College football is hurtling toward the stretch run, and many of the top freshmen in the country are playing key roles on College Football Playoff hopefuls. That’s especially true at running back, as Javian Mallory (Miami) and Jonaz Walton (Notre Dame) have surged in our updated rankings of the best first-year players in the country.
While there’s plenty of movement beyond those two, everyone is still chasing breakout star Jesse Legree, who remains No. 1 on our list. The Oregon State star has been one of college football’s most productive receivers regardless of class.
Our latest rankings expand from 25 players to 40 now that the calendar has flipped to November.
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 when he took the job there this offseason. Legree leads all receivers in yards (1,110) and touchdowns (14), and has topped 100 yards in all but one game. 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 shown a good feel for finding open space in coverage.
While he wasn’t LSU’s highest-rated defensive line recruit — that was to No. 1 overall recruit Lamar Brown — Geralds 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-foot-1, 280-pound frame. He has lived up to expectations and established himself as the most impactful freshman defensive lineman in the nation. Geralds ripped off five sacks through his first five games, then set a season high in tackles (six) in a rout of then-No. 16 Mississippi State. 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 eight games, and the moment doesn’t look too big for him. The former four-star has used his rare blend of size, power and athleticism to wall off defenders, especially in the run game. Helton is physical at the point of attack and has been an important part of a Georgia ground game that is averaging 5.9 yards per carry, the best mark in the SEC and fourth nationally.
Despite Mark Fletcher Jr.’s presence in Miami’s backfield, Mallory has forced the door open thanks to his production when given opportunities. Mallory — not Fletcher — leads the Hurricanes in rushing (495 yards) on 23 fewer carries, and his 7.0 yards-per-carry mark ranks 11th nationally. That includes a 142-yard performance against Florida A&M and a 108-yard, two-score outing against rival Florida State. The No. 18 running back in the Class of 2026, Mallory has mostly run right through defenders, and he even caught a season-high three passes against North Carolina.
Walton has helped meet the challenge of replacing Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in Notre Dame’s backfield. The No. 14 running back in the Class of 2026, Walton is the Fighting Irish’s second-leading rusher (477 yards) behind Nolan James Jr. and his 6.9 yards per carry outpace James (5.8). Walton is a powerful runner who breaks arm tackles and finishes runs by falling forward. He also has explosive speed — as seen on his 97-yard touchdown against Stanford — and his ball security has stood out. Walton opened October with back-to-back 100-yard outings, including 181 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinal.
Glasker has emerged as one of quarterback Bear Bachmeier‘s most dangerous weapons. Through eight games, Glasker leads the Cougars in catches (32) and yards (585), averaging 18.3 yards per catch. Glasker can get behind defenses vertically and has shown the burst to turn shorter throws into big plays. BYU clearly trusts him in big moments — his 53-yard reception late against Arizona State set the Cougars up to put the game away — and the 2026 three-star will be an important part of BYU’s hunt to return to the Big 12 championship game.
Wafle has been more disruptive than his three sacks suggest. He has consistently collapsed the pocket and hurried quarterbacks, and his production is starting to pay dividends. The 6-6, 265-pounder tallied 19 tackles and all of his sacks in October. No Power 4 freshman defender has played more snaps than Wafle, and he leads all true freshmen in pressures. He has the power to set the edge and hold his ground against the run.
Darby has quickly become Kenny Minchey‘s most reliable target, working mostly out of the slot. He led Kentucky with 507 receiving yards through eight games, which includes 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 and ranks among the top 10 SEC receivers in catches (38) and yards. So far, the 2026 four-star and No. 273 player in the SC Next 300 has vastly outperformed his high school ranking.
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 that cost him the next three games. Even so, his 512 yards led all USC receivers through nine games, thanks in large part to a pair of 100-yard games against Penn State and Ohio State upon his return. Mosley showed his big-play ability against the Buckeyes, taking a screen pass 69 yards on the second play from scrimmage for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a lead they never relinquished against then-No. 2 Ohio State.
The No. 65 recruit in the country, Gray stepped directly into a starting role, playing 540 snaps at both tackle spots while protecting QB LaNorris Sellers on the edge. He has allowed just one sack through the first two months — that sack stemmed from a miscommunication on a delayed blitz — while showing the ability to mirror and sustain blocks in pass protection and open running lanes. No. 23 South Carolina has ripped off three straight wins and Sellers has been quite productive in all three. Gray is a big reason why.
Dunnigan keeps getting better. He’s second among Miami defenders with 37 tackles through eight games and hasn’t been shy about playing downhill from the secondary. He gets to the alley and closes quickly against the run. Dunnigan is filling up the stat sheet — he has 1.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble — and his pick-six put the exclamation point on a win over Clemson. The 6-3, 205-pounder closed out October by tying his season high with nine tackles against North Carolina.
After splitting time with La’Vell Wright and Ja’Kyrian Turner early, Ferguson has emerged as the Panthers’ lead runner. He’s up to 123 carries through nine weeks, easily pacing all true freshman running backs, and his 662 yards rank sixth among all ACC rushers. That includes a 31-carry game for 185 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia Tech. He’s a physical runner with enough burst to create bigger gains and has also chipped in 18 catches.
Freshmen have seized several key roles for the Sun Devils. A four-star out of Texas, Mack has emerged as Arizona State’s leading rusher (523 yards) through eight games and racked up a whopping 49 carries over the final two games of October, including gaining 159 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Kansas State. Mack is a compact, physical presence with good vision between the tackles, and his balance makes him tough to corral in space. He ran for 123 yards against BYU and offers some excitement alongside fellow freshman Jake Fette.
USC has no shortage of receiving talent, but Dixon-Wyatt, a 2026 four-star, was one of QB Jayden Maiava‘s favorite targets early on. He had 114 yards against Oregon, including a 31-yard touchdown, and ranked third among true freshmen in targets through four weeks. While his production dropped in October, the 6-2 Dixon-Wyatt gives USC a big target who can win contested catches and has plenty of physicality as a blocker.
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 him right away. The five-star freshman has since won the starting job and has completed 65% of his passes for 1,489 yards while adding another 150 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Vanderbilt lost four consecutive games to open SEC play and Curtis tossed six picks and took 11 sacks during that stretch, but his ball security and decision-making should get better with more reps.
Elee ranked second in the 2026 class and became Maryland’s highest-rated signee ever, surpassing Stefon Diggs. While it has been a struggle for the Terrapins this year, Elee’s elite explosiveness has been a bright spot. He is up to 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles through eight games, including a strip sack of Ohio State’s Julian Sayin. He has generated more pressure than his sack totals suggest, consistently using his speed and quickness to force quarterbacks off their spot.
Brown has started every game at left tackle for West Virginia and his 583 snaps through Week 9 were the most of any FBS freshman. He has superbly handled the difficult transition to one of the most demanding positions on the field. He has the strength and power to anchor against rushers while also showing impressive footwork for his size. Brown has allowed four sacks so far: two against Oklahoma State, two against TCU.
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 quickly worked his way into the starting lineup. He forced a fumble on the opening play against Texas, which immediately led to points, and has six pass breakups. Timmons left the Illinois game with a lower-body injury and missed matchups against Iowa, Maryland and USC. He did play at a high level in his return against Indiana.
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 against Washington State in his first appearance. Even while consistently isolated in man coverage, Jones has held up well. He came up with a timely fourth-quarter interception in a win over Purdue and has added 21 tackles through Week 9.
Through nine weeks, Lewis has played more defensive snaps than any other SEC true freshman. Vanderbilt primarily lines Lewis up at slot corner and his alignment near the box has helped him make an impact in run support, as he’s tied for fifth on the team with 35 tackles. He’s an instinctual defender in man coverage who does a good job tracking receivers.
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, as well as a penchant for highlight-reel plays. Zayas’ pick-six against Wisconsin and an incredible one-handed interception off Michigan’s Bryce Underwood stand out.
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Josiah Zayas snags a sensational one-handed pick for Penn State
Mulitalo has steadily played his way into a bigger role this season as he competes for starting reps at right tackle for the Cougars. He played particularly well in BYU’s upset of Notre Dame. The 6-5, 310-pound Mulitalo does a good job sustaining blocks once engaged and displays impressive footwork for a young player of his size. He has also been reliable in pass protection, allowing just one sack on the season.
The Demon Deacons’ defense ranked third in the ACC through Week 9 with 17.9 points allowed per game and they’ve relied plenty on Eaddy, who has the look of a dependable corner. The 5-11, 170-pounder keeps plays in front of him in coverage and can turn and locate the football even when trailing receivers. Eaddy has yet to allow a receiving touchdown.
Bowman reclassified and could still be playing high school football. Instead, the four-star recruit is starting at tight end for USC. The freshman was trending toward a breakout after catching six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns against Louisiana, but he then missed three games with an injury. He caught three passes for 79 yards in his return against Ohio State, including a sensational 70-yard catch-and-run where he hurdled a defender and broke multiple tackles. His reliable hands have made him a useful high-volume target in the Trojans’ passing game when healthy.
Reynolds hasn’t put up huge numbers, but Clemson has asked a lot of him. He helped the Tigers finish off Georgia Southern after Christopher Vizzina went down, then they beat North Carolina and California in his first two starts. There have been some freshman moments — he has been sacked 24 times in eight games — and the production isn’t eye-popping, but Reynolds ended October with his best performance of the season in a 36-24 win over Florida State.
The No. 46 recruit in the 2026 SC Next 300, Greene opened the year as Washington’s starting left tackle, though his role was reduced in Big Ten play. The Huskies reinserted Greene into the starting lineup in Week 9 against Nebraska to solid results and he has yet to allow a sack. Greene 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.
Georgia has completed passes to 20 players, yet Dandridge leads the Bulldogs with 349 receiving yards on only 20 catches. He’s averaging 17.4 yards per reception and was a bright spot in a loss to Auburn with a season-high 88 yards. Dandridge has flashed the acceleration and burst that made him an intriguing addition to a receiver room that lost several players during the offseason.
28. Noah Clark, DT, South Carolina
At 6-5, 345 pounds, Clark is massive. Unsurprisingly, he’s very strong holding his ground at the point of attack, particularly against the run. Clark leans on opposing linemen to reestablish the line of scrimmage and is strong enough to take on double-teams. Clark’s production (15 tackles, one sack through eight games) doesn’t paint the entire picture of his impact.
Guyton has a modest 11 tackles and four sacks through Week 9, 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, and his quickness and burst off the edge impacts games, even if it doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.
A three-star out of Texas, Brown was a late addition to Alabama’s 2026 signing class. He has already carved out a role in the Crimson Tide’s running back room. His 324 yards through eight games rank second on the team and he’s tied with Keelon Russell for the most rushing touchdowns (five). At 5-10, 206 pounds, Brown’s low center of gravity helps him churn out yards after contact, and he also has a great jump cut with the short-area quickness to make defenders miss in the open field.
While injuries slowed some of Rule’s momentum, the three-star out of North Carolina wasted no time outperforming his ranking, with a pair of 100-yard games in September, and he leads Nebraska with 463 rushing yards through Week 9. He’s averaging a healthy 6.3 yards per attempt and has shown good vision with a physical, downhill style that makes him difficult to bring down with arm tackles.
Boise State beat out Oregon State to land Jones, a three-star receiver out of high school, and he cracked the starting lineup immediately. Jones led Boise State in catches (38) and receiving yards (554) through Week 9 and is coming off a huge game against Texas State, when he caught nine passes for 117 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos also have found ways to use him outside the traditional passing game, and he has scored as both a receiver and runner.
Clark has been a steady producer for San José State’s offense and leads all true freshmen in targets through Week 9. A three-star recruit out of California, the 5-9 receiver leads the Mountain West in receiving yards (642) on 55 catches and is tied for the conference lead with five touchdowns. His short-area quickness has been an asset in quick-game passing and RPO concepts, and he’s shifty after the catch to pick up extra yards.
Even after reclassifying, Crowell was a five-star who ranked as the No. 3 running back in the Class of 2026. So far, he has shown hints of his upside, but an injury against Tennessee knocked him out of the game after one carry and sidelined him for Alabama’s Oct. 24 win over Texas A&M. Crowell entered college with the size and athletic tools to compete right away. His 6.8 yards per carry lead the Crimson Tide, but so far, fellow freshman Trae’shawn Brown has taken on a bigger role.
Kreul’s snaps are steadily climbing for a Sooners defense that ranks second in the SEC in yards per game. He plays with a high motor in constant pursuit of the ball carrier. Kreul uses his quickness off the edge as a pass rusher to turn speed into power. That helped him notch 2.5 sacks against Kentucky, and he also pressured South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers into a throw that led to a pick-six.
A former Georgia commit, Calicut was a highly recruited prospect before landing at Georgia Southern and earning an immediate role in the secondary. His 6-3, 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 been disruptive, forcing a fumble against Jacksonville State that led to an Eagles touchdown, and also picking off a pass and forcing a fumble in a win over Appalachian State.
Russell ranked as the No. 4 receiver in the Class of 2026, but he tore his Achilles in spring practice. The 6-5 target returned to game action just seven months later against UConn, and Syracuse is 3-1 with him in the lineup. Russell is a big, long target, and he delivered in a 31-30 overtime win over North Carolina, hauling in eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, plus the game-winning 2-point conversion.
Murray has racked up 58 tackles through eight games and has played the most defensive snaps of any FBS true freshman. He’s a physical 6-2, 236-pound presence in the middle of the box, showing good instincts and the ability to flow to the football. He wins with his strength at the point of attack and holds his ground against blocks. Murray takes good angles in pursuit, but he is at his best working between the tackles.
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 6-5, 295-pounder notched his first career sack in Week 2 against Utah State, and he picked up his second in a tight 17-10 win over Nebraska to close out October.
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 sacks against both UTEP and Iowa. He plays with a high motor, has a mix of moves and was effective hurrying Penn State QB Rocco Becht in a 21-18 win.
