Fresh Faces: 10 freshmen to watch this college football season
Though a plethora of upperclassmen will dominate the college game this year, countless young guns will have a chance to make their mark.
At nearly every position, top recruits flocked to their respective schools, vying to make an impact. Here, we look at 10 freshmen to keep an eye on.
Terry Beckner Jr., DT, Missouri
Missouri made its biggest signing when it landed Terry Beckner Jr., considered by many to be the nation's top recruit. Now he'll have a go at becoming college football's best defensive tackle.
Beckner Jr. already possesses enough size for his role; it'll be interesting to see how his skills develop.
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
There is a college coach out there who believes that UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is "the next Peyton Manning."
While comparing a true freshman who hasn't thrown a ball in a collegiate game to a future hall-of-famer could be a little extreme, there's no doubting the physical similarities between the two.
Rosen is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and has a chance to light up the Pac-12 in a direct competition with in-state rival USC, and preseason Heisman candidate Cody Kessler.
Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
A former 5-star running back, Joe Mixon might be the most talented player to not see the ball most possessions this season. Blocked by Samaje Perine at Oklahoma, Mixon will have to work hard for his touches.
But people may be forgetting just how good the 6-foot-2, 217-pounder is. His freshman season may come down to finding a fit in new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley's air-dominant scheme.
Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M
John Chavis couldn't be happier to see Daylon Mack with Texas A&M. The Aggies' defensive coordinator hasn't seen much from the big freshman, but from what he gathers, Mack will be just fine.
"I think Daylon is mature enough that he's handling this well and that's part of the transition, his maturity and who he is," he told 247's Jeff Tarpley. "I think we are in good shape there."
George Campbell, WR, Florida State
There's a good chance we'll hear George Campbell's name a lot this fall. The incoming freshman can become the nation's best wide receiver, and at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, he looks the part.
Florida State lost Rashad Greene to the NFL, but if Campbell has his way, Greene won't be missed in Tallahassee for long.
Byron Cowart, DE, Auburn
Auburn is lucky to have one of the few freshman who can step in and play in Week 1. Having Byron Cowart on a defense run by new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp almost seems too good to be true.
"He looked good, real good," defensive lineman DaVonte Lambert said last week. "A freshman that can come in and play, that's real good. We always talk and work on a few things so having him come in as a freshman and playing that's a big part of this defense."
Iman Marshall, CB, USC
Iman Marshall will make life very difficult for wide receivers in the Pac-12. He possesses everything you want in a corner - speed, size, physicality, and a bit of arrogance.
Meld that with a secondary that includes Adoree' Jackson, Kevon Seymour, and Leon McQuay III, and last year's No. 118 nationwide rank in pass defense should be forgotten.
Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
The No. 1-rated player in the state of Texas will undoubtedly fit nicely into Charlie Strong's plan at UT. Malik Jefferson is a big boy who will lay some devastating hits this season.
It's expected that he'll start in some capacity with the Longhorns, but, while he has all the physical tools, he still has a long way to go in learning the game.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley is tasked with replacing the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, wide receiver Amari Cooper. It goes without saying that those are some big shoes to fill.
But if you ask Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Ridley's got the tools, not only to be the best wide receiver at Alabama this season, but one of the best ever to don the jersey.
"Calvin has really kind of showed some elite talent of guys over the years we've been able to be around," Kiffin told AL.com's John Talty. "A couple of Biletnikoff winners and a bunch of All-Americans, he's shown that talent. Now there's a long way to go to get to that level, but his speed when he catches the ball and his transition, if he does the other things all the way through, which is a lot, he's going to be really special."
Derwin James, S, Florida State
Yet another Florida State player, one can argue that Derwin James will be the top defensive back in college. At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, James is already as aggressive as they come downfield.
It's projected that given his size, style, and raw athleticism, he'll be the Seminoles' starting safety. If that's the case, it'll be interesting to see how he responds to the pressure.