College Football's 2011 All-Freshman Team

Danny FlynnNov 18, 2011

Every season, there are usually a few special freshman in college football who have what it takes to step up and make an early impact in their careers, and this year is no different.

The one freshman who has caught everyone’s attention is Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, who has busted out and become one of the top offensive threats in all of college football.

While Watkins has certainly had a remarkable first season, he isn’t the only freshman player who has helped his team in a big way this year.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 freshman performers of 2011.

WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

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Sammy Watkins came to Clemson as one of the top wide receiver prospects of the 2011 recruiting class, but no one could have predicted that he would be this good, this quickly.

Watkins has exploded onto the scene and been one of the biggest difference-makers in college football.

The 6’1’’, 180-pound freshman has hauled in 68 catches for 1,034 yards and scored 11 touchdowns this season.

Watkins has been the main reason that Clemson has risen from preseason unranked afterthought into a Top-10 ranked ACC favorite, and he’s already distinguished himself as one of the early favorites for the 2012 Heisman.

RB De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon

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De’Anthony Thomas didn’t start off his college career in strong fashion, as he coughed up two fumbles against LSU in his first game, but the Black Mamba has since rebounded and become one of the most dangerous and versatile offensive weapons in the country.

Thomas has totaled 1,455 all-purpose yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a runner, a receiver and a returner.

He fits perfectly into Oregon’s spread offensive attack and he’s going to be one of college football’s top playmakers for years to come.

LB A.J. Johnson, Tennessee

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Tennessee has had its fair share of great linebackers come through Knoxville in recent years, and it looks like A.J. Johnson is cut from the same mold as guys like Jerod Mayo and Kevin Burnett.

Johnson leads the Vols with 67 tackles and he seems destined to be a big-time NFL prospect in the next few years.

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RB Giovani Bernard, North Carolina

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Giovani Bernard was one of the jewels of North Carolina’s 2010 recruiting class, but an ACL injury sidelined him for the entire 2010 season.

Bernard has now bounced back from the injury and looked like the same runner we saw at St. Thomas Aquinas high school.

The 5’10’’, 200-pound freshman has already broken the 1,000-yard rushing mark and scored 12 touchdowns this season, and he looks like the type of playmaker who’s going to give ACC defenses a lot of headaches over the next few years.

DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

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South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney was probably the most hyped high school football prospect of all time, and while Clowney hasn’t come in and looked like a “Future No. 1 overall pick” right away, he has shown glimpses and flashes of his tremendous talent.

Melvin Ingram has been the star of the South Carolina defensive line, but Clowney has consistently played at a high level as well, racking up five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

RB Malcolm Brown, Texas

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When you’re being touted as the next Adrian Peterson before you even take a snap at the college level, you’ve obviously got a lot to live up to, but so far, with the way Texas RB Malcolm Brown has performed, it’s not impossible to think that one day he could be as good as Peterson was when he was destroying defenders at Oklahoma.

Brown has been the focal point of the Texas offense this year, rushing for 635 yards and five touchdowns.

QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

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Louisville fans were excited to see what freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had to offer, and they have to be happy with what they’ve seen so far.

Bridgewater has won three out of his last four games and he’s been college football’s top freshman quarterback, throwing for 1,440 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

The Cardinals have a lot to look forward to if Bridgewater keeps developing.

WR Marqise Lee, USC

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Robert Woods may be the USC receiver that gets all the attention, but soon enough, Woods is going to have to start deferring some of those accolades to budding freshman sensation Marqise Lee.

Lee came to USC as a four-star recruit, and he’s certainly lived up to that reputation so far.

The 6’1’’, 190-pound speedster has already caught 52 passes for 732 yards and scored eight touchdowns, and once he actually learns what he’s doing out there, there’s no telling how good he could be.

C Reese Dismukes, Auburn

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Reese Dismukes was one of the prizes of Auburn’s highly touted 2011 recruiting class, and he’s been a player who has paid instant dividends for the Tigers.

Dismukes has emerged as the leader and the linchpin for a very inexperienced offensive line, which lost four starters from last year’s national championship team.

He should earn All-SEC honors for his performance this year, but soon enough, he’ll be earning All-American honors.

LB Jeremy Grove, East Carolina

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As an unheralded two-star recruit out of Frederick, Maryland, East Carolina LB wasn’t on a lot of peoples' radars going into this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from wreaking havoc in Conference-USA this year.

Grove leads all freshmen with 102 tackles and he’s been the key leader for the Pirates defense at inside linebacker.

P Brad Wing, LSU

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When everyone talks about LSU’s success this year, one name that rarely gets brought up is Brad Wing’s. However, the freshman punter has been a key contributor for the Tigers this season, and without him, it’s questionable whether or not the team could have pulled off a win over Alabama in the “Game of the Century.”

Wing is averaging 43 yards per punt this year, and that 73-yarder he boomed against the Tide really changed the momentum of that game.

CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State

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Ohio State has a rich tradition of producing quality cornerbacks and it looks like Bradley Roby is the next in line.

Roby, who leads the team with three interceptions, has stepped in and been one of the most consistent defenders for Ohio State this year, and he’s looked much more mature and disciplined than an average freshman defensive back.

WR Deon Long, New Mexico

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New Mexico WR Deon Long may not be just one of the most underrated freshmen in the country, he may be one of the most underrated players overall.

As a West Virginia alum, it’s a little bittersweet to see the former Mountaineer shining so bright out in the football wasteland that is New Mexico, but it’s good to see him reaching his enormous potential.

Long has been one of the most explosive receivers in the Mountain West this year, averaging over 18 yards per catch.

RB Isaiah Crowell, Georgia

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A lot was expected from Isaiah Crowell when he initially signed with Georgia as one of the most decorated running back prospects in the country, but that pressure got even more intense in the offseason when the Bulldogs lost their top two rushers Washaun Ealey and Caleb King

Crowell has stepped in and been the reliable back that the Georgia offense needed, rushing for 821 yards and scoring six touchdowns.

It’s not easy for a freshman to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark, but Crowell is on pace to do it.

RB Lyle McCombs, Connecticut

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Connecticut fans must have panicked a little when leading rusher Jordan Todman declared for the NFL Draft after last season, but Todman’s presence hasn’t been missed all that much, now that Lyles McCombs has emerged as the team’s go-to back.

McCombs currently leads the Big East with 981 rushing yards, and he’s been an absolute workhorse for the Huskies this year.

The 5’8’’, 175 pound freshman has proven to be one of the toughest and most durable backs in the country.

LB Dion Bailey, USC

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USC has two great freshman linebackers to build its defense around for the future in Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard.

Bailey has shined after moving from safety this offseason, racking up a team-leading 69 tackles this year.

The 6’0’’, 200-pound redshirt freshman may not overwhelm anyone with his size, but he’s got the speed and toughness that it takes to be a major factor for the USC defense.

RB Jawon Chisholm, Akron

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Because he plays for an Akron team that’s 1-9, RB Jawaon Chisholm hasn’t received a whole lot of attention outside of the MAC, but you have to appreciate the numbers that Chisholm has put up this season.

The powerful 6’1’’, 190-pound freshman has already run for 845 yards and scored four touchdowns, and he’s done it behind one of the worst offensive lines in the country.

OT Chaz Green, Florida

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For all of you NFL draft fans out there who are looking for a future franchise tackle prospect, you might want to turn your attention down to Gainseville where Florida’s Chaz Green has been making a name for himself this season.

Many expected Xavier Nixon to be the leader of the Gators offensive line this year, but instead, it’s been Green.

The 6’5’’, 305-pound redshirt sophomore has been a stalwart at right tackle for Florida this season, and he looks like he’s got the potential to be one of the best offensive linemen in the country for years to come.

DT Anthony Johnson, LSU

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With so much talent and depth along LSU’s defensive line, you’ve got to be a pretty special player to stand out, especially if you’re a freshman, but Anthony Johnson has done just that.

The highly touted freshman has lived up to his recruiting hype and made an instant impact up front for the LSU defense.

The scary part is, the 6’3’’, 310-pound interior force is only going to get better, and him and fellow emerging star tackle Michael Brockers are going to be a devastating defensive duo once again next season.

K Andre Heidari, USC

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Usually, if you have to rely on a freshman kicker, your fingernails are probably going to be pretty short by the time the season ends, but USC fans haven’t had to worry about Andre Heidari this year.

Heidari has knocked through 14 of his 16 field goal attempts, with four of those kicks coming from over 40 yards, and he’s also been perfect on extra point attempts.

Heidari is going to be a valuable special teams weapon for the Trojans for the next few seasons.