant playing time is a good sign for the future. Be it White or Tavon Austin, WVU has churned out some productive wide receivers under Holgorsen.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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