18 college football freshmen who had their best seasons yet

We’re entering the final weeks of the 2024 college football season, but there’s plenty to look forward to in the future. The future looks especially bright thanks to several standout freshmen taking over college football in their rookie seasons. These are the freshmen who have had the best seasons thus far.

QB CJ Bailey | NC State

CJ Bailey wasn’t the Week 1 starter at NC State, but since taking over at quarterback, he has held his own. He has racked up 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns to just four interceptions, rushing for two more scores. In his last outing against Stanford, he completed 90 percent of his passes with three touchdowns, finishing with a 237.8 passer rating and 98.4 QBR.

QB DJ Laway | Florida

Would Florida have beaten Georgia if DJ Laway hadn’t been hurt? We’ll never know, but the Gators were up 10-3 – with the ball – before the freshman superstar suffered an injury against the Bulldogs. Lagway has shown flashes of greatness as he navigated a QB battle to become the starter.

QB Dylan Raiola | Nebraska

Dylan Raiola has been the man from Day 1 at Nebraska and he has lived up to the hype. He threw for 1,921 yards and 10 touchdowns and helped Nebraska return to the AP Poll for the first time since 2019 earlier this season.

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RB Isaac Brown | Louisville

Isaac Brown is averaging 7.5 yards per carry on 106 carries with seven rushing touchdowns. He ran for 151 yards and a score in an upset over Clemson.

RB Caden Durham | LSU

Caden Durham has – literally – court speed and it shows on the field. He can take home any play and already has eight touchdowns to his name this season.

WR Nick Marsh | State of Michigan

Nick Marsh may be flying a bit under the radar compared to other freshman wide receiver counterparts due to the limited team success Michigan State has had at 4-5. However, true ball connoisseurs can see that Marsh is a diamond in the rough season in East Lansing.

Marsh has 33 catches for 553 yards and three touchdowns as the leading receiver on the Spartans. He looks like a complete package, whether it’s making jump balls or gaining yards after the catch.

WR Jeremiah Smith | State of Ohio

There hasn’t been a better freshman in college football than Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. His eight receiving touchdowns rank ninth nationally and he breaks freshman records that have stood since Cris Carter played for the Buckeyes. Smith has emerged as the WR1 for an Ohio State team loaded with five-star talent, including projected first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.

WR Ryan Williams | Alabama

Ryan Williams is 17 years old and already the best wideout in Alabama. He has 35 catches for 702 yards and seven touchdowns, highlighted by a game-saving touchdown to knock off No. 2 Georgia. Williams knows how to get open like a veteran and make moves after the catch, even though he is the youngest player on the field.

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OT Anthonie Knapp | Notre Dame

Anthonie Knapp took over the starting left tackle position after an injury to Charles Jagusah at Notre Dame and hasn’t looked back. Like most rookie offensive linemen, Knapp was better in the run game to start his career, but his growth in pass protection shows week after week.

OT Jordan Seaton | Colorado

Jordan Seaton had more pressure on his shoulders than any freshman this year. He was tasked with protecting elite quarterback Shedeur Sanders after the offensive line was terrible last year. Seaton has had his growing pains, but overall he has been a lynchpin on the blindside and a key role in Colorado’s resurgence.

OT Josiah Thompson | South Carolina

Josiah Thompson entered South Carolina as a five-star recruit and has lived up to his rating after starting every game at left tackle this year.

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Edge Colin Simmons | Texas

Colin Simmons has a burst from the edge that may remind some in burnt orange of Brian Orakpo from the late 2000s. Simmons has four sacks and 7.5 tackles to his name this season.

Rand Dylan Stewart | South Carolina

Dylan Stewart looked like a veteran from Day 1 in South Carolina, recording a sack in all but two games. Stewart has 5.5 sacks on the year with two forced fumbles. He has looked like an elite SEC edge rusher for years.

CB Zabien Brown | Alabama

Zabien Brown made one of the biggest plays this college football season with his interception against Georgia. That’s just one of many plays he made in his freshman year.

CB OJ Frederique | Miami (Fla.)

In the last six games, OJ Frederique has allowed just three catches for 24 yards while nabbing an interception. He didn’t start the year as a starter, but since being inserted into the lineup he has become a key defensive part of Miami’s undefeated start.

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S KJ Bolden | Georgia

KJ Bolden hasn’t been the starting starter for Georgia all season, but he has gotten significant reps all season. However, in his first start against Florida, he had five tackles and a pass breakup, demonstrating his versatility against the run and pass that has been on display all season.

S CJ Heard | FAU

CJ Heard has 62 tackles in his true freshman season, finishing with double-digit tackles in three games. He leads FAU in tackles.

S Koi Perich | Minnesota

There is an argument that Koi Perich has been the best defensive freshman in the country to date. He has been everywhere for Minnesota’s defense, intercepting five passes in six games. He came in as the second-highest rated modern high school recruit to ever commit to Minnesota and has lived up to the hype.