11 Best College Football Freshmen Who Redshirted in 2015
The 2015 college football regular season featured plenty of breakout performances from true freshmen all across the country.
Josh Rosen soared from day one as the starting quarterback at UCLA, while Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley created huge plays for their respective SEC West schools. Derwin James carved out a huge role at Florida State, and Jarrett Stidham was thrown into the fire early for Baylor.
But not all of the star-studded names from the class of 2016 got early opportunities to shine for their new teams. Whether it was because of injury or a strong amount of depth ahead of them, several sat out the 2015 campaign and focused on improving for the near future.
Here are 11 talented true freshmen from the top 100 of the 247Sports Composite Rankings who either are confirmed as redshirts or are on the path to one in 2015.
Which name are you looking forward to seeing the most in the future? Are there any other redshirted freshmen who deserve to get noticed? Tell us in the comments below.
Alabama QB Blake Barnett
1 of 11
Blake Barnett, who was rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and the No. 21 overall recruit in the class of 2015, competed in Alabama's massive quarterback battle in the preseason—one that went to senior Jake Coker.
With Coker taking the reins of the offense, Barnett was put on the path to redshirt, which is typical for freshman quarterbacks under Nick Saban.
"We're developing him as a player and if we develop him to the point that we think he's going to give us the best chance to win somewhere down the road, then we probably play him," Saban said in October, per John Talty of AL.com. "If that doesn't present itself, then we're certainly not interested in trying to waste a year if he's not going to play enough to help his development."
Barnett was hospitalized with an unknown illness in October but later served an important role in the Tide's late-season preparations, practicing as Mississippi State's Dak Prescott, per Matt Zenitz of AL.com. With a year of practice under his belt, the California native will most likely be a top contender in the Tide's 2016 quarterback battle.
Alabama CB Kendall Sheffield
2 of 11
The highest-rated player in the 247Sports' Composite Rankings who is on the path to a redshirt, Kendall Sheffield has also spent the 2015 season putting in scout team work for Alabama.
As Bleacher Report's own Christopher Walsh noted earlier this season, Alabama's great depth in a revamped secondary put Sheffield and another highly touted defensive back in line to take a redshirt season.
Like Blake Barnett, the 5-star from Texas also served as a practice stand-in for an opposing SEC star. According to Charlie Potter of 247Sports, Sheffield wore a No. 1 jersey to emulate standout Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III during practice for the SEC Championship Game.
After a year of practice behind several standout defensive backs, Sheffield will soon turn his attention to track season in Tuscaloosa. He was an All-American hurdler during his high school days in the Lone Star State.
Alabama WR/S Deionte Thompson
3 of 11
Deionte Thompson was the No. 2 safety prospect in the entire country this past recruiting cycle, but the athletic Texan found a different home this season at Alabama.
Thompson started working with Alabama's wide receivers during spring practice as an experiment from the coaching staff. It appeared to work, as Thompson was listed as a third-string wideout on Alabama's first depth chart of the season. Thompson practiced as the opposition's No. 1 receiver for the Alabama scout team in the fall.
"He was a little bit surprised because had two interceptions in one day in a live scrimmage, and then the next day they brought him in and moved him to receiver," Thompson's high school coach, Cornel Thompson, told Matt Zenitz of AL.com in the summer. "But he's an athlete. He's a team player. He's going to do what they ask him to do ... and he's a kid that wants to play."
Thompson will definitely be a name to watch in the coming seasons for the Crimson Tide, perhaps even in a two-way capacity. His size and athleticism make him an ideal candidate for quick playing time, and he's already shown the ability to adapt on the fly.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Arkansas QB Ricky Town
4 of 11
After finding himself third on the depth chart at USC heading into fall camp, Ricky Town decided to leave the Trojans and transfer to Arkansas—all before a single game had been played of the 2015 season.
Town took his redshirt as a transferring true freshman and will be in line to compete for the Razorbacks' starting quarterback job in next year's spring practices. Brandon Allen, who took his game to the next level this season with new offensive coordinator Dan Enos, will play his final game at Arkansas during bowl season.
"Among the three quarterbacks currently backing up Allen, only one—redshirt sophomore Austin Allen, Brandon's brother—has seen any game time, and none have Town's top-100 overall recruiting pedigree," Jerry Hinnen of CBS Sports wrote. "After a year of seasoning, it won't surprise anyone if Town wins the job next year."
Town's strong arm and great pocket presence should make him a perfect fit for Arkansas, especially in an offense that threw the ball more than expected in 2015. He might be the best bet to pick up where Allen left off for the Razorbacks.
Florida State QB Deondre Francois
5 of 11
As Florida State worked through its quarterback situation with Sean Maguire and Everett Golson this season, true freshman Deondre Francois started turning heads in Tallahassee with his play on the Seminoles' scout team, according to Lucas Casas of the Orlando Sentinel:
"Francois, a freshman quarterback from Bradenton IMG Academy, was brought up repeatedly the past two weeks when players were asked about scout-team standouts.
A blue-chip recruit who will likely redshirt this season, Francois is making the most of his time on the scout team. He was crucial for the Seminoles in preparing for dynamic Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Like many of Fisher's former quarterbacks — such as Heisman winner Jameis Winston — playing Francois on the scout team gives him an opportunity to learn Fisher's complex offense without losing a year of eligibility. He's shown great promise and could be competing for the starting job in the coming years.
"
The IMG Academy product should at least push Maguire for playing time starting in 2016 alongside 5-star grant-in-aid signee Malik Henry. He's already drawn a lot of attention from coaches and teammates and will be a name to watch next season.
Mississippi State LB Leo Lewis
6 of 11
Leo Lewis was the No. 1 player in his class at his position, and he had a chance to play some role for the Mississippi State defense this fall, even with the Bulldogs' depth at inside linebacker.
Lewis, however, redshirted this season for Mississippi State—by his own request.
"I loved it and it was his idea," Mississippi State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said in September, per Paul Jones of 247Sports. "It showed that he knew his best years are still ahead of him. It showed that he has a respect for the process of developing to be a college football player... Instinctively, he is one of the better guys we have right now in terms of being able to diagnose a play and just having that feel of what it takes to play linebacker."
Lewis continued to receive rave reviews for his work on Mississippi State's scout team. Now when the Bulldogs look to reload their linebacking corps again in 2015, Lewis is expected to play a role with all four years of his eligibility still intact.
Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard
7 of 11
With so much depth returning on both sides of the ball for a national championship team, Ohio State leaned more toward the redshirt route for its 2015 signing class.
The top prospect in that class, 5-star outside linebacker Justin Hilliard, sat out this season and will compete for time in 2016.
"Hilliard is one of the many highly ranked linebackers Urban Meyer has brought into the program since taking over at Ohio State," Bill Kurelic of 247Sports wrote. "What was once a position of weakness when Meyer arrived at Ohio State is now a position of strength and Hilliard is expected to vie for a starting job next season."
As Kurelic noted, both of Ohio State's starting outside linebackers—Josh Perry and Darron Lee—could be gone after this season. Hilliard was the No. 2 outside linebacker in the entire country coming out of high school and should be thrown into the mix early.
Ohio State ATH Torrance Gibson
8 of 11
Torrance Gibson arrived at Ohio State with quite a bit of fanfare, but he hasn't been able to get on the field yet for the Buckeyes. The dual-threat quarterback, behind both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, switched to receiver in order to avoid a redshirt and get some early playing time.
However, an ankle injury in August and a few games without dressing out prompted rumors of a possible transfer from Columbus. Receivers coach Zach Smith said early in November that Gibson would stay at Ohio State.
"There have been bumps in the road, but he’s responding," Smith said, per Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch. "It’s about transforming him from a kid coming out of high school with some raw talent into a grown man that handles his business off the field, on the field, and becomes a receiver."
There's a chance Gibson may stay at wide receiver full time after an up-and-down season at Ohio State, one that will most likely result in a redshirt. His speed and elusiveness should make him a top-notch playmaker wherever the Buckeyes play him—once he finally gets on the field.
Ohio State RB Mike Weber
9 of 11
Ohio State's other top offensive star from the class of 2015, running back Mike Weber hasn't been able to avoid injury and some off-the-field noise this year for the Buckeyes.
Weber suffered a knee injury in August but wasn't expected to take a redshirt because of it. However, Weber didn't see the field behind the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Bri'onte Dunn and Curtis Samuel.
Then, Hours after Ohio State's upset loss to Michigan State at the Horseshoe, Weber sent this cryptic tweet, saying "Boy if I could do it all again."
The Michigan native will most likely take a redshirt this season for Ohio State and compete for playing time in 2016, after Elliott leaves for the NFL. Weber rushed for 74 touchdowns in three seasons of high school ball, so the talent is definitely there for this young, all-around running back.
Tennessee OT Drew Richmond
10 of 11
Drew Richmond may have had an opportunity to start at tackle on Tennessee's youth-filled team this season after flipping from Ole Miss to the Vols before national signing day. But he soon found himself facing a redshirt season on Rocky Top.
According to his coaches and teammates, though, the highly touted offensive tackle is making the most out of his practice time.
"Probably where it hit (Richmond) the most was the open date," Tennessee offensive line coach Don Mahoney said, per Patrick Brown of the Times Free Press. "We were coming off the (practice) field and he said, 'You know what, I can't wait till the spring to become a much smarter player.' They all think they're ready until they get in there and the bullets are flying. They go, 'No, I'm not.'"
Richmond was mentioned by Matt Slovin of the Tennessean as a youngster who could "make lots of strides this winter" for Tennessee. Expect to hear about this talented offensive lineman in Tennessee's spring camp—and maybe even sooner than that.
USC LB John Houston Jr.
11 of 11
USC, a strong contender for the title of "Linebacker U," already had plenty of talent at the position when California native John Houston Jr. arrived on campus this fall.
Houston was quickly pegged as a candidate for a redshirt but found a way to stand out among a talented group in fall camp. Ryan Bartow of 247Sports wrote in August that Houston "flashed signs" of ways to make USC's linebacker corps even stronger for years to come alongside Cameron Smith, Osa Masina and Porter Gustin.
Houston's redshirt status was virtually sealed in November, when he suffered a back injury without playing a single snap for the resurgent Trojans, as relayed by Inside USC: "USC LB John Houston has a back injury and will likely redshirt this year."
With a full recovery, it's hard to imagine this rangy outside linebacker not playing a big-time role in what will be a position group filled with blue-chip talent for years to come under head coach Clay Helton.
Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
