Here’s a look at the impact some of the top true freshmen have made through Week 5 of the college football season:
Quarterbacks
Four of the six true freshmen to earn starts at quarterback this season played in Week 5: UConn’s Zion Turner, Temple’s E.J. Warner, Colorado’s Owen McCown and New Mexico State’s Gavin Frakes.
Advertisement
Only Turner got a win. The south Florida native helped UConn end a 17-game losing streak to FBS opponents with a come-from-behind 19-14 victory at home over Fresno State.
Turner, who has been UConn’s starting quarterback since Ta’Quan Roberson was lost to a season-ending injury in Week 0, was only 8 of 15 passing for 130 yards and a touchdown with 23 yards rushing on 11 attempts. But he made several key plays on the winning 11-play, 94-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
WHAT A CATCH!@_ZionTurner ➡️ @kevens_clercius 😤 pic.twitter.com/Tjp1N2YaCB
— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) October 1, 2022
Turner connected with receiver Kevens Clercius for a 40-yard gain and then scrambled for 11 yards on third-and-10 to bring the Huskies, who were 23-point underdogs, into the red zone. Devontae Houston scored the go-ahead touchdown with 6:06 remaining on a 17-yard run.
The Huskies (2-4) have been ravaged by injuries and endured blowout losses to No. 22 Syracuse, No. 4 Michigan and No. 14 NC State. But Saturday’s victory provided an opportunity to feel good.
Considering the competition UConn has faced, Turner’s numbers aren’t bad. He has completed 54.9 percent of his passes for 559 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s been sacked seven times and under pressure on 39 of 139 dropbacks.
“He certainly could have broken if he was not as mentally tough as he is,” UConn coach Jim Mora said Tuesday. “He seems more certain now in what he’s supposed to do. You see him pull it quicker and run or get the ball out of his hand quicker on passes. We’ve got a long way to go. But I just know he’s a mentally tough, very competitive kid and it’s going to be hard to get him down. He bounces back, and that’s what we saw when we recruited him.”
Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, had a rough start in a 24-3 loss to Memphis. He completed only 18 of his 37 attempts for 245 yards and had three interceptions. But Dad is still proud.
Sitting here in awe of how my son @elijah13warner sees field as freshman (considering I didn’t even know what Cover-4 was when I went to college), I love hearing him tell me WHY he made each decision… I watch every NFL game each week & some of those guys don’t see it as well!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) October 2, 2022
Running backs
Ole Miss’ Quinshon Judkins produced his third 100-yard rushing game off the bench in a thrilling 22-19 victory over Kentucky, and he’s now leading all true freshmen in rushing.
Judkins, the second-leading rusher in the SEC overall, had 15 carries for 106 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown run. He has forced 35 missed tackles on rushes.
#CFB's Top 5 Fastest Ball Carriers from Week 5
2️⃣ OleMiss RB Quinshon Judkins (@qaj4_) 22.5 mph@OleMissFB | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Kzv9sgeKmM
— Recruiting Analytics (@RAanalytics) October 3, 2022
“His personality is very calm, very quiet,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said Monday of Judkins, a three-star recruit from Pike Road, Ala. “The most unique (18-year-old) we had (at USC) was Troy Polamalu. He was unbelievable off the field, and then the switch would go and he would just want to knock everybody out on the field. Q kind of reminds me of that off the field. It’s really neat. He was raised really well.”
Advertisement
Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen led all true freshman rushers in Week 5 with 112 yards on only four carries in a 59-0 blowout of Wagner, an FCS program. Allen, a three-star from Millville, N.J., has run for 137 yards on 15 carries this season as a backup to 2021 ACC-leading rusher Sean Tucker.
Oklahoma has lost back-to-back games, but Jovantae Barnes was a bright spot in last Saturday’s 55-24 loss to TCU. The four-star from Las Vegas ran for a season-high 100 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 14 yards.
With Eric Gray and Marcus Major banged up, Barnes could have an opportunity to shine in this week’s Red River Showdown.
“He played tough, played fast and took care of the football. So he’ll continue to get opportunities,” Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said Monday.
West Virginia’s CJ Donaldson, fifth among true freshman leading rushers this season, left Saturday’s loss at Texas with a concussion after taking a knee to the head and has been ruled out this week against Baylor.
Player | School | G | Att. | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quinshon Judkins | 5 | 85 | 535 | 6 | |
Jaydn Ott | 5 | 72 | 532 | 5 | |
Nicholas Singleton | 5 | 63 | 463 | 5 | |
Richard Reese | 5 | 72 | 400 | 7 | |
CJ Donaldson | 5 | 56 | 389 | 6 | |
Kaytron Allen | 5 | 57 | 303 | 3 | |
Omarion Hampton | 5 | 56 | 293 | 5 | |
Trevor Eteinne | 5 | 35 | 223 | 2 | |
Jovantae Barnes | 4 | 55 | 223 | 2 | |
Robert Briggs | 5 | 39 | 213 | 1 | |
Samuel Brown | 5 | 42 | 210 | 2 | |
Kaleb Johnson | 5 | 41 | 206 | 3 | |
Ashton Jeanty | 5 | 39 | 201 | 1 |
Other notable true freshman rushing performances:
Penn State’s two-headed true freshman backfield of Nick Singleton (21 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD) and Kaytron Allen (21 carries, 86 yards) did just enough to help the 10th-ranked Nittany Lions slip past Northwestern 17-7.
Cal’s Jaydn Ott followed up his record 274-yard performance against Arizona by rushing for 69 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown in a 28-9 loss to Washington State. He’s second to Judkins among true freshmen in rushing yards. Ott, though, leads all true freshman running backs with 16 catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. He had seven receptions for 41 yards in the loss to Washington State.
Boston College’s Alex Broome ran for a season-high 81 yards on nine carries, including a 40-yard touchdown run, in BC’s 34-33 victory over Louisville.
Advertisement
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty ran for 82 yards on 12 carries and scored his first rushing touchdown.
Thirteen true freshmen scored rushing touchdowns in Week 5. The others not previously mentioned: Oregon’s Jordan James, Washington State’s Jaylen Jenkins, Appalachian State’s Kanye Roberts, Colorado’s Anthony Hankerson, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, and Baylor’s Richard Reese. Marshall true freshman running back A.J. Turner scored on a 24-yard touchdown catch.
Receivers/tight ends
Six true freshman receivers caught touchdown passes in Week 5: Auburn’s Camden Brown, Boston College’s Joseph Griffin Jr., Stanford’s Mudia Reuben, Florida’s Caleb Douglas, Alabama’s Kobe Prentice and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan.
Prentice led all true freshmen with 92 receiving yards on three catches versus Arkansas.
McMillan, a former five-star from Anaheim, Calif., was tied for the lead in catches for the week with five for 90 yards in a win over Colorado. Texas A&M’s Evan Stewart, another former five-star, had five catches for 56 yards in a loss at Mississippi State. Clemson’s Antonio Williams had five catches for 45 yards in a win at home over NC State.
Only four true freshman tight ends caught passes in Week 5: UConn’s Justin Joly (3 for 34 yards), LSU’s Mason Taylor (3 for 14 yards), Texas A&M’s Donovan Green (2 for 19 yards) and Stanford’s Sam Roush (1 for 11 yards).
Player | School | TGT | REC | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jayden McGowan | 30 | 22 | 276 | 1 | |
Evan Stewart | 33 | 18 | 197 | 1 | |
Dane Key | 20 | 17 | 269 | 3 | |
Antonio Williams | 20 | 17 | 229 | 1 | |
Tetairoa McMillian | 38 | 16 | 290 | 3 | |
Jaydn Ott | 20 | 16 | 104 | 2 | |
Barion Brown | 23 | 15 | 282 | 2 | |
Kobe Prentice | 20 | 15 | 211 | 1 | |
Matthew Golden | 21 | 13 | 178 | 2 | |
Mason Taylor | 23 | 13 | 106 | 0 | |
Luther Burden III | 27 | 13 | 94 | 1 |
Offensive linemen
A dozen true freshmen started on the offensive line in Week 5: Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks and right guard Cole Hutson, LSU left tackle Will Campbell and right tackle Emery Jones, Clemson right tackle Blake Miller, Arizona right guard Jonah Savaiinaea, California right guard Sioape Vatikani, Akron left tackle Kamarii Landers, Utah State right guard Weylin Lapuaho, Colorado left guard Van Wells, FIU left guard John Bock, Georgia Southern left guard Pichon Wimbley and New Mexico State interior lineman AJ Vaipulu.
Among linemen to play at least 20 snaps, Florida’s Jalen Farmer earned the highest overall grade from Pro Football Focus (78.1) and run-blocking grade (78.2) in 22 snaps at right guard against Eastern Washington in his first action. Clemson’s Miller (76.2) and Texas’ Hutson (67.4) graded second and third, respectively, in run blocking.
Advertisement
Alabama’s Tyler Booker earned the highest pass-blocking grade (82.2) in 30 snaps off the bench at guard against Arkansas. New Mexico’s State AJ Vaipulu (80.5) and Florida’s Farmer (80.4) graded second and third in pass blocking.
Defensive linemen
Nine true freshman defensive linemen were credited with sacks in Week 5:
Indiana’s Dasan McCullough tallied his fourth sack in a 35-21 loss to Nebraska. McCullough played 49 snaps off the bench against the Cornhuskers and had five tackles.
Alabama’s Jaheim Oatis, a 6-4, 370-pound former four-star from Columbia, Miss., who was making his third consecutive start, got his first sack and assisted on seven tackles in the win over Arkansas.
Michigan’s Mason Graham picked up his first unassisted sack in his first start, a 27-14 victory over Iowa. He also had four tackles.
TCU’s Damonic Williams was credited with half a sack in the 55-24 win over Oklahoma. Williams has 1 1/2 in sacks in four starts.
Player | School | Snaps | Pressures | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gabe Jacas | 64 | 14 | 3 | |
David Bailey | 101 | 14 | 0.5 | |
Dani Dennis-Sutton | 53 | 12 | 3 | |
Harold Perkins | 38 | 10 | 1.5 | |
Shemar Stewart | 96 | 11 | 1 | |
Dasan McCullough | 72 | 10 | 4 | |
Deone Walker | 97 | 9 | 0 | |
Sterling Webb | 77 | 8 | 1.5 | |
Mykel Williams | 81 | 8 | 1 | |
Cam Robertson | 63 | 8 | 0 | |
Vincent Anthony Jr. | 100 | 8 | 0 |
Kent State’s Stephen Daley played only four snaps in a 31-24 overtime win over Ohio but had his first sack.
Syracuse’s Denis Jaquez Jr. earned half a sack in five snaps off the bench in the win over Wagner.
Appalachian State’s Donovan Spellman, a former three-star from Greenville, N.C., had his first sack in his first action — 21 snaps off the bench — in a 49-0 win over The Citadel.
Stanford’s Jaxson Moi was credited with half a sack in a 45-27 loss to Oregon. Moi played a season-high 43 snaps off the bench.
New Mexico State’s Sterling Webb earned his first solo sack of the season in a 21-7 loss to FIU. Webb, who has started four games for the Aggies, also had three pressures.
Illinois’ Gabe Jacas and Stanford’s David Bailey led all true freshmen in Week 5 with four pressures each, according to Pro Football Focus.
Bailey (76.1), Kentucky’s Deon Walker (74.2), Michigan’s Graham (71.3), Duke’s Vincent Anthony Jr. (68.8) and Georgia Southern’s Latrell Bullard (68.7) earned the five highest grades among defensive linemen from PFF.
Advertisement
Walker (75.2), Bailey (74.9), Florida’s Chris McClellan (73.7) and USF’s Eddie Kelly (70.2) earned the four best grades defending the run.
Linebacker
Linebacker continues to be a tough position for true freshmen to earn the trust of their coaches for significant playing time.
Only nine played more than 20 snaps on defense, and just five earned starts in Week 5: Kentucky’s Alex Afari, Maryland’s Jaishawn Barham and Caleb Wheatland, Charlotte’s Reid Williford and Akron’s Bryan McCoy.
LSU’s Harold Perkins was the only true freshman to make an interception. His fourth-quarter pick helped seal a 21-17 win over Auburn. He added two tackles.
Mr Harold Perkins Jr pic.twitter.com/YmtZBP3X8G
— Drunk Mike Denbrock (@DrunkDenbrock) October 2, 2022
North Carolina’s Randy “Deuce” Caldwell didn’t start but was productive in his first action, with four tackles and a sack in 11 snaps off the bench in a 41-10 win over Virginia Tech.
Florida’s Shemar James, who started the Gators’ first three games, earned the highest grade (68.0) from PFF among true freshman linebackers to play at least 20 snaps. He had eight tackles in 39 snaps off the bench against Eastern Washington.
Defensive backs
Clemson slot cornerback Toriano Pride had the lone interception among true freshman defensive backs. Pride’s first career interception came late in the third quarter of the Tigers’ 30-20 win against NC State.
Man from the Lou
2022 All-American Toriano Pride Jr. (@toriano2x) with his first career interception. #ALLIN #AllAmericanBowl 🇺🇸
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) October 2, 2022
Texas A&M cornerback Denver Harris led all true freshmen with two pass breakups against Mississippi State, according to Pro Football Focus. Harris was also responsible in coverage for allowing a touchdown catch.
Ohio State cornerback Ryan Turner was credited with the only sack by a true freshman defensive back. He picked it up on only six snaps during a 49-10 win over Rutgers.
Advertisement
Northern Illinois cornerback Amariyun Knighton led all true freshman defensive backs in tackles. He had 10 in a double-overtime loss to Ball State.
Maryland cornerback Gavin Gibson earned the best grade for pass coverage (73.0) from PFF. He allowed two catches for 11 yards on four targets with one pass breakup.
Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane earned the best overall grade from PFF (74.7), totaling three tackles in 23 snaps off the bench in a blowout loss to North Carolina.
Player | School | POS | Starts | Snaps | PFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A.J. Haulcy | S | 2 | 201 | 78.5 | |
Jeremiah Earby | CB | 1 | 167 | 74.6 | |
Will Johnson | CB | 0 | 108 | 73.5 | |
Malaki Starks | S | 4 | 232 | 73.4 | |
Chauncey Logan | CB | 1 | 90 | 73.1 | |
Simion Hines | S | 0 | 96 | 72.3 | |
Nick Emmanwori | S | 4 | 301 | 71 | |
Denver Harris | CB | 0 | 145 | 70.6 | |
Jahlil Florence | CB | 0 | 95 | 69.3 | |
Gavin Gibson | CB | 1 | 143 | 68.7 |
Special teams
Kentucky’s Barion Brown continued to make a case that he’s the best kickoff return man in college football. Brown, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score in the Wildcats’ season-opening win over Miami of Ohio, had an 85-yard kickoff return and a 54-yard return in the loss to Ole Miss. Brown leads the FBS with a 47.7-yard return average.
“The scary thing is there’s areas we need to improve on (in kickoff-return blocking),” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said of Brown’s long returns. “There were enough (blockers) that gave him a crease, but there are some guys that need to step up and improve.”
Seven true freshmen made field goals: Ohio’s Nathanial Vakos, Arizona State’s Carter Brown, Western Michigan’s Palmer Domschke, Iowa State’s Jace Gilbert, Old Dominion’s Ethan Sanchez, Arkansas State’s Dominic Zvada and Virginia’s Will Bettridge. Nobody made more than one.
Zvada’s was the longest — from 46 yards — in a 45-28 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Arizona State’s Brown, who made a 40-yarder in a loss to USC, leads all true freshmen with eight field goals made. He’s got one more than Zvada, who is 7-for-7 on field goal attempts.
Boise State’s James Ferguson-Reynolds had the longest punt — a 59-yarder — among seven punts in a 35-13 win over San Diego State. It was the third-longest punt by a true freshman this season, with Iowa State’s Tyler Perkins and Western Kentucky’s Tom Ellard booting 61-yarders. Perkins and Colorado’s Trent Carrizosa lead all true freshmen this season with a 43.4 net punting average.
Utah safety Sione Vaki had three tackles on special teams to lead all tacklers on kickoffs and punts, according to PFF.
(Photo of Quinshon Judkins: Justin Ford / Getty Images)
