We’re more than a month into the college football season, giving us our first real opportunity to assess which true freshmen are making an immediate impact and how our preseason predictions fared.
From five-star quarterbacks Faizon Brandon and Jared Curtis playing for in-state SEC rivals to breakout stars like Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree, here are the 25 freshmen who have impressed us most so far.
1. Jesse Legree, WR, Oregon State
An undersized three-star out of Baltimore, Legree wasn’t even a full-time receiver until his senior year at St. Frances Academy and drew minimal Power 4 interest. There are a lot of programs regretting that now. OSU coach JaMarcus Shephard spotted Legree’s talent while recruiting national power St. Frances as Alabama’s receivers coach and brought him along to Corvallis. Legree has topped 100 yards in every game and ranks second nationally with 741 receiving yards, trailing only Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. He torched then-No. 13 Texas Tech for eight catches, 240 yards and two touchdowns. His verified 4.39 speed has translated vertically, and he has also shown a good feel for finding open space in coverage.
While he wasn’t LSU’s highest-rated defensive line recruit — that belonged to No. 1 recruit Lamar Brown — Geralds still ranked No. 40 in the nation, and we tabbed him as a ready-made Day 1 contributor because of his explosiveness despite a smaller 6-1, 280-pound frame. He has lived up to expectations, earning a role immediately along a talented Tigers defensive front. Geralds’ five sacks are tied for eighth nationally, and he even ran for a touchdown in a blowout against McNeese. Geralds has the strength to hold up against the run with a motor that keeps him around the football.
Helton has started every game for the No. 2 Bulldogs after becoming just the third true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener under Kirby Smart. He hasn’t allowed a sack through five games, and the moment doesn’t look too big for him. The former four-star shows flashes of dominance with his rare blend of size, power and athleticism. Helton is physical at the point of attack and has been an important part of a Georgia ground game that is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, the best mark in the SEC and second nationally.
Wafle has been more disruptive than his one sack suggests. He has consistently collapsed the pocket and hurried quarterbacks, even if he hasn’t piled up sacks yet, and already looks like a veteran. Wafle also has the power to set the edge and hold his ground against the run, which has helped him carve out an early role on USC’s defensive front, and the Trojans have upped his snap totals since Big Ten play started. Wafle had a noisy fourth quarter, including his first career sack, helping corral Demond Williams in USC’s 25-21 win over Washington.
USC has no shortage of receiving talent, but Dixon-Wyatt, a 2026 four-star, has quickly become one of QB Jayden Maiava‘s favorite targets. His 372 receiving yards lead the Trojans, and Dixon-Wyatt had 114 yards against Oregon, including a 31-yard touchdown, while ranking third among true freshmen in targets through four weeks. At 6-foot-2, Dixon-Wyatt gives USC a big target who can win contested catches and has plenty of physicality as a blocker.
The three-star out of North Carolina has wasted no time outperforming his ranking. While he missed Week 5 with an injury, Rule led all freshman rushers with 333 yards through four weeks and has already topped 100 yards twice. Rule still leads Nebraska in rushing despite leaving the win against Michigan State after just four carries with an injury. He’s averaging 7.9 yards per attempt and has shown good vision with a physical, downhill style that makes him difficult to bring down with arm tackles.
Glasker has only 14 catches, but he has made them count. His 19.9 yards per reception tied for third in the Big 12 through Week 5, and he has four total touchdowns while emerging as one of quarterback Bear Bachmeier‘s most dangerous weapons. Glasker can get behind defenses vertically and has also shown the burst to turn shorter throws into big plays. He’ll be an important part of BYU’s hunt to return to the Big 12 championship game.
8. Faizon Brandon, QB, Tennessee
Living up to expectations can be difficult for any quarterback, let alone a five-star true freshman. Brandon has mostly looked poised through five starts, tallying 10 touchdowns to one interception with a 60.4% completion rate. He led Tennessee to a road win over Georgia Tech and nearly pulled off another against No. 1 Texas despite getting sacked 10 times. His struggles against Auburn in Week 5, however, led to a midgame benching in favor of George MacIntyre. Still, Brandon showed early glimpses of the talent against elite opponents that helped him rank No. 14 in the 2026 SC Next 300.
Darby has quickly become Kenny Minchey’s most reliable target, working mostly out of the slot. He led Kentucky with 322 yards through Week 5 after turning in a monster performance in a comeback win over South Carolina, catching 12 passes — a program freshman record — for 96 yards and a touchdown. Darby has some wiggle after the catch, which he showed with a 42-yard touchdown against Texas A&M, slipping multiple defenders. Darby’s 25 catches through five weeks were tied for eighth among all SEC receivers.
Timmons ran a laser-timed 4.42 40-yard dash and recorded a broad jump of more than 10 feet in high school, and those physical tools gave him a chance to play early at Ohio State, where he has already worked his way into the starting lineup. He forced a fumble on the opening play against Texas, which immediately led to points, and he has four pass breakups through four games. However, Timmons left the Illinois game with a lower-body injury and did not play Week 5 against Iowa.
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Jared Curtis connects for 43-yard TD pass
11. Jared Curtis, QB, Vanderbilt
The No. 1 pocket passer in the 2026 recruiting class, Curtis was Vanderbilt’s highest-rated signee, though Clark Lea didn’t turn the starting role over to Curtis right away. Instead, Curtis provided an early spark off the bench before taking over as Vanderbilt’s starter. The five-star freshman has completed 64.3% of his passes for 746 yards while adding another 133 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Vanderbilt is 1-1 in his two starts — he missed Week 5 against Georgia with an injury — and Curtis’ ball security and decision-making should only get better with more reps.
A 2026 four-star out of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in California, Mosley opened his college career with back-to-back 100-yard games before suffering a knee injury against Louisiana Lafayette that cost him the next three games. He still ranks third on USC in receiving, averaging 19.6 yards per catch prior to his injury. A big-play threat, Mosley showed that he can be dangerous both downfield and after the catch.
Dunnigan is tied for fourth among Miami defenders with 17 tackles through Week 5 and hasn’t been shy about playing downhill from the secondary. He gets to the alley and closes quickly against the run, and has also flashed as a blitzer, recording three quarterback hurries through four games. His pick-six put the exclamation point on a win over Clemson, and Dunnigan looks mature beyond his years thanks to his physicality and instincts.
Even while splitting time with La’Vell Wright and Ja’Kyrian Turner, Ferguson leads Pittsburgh in rushing as a true freshman, and when he’s on the field, the Panthers almost always turn his way. His best game came against Syracuse, when he topped 100 yards while averaging more than 10 yards per carry. He’s a physical runner with enough burst to create bigger gains — he has the second-most yards from scrimmage of any freshman running back — and is protecting the ball.
15. Darius Gray, OT, South Carolina
The No. 65 recruit in the country, Gray stepped directly into a starting role, taking reps at both tackle spots while protecting LaNorris Sellers on the edge. He has allowed just one sack through the first month, stemming from a miscommunication on a delayed blitz, while showing the ability to mirror and sustain blocks in pass protection and open running lanes on the ground.
Greene has started every game at left tackle for Washington and steadily improved without allowing a sack. He has shown the ability to mirror defenders in pass protection while using his length and positioning to wall off defenders in the run game and should continue to improve with more experience. So far, Greene is showing why he was the No. 6 offensive tackle and No. 46 overall recruit in the 2026 SC Next 300.
Bowman reclassified and could still be playing high school football. Instead, the four-star recruit is starting at tight end for USC. The freshman had his breakout game against Louisiana with six catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns, and his reliable hands have already made him a useful high-volume target in the Trojans’ passing game. He has also held his own physically, even if he has room to develop as a blocker. Bowman missed USC’s win over Washington with an injury.
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Alabama’s EJ Crowell hurdles a defender down the sideline
Crowell reclassified, but he’s already Alabama’s third-leading rusher. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry through Week 5 and has looked comfortable maintaining his balance and running through contact, including a play against South Carolina when he broke three tackles and somehow stayed on his feet. He entered college with the size and athletic tools to compete right away, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more touches come for him and fellow freshman Trae’shawn Brown with more experience in Alabama’s backfield.
Elee ranked second in the 2026 class and became Maryland’s highest-rated signee, surpassing Stefon Diggs. Elee’s elite explosiveness has shown up early in a rotational role for the Terrapins, even in a deep group of outside linebackers. Elee recorded a strip sack against UConn and has generated more pressure than his two sacks suggest, consistently using his speed and quickness to force quarterbacks off their spot. He still has some areas to clean up after committing a pair of costly penalties in Maryland’s 48-23 loss to Nebraska.
A four-star recruit out of Mission Viejo High School in California, Jones stepped directly into Washington’s starting lineup and has proved productive making plays on the ball, intercepting a pass in his first appearance against Washington State. Even while consistently isolated in man coverage, Jones has held up well, and his 19 tackles through Week 5 ranked fifth among all Huskies defenders.
Still only 17, Guyton has posted a modest nine pressures, but his age makes that total more promising. Guyton reclassified from the 2027 recruiting class last October and ended the cycle as the No. 6 recruit in the country thanks to his high-end pass-rushing traits off the edge. So far, Guyton has played a complementary role in the Red Raiders’ revamped defense, which had to replace David Bailey, but he has shown flashes of his ability to change a game, recording his first two career sacks in a 49-14 win over Sam Houston.
Reynolds hasn’t put up huge numbers, but Clemson has asked a lot of him early. He helped the Tigers finish off Georgia Southern after Christopher Vizzina went down and then beat North Carolina and California in his first two starts. There have been some freshman moments — he has been sacked 16 times in five games — and the production isn’t eye-popping, but Reynolds has at least given Clemson a chance to win while running the offense.
Georgia has completed passes to 20 different players, yet Dandridge leads the Bulldogs with 177 receiving yards on only nine catches. He’s averaging 19.7 yards per reception and has flashed the acceleration and burst that made him an intriguing addition to a receiver room that lost several players during the offseason.
Brown has started every game at left tackle for West Virginia, handling the difficult transition to one of the most demanding positions on the field as a true freshman. He has the strength and power to anchor against rushers while also showing impressive feet for his size, allowing just two sacks all season, both against Oklahoma State.
Zayas has primarily lined up in the slot while playing a consistent role in Penn State’s secondary. He has adjusted well to the physicality of the college game, showing a willingness to fight through blocks and make plays on the ball carrier, while his pick-six against Wisconsin stands as his biggest play of the season.
Five more to watch
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Javian Mallory finds the end zone for Miami
Touches have been difficult to come by in Miami’s crowded backfield, but Mallory has been productive when given the opportunity. He’s averaging 7.4 yards on 39 carries with three touchdowns, including a 142-yard performance against Florida A&M. The No. 18 running back in the Class of 2026, Mallory looks every bit a capable understudy to Mark Fletcher Jr., and he seems to be earning more trust after recording a season-high 14 carries in Miami’s 41-13 win over Clemson.
Boise State beat out Oregon State to land Jones, a three-star receiver out of high school, and he’s already a significant part of the Broncos’ passing attack after working his way into the starting lineup immediately. Jones led Boise State in catches (23) and receiving yards (359) through Week 5 and caught four passes for 76 yards in his debut against Oregon. The Broncos have also found ways to use him outside the traditional passing game, and he has scored once as both a receiver and runner.
Colman-Brusa visited fellow Big Ten rivals Oregon and Ohio State but opted to stay home and sign with Washington. He has since worked his way into the Huskies’ defensive line rotation and made a quick impact. The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder notched his first career sack in Week 2 against Utah State. Washington might have to rely on the freshman even more as it gets deeper into conference play given injuries at other positions.
A four-star recruit, Boney stood out against some of the best high schoolers in the nation as one of the top performers at last year’s Under Armour All-America game. So it’s no surprise he has carved out a role on a talented Michigan defense. Boney has been efficient in his pass-rush opportunities, notching a sack against both UTEP and Iowa. The Wolverines have fallen short of expectations so far, but Boney has been a bright spot.
A former Georgia commit, Calicut was a highly recruited prospect before landing at Georgia Southern and earning an immediate role in the secondary. His 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame stands out on film, and he has used that size to play downhill and make physical plays in the box while also showing the ability to stay in phase with receivers in coverage. Calicut has 14 tackles and forced a fumble against Jacksonville State that led to a short field and an Eagles touchdown.
