NATE FRAZIER : Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
It’s early in the season, but fall camp and the first two and a half weeks of the college football season have given us plenty to discuss. Underperformers, surprises, and most importantly, a look at this heralded freshman class. Here, I’ll try to take a look at a few risers, fallers, and noteworthy players from that freshman class based on the expectations coming in.
QUARTERBACKS
I didn’t really intend to mention them, but it’s hard to ignore what Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola and Florida QB DJ Lagway are doing. It’s impossible to climb any higher than the top three selections they were being taken with this offseason, but they’ve given us the confidence to continue to rank them as such. Both may actually exceed our initial expectations.
Raiola and Lagway are locked in as top six quarterbacks overall in Devy and are approaching unobtainable status. Congratulations if you are an owner. Now, to the others garnering some buzz.
STOCK UP
C.J BAILEY, QB, NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Bailey was a late riser during the draft season after an impressive showing in the spring. He capped it off by throwing for 170 yards, rushing for 72 yards, and accounting for three touchdowns in the spring game.
He carried that momentum into the fall, and although he’s still clearly the backup, he’s one of the few freshman QBs to earn a spot on the 2-deep. The staff has compared it to a “Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers”-type situation, marking him as the signal caller of the future in a fairly QB-friendly system. (And if you’ve watched any Grayson McCall the past two weeks, that switch could come sooner than we expect)
Bailey was a 3x high school state champion as the signal caller for a Chaminade-Madonna team that featured Jeremiah Smith and JoJo Trader at wideout. Some would ding him for playing with such a talented supporting cast, but Bailey brings his own impressive set of tools. At 6’6″ and 200 pounds, he has a lanky build with some funky mechanics, but he’s mobile, can make plays off-script, and can really put some heat on the ball.
He still has work to do to become a legitimate Devy asset, but I could see him giving us similar production to what we are seeing out of Arkansas QB Taylen Green, with upside for more. I’m fairly bullish on his potential, landing him as a top-30 QB overall in my rankings.
OTHER NOTABLES
Isaac Wilson, QB, Utah
As another true freshman to crack the 2-deep, Isaac Wilson has already seen plenty of time on the field through two weeks and may get an extended look with Cameron Rising injuring his throwing hand in last week’s game. The brother of former BYU QB Zach Wilson didn’t exactly wow anybody in his brief appearances. He lacks the eye-popping traits his brother possessed, but any true freshman starting for a P4 team is worth monitoring.
Elijah Brown, QB, Stanford
Brown technically entered week one listed as a starter, although it was in a three-way “OR” with his two fellow Stanford signal callers Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson. This could have just been depth chart shenanigans, or it could be a representation of everything we’ve heard this offseason about Brown legitimately pushing for starting snaps. He made his collegiate debut last week against Cal Poly, going a perfect 7/7 for 97 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t the strongest opponent, but it’s a showing that should give the Cardinals staff more confidence in Brown, especially with Daniels’s lackluster start to the season.
Looking for the fallers? Unfortunately, I didn’t have many at the QB position, as we usually will give the most leniency to in year one. Quit being such a Negative Nancy.
RUNNING BACKS
STOCK UP
NATE FRAZIER, RB, GEORGIA
This one was almost a borderline addition. Frazier was frequently ranked as a top-five back for most analysts in this class but had a fair amount of skepticism based on his high school profile.
A late position switch in high school meant Frazier only saw two years as a full-time running back and never led his backfield in Either season. The traits were undeniable, showcasing good size, lightning-quick cuts, and speed that made him look shot out of a cannon, but the production profile was uninspiring.
Luckily for Frazier, injuries and a suspension opened up the door early in fall camp. His impressive showing in the offseason culminated in a Week 1 start against a notoriously strong Clemson defense. He went over 100 yards on the day (83 rushing, 24 receiving) and found the endzone once, with an eye-popping 7.5 yards per carry.
Trevor Etienne’s return in week two saw him return to a backup role, but it’s safe to say he’s worked his way into the RB2 role for this Georgia offense and a top 15 RB overall for me in Devy.
JERRICK GIBSON, RB, TEXAS
Despite being a consensus top-ten back in this class by the recruiting agencies, Gibson felt like a bit of an afterthought this draft season.
That all changed when Texas lost sophomore RB C.J. Baxter for the year, affording him an opportunity we didn’t think he would have this year. Although the excitement has been more centered around his backfield-mate Jaydon Blue, Gibson currently leads this team in rushing yards and touchdowns through two weeks.
Some of that has been game-script dependent, but Gibson has been getting touches early and often. Couple that with the lackluster production of the rest of the backfield, and it might be possible we see Gibson a lot more this season. He’s crept into my top 30 RBs overall.
STOCK DOWN
KEDREN YOUNG, RB, NOTRE DAME
As a consensus top 10 ranked running back in this class, there were some high expectations for Young. His college-ready build and bruising running style drew comparisons to his predecessor, Audric Estime, and a seemingly ambiguous backfield presented some opportunity.
If fall camp and the first two weeks of the season are any indication, Kedren might end up with a similar freshman season to Estime (7 carries for 60 yards). He hasn’t seen the field through two weeks, wasn’t listed on the depth chart, and has seemingly been passed up by another true freshman in Aneyas Williams.
That’s not to say it can’t happen later for Kedren. He brings a tough and physical element that the Notre Dame backfield seems to be missing now, so he could be the preferred option to grind out the game.
Although, when you’re losing games to Northern Illinois, it’s fair to wonder how many chances he will get to do that.
JOHANN CARDENAS, RB, VANDERBILT
It was hard not to fall in love with Johann’s backstory. He tore his ACL in his junior season but had a tremendous recovery, returning for the beginning of his senior season. He accounted for over 2,500 yards and 34 TDs and clocked speeds upwards of 21 MPH at 6′ feet’0″ and 215 pounds. That’s an Adrian Peterson-type bounce back and the signs of a potential genetic freak.
He was also going to a team whose leading rusher only had 371 rushing yards last season. There seemed to be an opportunity for Cardenas, but through two weeks of the season, he’s nowhere to be found.
Vanderbilt blew out Alcorn State 55-0, where seven different ball carriers touched the ball. None of those were Johann. The buzz has been so minimal that it’s hard to even find a mention of his name.
Perhaps we were a little lofty with Cardenas, whose RB7 ranking in our freshman guide and RB27 ranking in our Devy Guide led to some decent supplemental draft capital this offseason. Hopefully, Johann can still make us look smart with a late-season push. At this point, it’s looking far more likely he will redshirt this season.
OTHER NOTABLES:
Wayshawn Parker, RB, Washington State
Parker has made the best of his touches in WSU’s backfield. The 6’0″, 200-pound freshman has registered 8.7 YPC and a 0.57 missed tackles forced rate, both of which lead his class (min. 15 att). The volume might be up and down with Mateer’s rushing ability and a rotation at RB, but his start to the season is noteworthy.
Davin Gause, RB, North Carolina
With Omarion Hampton getting banged up last week, we got to see a sneak peek into the potential future of this backfield. Gause took 16 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown against Charlotte, registering over four yards after contact. He’s a tackle-breaking machine who could end up as the successor to Hampton after he likely moves on to the NFL next year.
Sire Gaines, RB, Boise State
Ashton Jeanty is attempting to change the narrative of the G5 running back and is likely off to the NFL next year, leaving a gaping hole in the Broncos backfield. He’ll leave behind a good situation with a strong offensive line, one that true freshman Gaines looks to benefit from next year. There will still be some question of who the successor will be once Jambres Dubar returns to health, but he has already amassed 18 carries, three catches, 175 yards, and two touchdowns in the year.
Adam Mohammed, RB, Washington
Mohammed was listed as 180 pounds as a recruit, leaving him off the initial Devy radar. He left spring camp with a listing of 212 pounds and earned some of the strongest reviews of any freshman running back this offseason. Although he isn’t technically Washington’s RB2, he’s their second-most productive back through two weeks and has posted high-efficiency marks with over seven yards after contact and 13 yards per carry.
Jason Patterson, RB, Kentucky
With Chip Trayanum down for a few weeks, Patterson earned a spot on the 2-deep depth chart to start the season and has played a meaningful role early. He’s an interesting size/speed prospect who weighs in at 5’10” and 206 pounds and clocks a 21.9 MPH time, recorded by our recruiting team. Patterson could be in line to lead the Wildcats backfield in 2025.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Like QB, I don’t necessarily think Alabama’s wideout freshman Ryan Williams or Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith need to be mentioned as stock-up players. Still, it’s fair to say they might even exceed our expectations to start the year. Both could finish as their teams leading receiver, and I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest. I don’t think either should be ranked lower than a top 7 WR overall in Devy.
STOCK UP
NICK MARSH, WR, MICHIGAN STATE
I didn’t think it was right to start this list with any other name after Nick Marsh announced himself to the world last weekend with an 8-catch, 198-yard, and one-touchdown performance against Maryland. In just two weeks, Marsh smashed Year 1 Zero thresholds and has potentially worked himself into WR1 status for the Spartans.
Marsh isn’t the most dynamic athlete, but he brings impressive size (6’3″, 210) and has clocked speeds over 21 MPH by our recruiting team. His hands and body coordination are even reminiscent of former Michigan state recruit Keon Coleman.
With a 5.26 YPRR number, a 100% contested catch rate, and the third-most receiving yards in the class, his trajectory is bound to come down. But you may have found some hidden treasure if you spent some late capital on Marsh. Kudos to C2C’s own Dwight Peebles for forcing his inclusion into this year’s Devy Guide, as he has now forced his way into my top 40 WRs overall.
BRYANT WESCO JR, WR, CLEMSON
Like Frazier, Wesco was another borderline addition to this list. He had his fair share of supporters this offseason but wasn’t met without skepticism. His 6’2″, 170-pound frame was a red flag, and he was joining a busy WR room that also featured the addition of our fourth-highest freshman wideout, T.J. Moore (who has also had a strong start to the season). There was concern that Wesco could push for meaningful playing time.
The good news is that Wesco didn’t need much playing time to show us his potential. In only 20 passing snaps – the sixth-highest number on the team – Wesco leads the Tigers with 135 receiving yards and has already hit Year 1 Zero thresholds.
His detractors will quickly point out that Wesco did most of his damage on only three catches in garbage time versus an inferior opponent, but even getting on the field can be difficult for a freshman. With an impressive athletic profile that features a 21.5 MPH time and a 36-inch vertical jump, Wesco is a dynamic athlete whose arrow is trending upwards. He’s ranked as a top 30 WR overall for me.
STOCK DOWN
MYLAN GRAHAM, WR, OHIO STATE
Going to Ohio State can be a blessing and a curse. They’ve had one of the best track records of developing and producing NFL talent at the WR position. They seem to have an eye for potential, so if Ohio State wants you – it’s usually a good sign.
On the other hand, it can lead to a stockpile of talented receivers who can’t seem to make their way onto the field. Guys like Kyion Grayes, Noah Rogers, Brandon Iniss, and potentially this year’s version, Mylan Graham.
Twelve pass-catchers caught a ball in last week’s game against Western Michigan, where the Buckeyes went 3-deep at quarterback. None of those pass catchers were Graham. There was some hope Graham could push to break his Year 1 Zero threshold as return-man, but head coach Ryan Day said Graham needs to “put on weight and get stronger” before seeing that type of role.
The Buckeyes haven’t been shy about playing freshman either, so if he gets himself ready, he’ll have a chance to contribute. Until then, Graham seems to be sitting on the Y10 hot seat.
AARON BUTLER, WR, TEXAS
We knew investing in Butler was going to be a little bit risky. The WR room in Texas was as crowded as ever after their transfer portal additions, and they added another highly coveted wide receiver prospect, Ryan Wingo. We knew there would probably only be room for one of them to make an impact in year one (hence their hedge ranking of WR54/55 in our Devy guide), and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that will be Butler.
As a company, we were higher on Butler’s skill set than the aforementioned Wingo. However, he was a two-way player who still needed to grasp the nuances of the wide receiver position. Texas seems to feel the same way, as Butler hasn’t even seen a snap for the Longhorns offense. Meanwhile, Wingo has already broken some of his Year 1 Zero thresholds, and fellow freshman Parker Livingstone, the 106th-ranked WR in this class by 247Sports, has even seen time on the field before Butler has.
Texas has only had one chance to feature their depth this season, so there is still a chance Butler could find his way onto the field, but he seems like a prime Year 1 Zero candidate.
OTHER NOTABLES:
Mazeo Bennett Jr, WR, South Carolina
When I turned on Bennett’s HUDL tape and the first minute was just of him laying guys out as a blocker, I knew he would be a DOG. His playstyle reminds me of former WKU WR Malachi Corley. He’s received steady praise throughout the offseason and parlayed that into the starting slot role for this offense. Despite the offense struggling to move the ball through the air, he’s already approaching his Year 1 Zero thresholds with four grabs for 73 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Reece Vander Zee, WR, Iowa
An Iowa wideout? In this economy? You might think it’s crazy, but there’s no doubt the 6’4″, 207-pound wideout deserves our attention. He started out of the gate for the Hawkeyes, catching five of seven balls for 66 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate debut. He’s also played the second-most snaps of this entire freshman class. His production will fluctuate in this type of offense (as evidenced by his one catch for 10-yard performance in Week 2). Still, he has some intriguing traits and some reasonably interesting athletic comparisons in our database.
Mario Craver, WR, Mississippi State
Craver turned a strong offseason into a meaningful role out of the gate. He’s been operating as the Bulldogs’ third option at wideout and has been on the field for this freshman class’s third-most receiving snaps. The returning health of his teammates could stunt his trajectory. Still, new head coach Jeff Lebby has started manufacturing some high-end production out of this WR core and Craver could be a major beneficiary in 2025.
Malcolm Simmons/Auburn WRs
There is a youth movement at the wide receiver position for the Auburn Tigers, and boy, is it good to see. Two receivers have already broken Year 1 Zero thresholds. The first is 5-star prospect Cam Coleman, who has been everything we had hoped and currently leads the team in receiving yards and passing snaps, and the second is Malcolm Simmons.
Simmons, the lowest-ranked receiver in the group, has been a bit of a surprise and seems to be the second-most preferred option. Perry Thompson – who is also 80% of the way to breaking a Year 1 Zero threshold – and Bryce Cain have also seen their fair share of snaps early in the season, but it’s clear that Auburn intends to embrace their youth at the wide receiver position.
Shamar Rigby, WR, Purdue
Purdue has only played one game this season, but it came with a surprise at the top of the WR depth chart. Rigby was listed as the starter at the X position and proceeded to play the most receiving snaps on the team and the 2nd-most of any freshman receiver in week one. The 6’3″, 187-pound pass catcher only has 13 yards to show for all his hard work, but the confidence the Purdue staff has in him is noteworthy.
Caleb Odom, TE/WR, Alabama
At 6’5″ and 227 pounds, I still treat Odom as a potential tight end at the next level. His 13-pound weight increase over the offseason was a strong step in the right direction. Odom has also been able to work his way onto the field early in the season. He earned rotational snaps in their first two games and is already a third of the way into beating his Year 1 Zero thresholds. Odom brings a skillset to this Alabama offense they don’t currently have, which could result in more playing as the season continues.
Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
I had to give some love to the tight ends in this class, and Trey’Dez Green is starting to earn my attention. The 6’7″, 245-pound mammoth was consensus-ranked as the highest tight end in the class by the recruiting services, although many C2C analysts opted for secondary options. Although he’s extremely raw, he’s an impressive athlete at his size and has been the only tight end other than Mason Taylor to touch the ball for the LSU Tigers. With Taylor likely off to the NFL next year, Green could get his shot to lead this room.
Cory Pereira // @FF_Guitarist
