Not every college football season is going to feature a true freshman quite like Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
As a rookie, Smith pulled down 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns and was considered the best wide receiver in the Bowl Subdivision as the Buckeyes ran through the College Football Playoff to capture the national championship.
Other incoming freshmen to watch are Oregon wide receiver Dakorien Moore, Clemson running back Gideon Davidson and Georgia defensive lineman Elijah Griffin.
These are the new faces set to make a huge impact in the Power Four and in the chase for the playoff:
QB Bryce Underwood, Michigan
The top-ranked quarterback in the recent recruiting cycle and for many recruiting services the top prospect overall, Underwood captured the starting job and is guaranteed to play a play a major role for the Wolverines. In the big picture, the local product represents the program’s future at the position and will end up a multiple-year starter.
WR Dakorien Moore
The five-star receiver won’t match Smith’s impact as a true freshman but will have a large role in the Ducks’ passing game, helping new starting quarterback Dante Moore ease into the lineup. He’s in position to see serious snaps from the start given that senior Evan Stewart is still recovering from a knee injury and sophomore Jurrion Dickey is currently suspended.
OT David Sanders Jr., Tennessee
Sanders has added about 40 pounds since arriving on campus and put himself in solid standing to earn the starting nod heading into Tennessee’s season opener against Syracuse. Obviously, to start on either line as a true freshman in the SEC is no easy task, even for someone with Sanders’ size and athleticism. Should he ends up as one of the Volunteers’ top reserve linemen, Sanders still will be one of the league’s must-watch newcomers.
CB DJ Pickett, LSU
He’s already drawn comparisons to some of the Tigers’ recent superstars on the outside. Built like the prototypical NFL cornerback at 6-foot-5 and nearly 200 pounds, Pickett should have the physicality to run with and battle SEC receivers as a rookie. At a minimum, Pickett is another weapon for a defense that badly needs to take a major leap forward to keep LSU in contention for the national championship.
RB Gideon Davidson, Clemson
After running for over 5,000 yards in his final two years in high school,, Davidson will see touches in the running game for the preseason favorite in the ACC. With last year’s leading rusher in the NFL and last year’s primary backup, Jay Haynes, missing time early in the year as he recovers from a knee injury, Davidson is competing for starting snaps with senior Adam Randall, junior Keith Adams Jr., sophomore Jarvis Green and redshirt freshman David Eziomume.
DE Marco Jones, Texas A&M
The converted linebacker steps into a position for immediate situational snaps with last year’s starting ends off to the NFL. With 258 pounds stacked on his 6-foot-5 frame, Jones has the size to compete on running downs but should be used primarily as a true freshman in an edge-rushing role.
DL Elijah Griffin, Georgia
To some recruiting services, Griffin was not only the top line prospect in his cycle but one of the top prospects at his position this decade. Given Georgia’s track record of development, it would surprise no one if Griffin turned into the program’s latest All-America pick on the interior of the defensive front. As a true freshman, he should battle for snaps in a crowded room and take on a larger and larger role as the season progresses.
CB Devin Sanchez, Ohio State
Ohio State has two pretty firmly established starters at cornerback in Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews along with a developing reserve in sophomore Aaron Scott. But Sanchez is set to contribute for the defending national champions as one of the top cornerbacks off the bench, likely seeing more and more time as he learns the nuts and bolts of the position. There’s no doubting his athleticism: Sanchez is Big Ten-ready and hasn’t looked the part of a freshman in fall camp, coaches and teammates have said.
TE Linkon Cure, Kansas State
It can be hard for true freshmen to carve out a big impact at tight end, with former Georgia star Brock Bowers one notable exception. The top-ranked recruit at the position, Cure might not be an every-down contributor for the Big 12 favorites, but he could definitely step into a significant role as a sort of security blanket for quarterback Avery Johnson. In the end, Cure could be a piece that separates the Wildcats from the rest of the pack in a very crowded conference.
QB Julian Lewis, Colorado
It’s not a sure thing that Lewis will replace Shedeur Sanders under center with the offseason addition of Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Given that Colorado opens with Georgia Tech, Salter was the safer pick out of the gate for coach Deion Sanders. But the time for Lewis is coming sooner or later, and maybe even as soon as some point in September or in the midst of league play. Even as a backup, Lewis will see key snaps in an effort to speed up his development.
QB Malik Washington, Maryland
While he’ll be suiting up for what looks on paper like one of the weaker teams in the Big Ten, Washington is the true freshman quarterback most likely to see the field right out of the gate in the Power Four. While a lower-body injury set him back to start fall camp, Washington has rallied in recent weeks to stand neck and neck with fellow contenders Justyn Martin and Khristian Martin as coach Mike Locksley gets closer to his final decision.