If you’re under 40 and can’t believe how much college football has changed since you first attended university, imagine what it’s like for us codgers who can recall when 11 bowls games seemed like a lot, there was a conference named the Pac-8 and freshmen weren’t eligible.
All of that was true until the NCAA finally allowed freshmen to play football in 1972. Even when Tony Dorsett finished second in the nation in rushing in during his freshman 1973 season – and didn’t crack the top 10 in Heisman voting – most frosh still rode the bench.
That is no longer the case, and while transfers will impact college football betting more in 2024, there are some true freshmen that will be forces on the gridiron.
Down in the Offensive Trenches
Deion Sanders and Colorado were the talk of college football when the Buffaloes started 3-0 in 2023. Things quickly went south after that with just one win in their final nine games, and ranking next-to-last allowing 56 sacks was a big reason why.
Enter Jordan Seaton, the top-ranked offensive tackle out of heralded IMG Academy in Florida. The 6-5, 310-pounder was immediately written in as Colorado’s starting left tackle and will anchor a line that includes Indiana transfer Kahlil Benson at right tackle.
Since arriving to Boulder in January as a true freshman jordan seaton has been a bright spot on the revamped O Line and it’s not hard to see why
Before i play the game i watch film before i go to sleep i watch film”
I’ve said he WILL be a freshman all America. Bookmark it ✅ pic.twitter.com/sxcL18aEbS— Dalvin truth (@dalvinthetruth) April 18, 2024
Colorado is a longshot on the NCAA futures to win the Big 12, but those odds could change if the new O-line in Boulder can protect Shedeur Sanders.
South Carolina’s Shane Beamer has two talented freshmen on the offensive line, and Josiah Thompson could be a starter soon after turning heads in spring camp. Kam Pringle actually ranked a little higher than Thompson before spring drills, and the pair is expected to eventually bookend the Gamecocks’ line as tackles.
Meanwhile Along the D-Line
Sanders and Seaton are probably glad that Texas left the Big 12 for greener pastures in the SEC. That’s because an already deep Longhorns defense added Colin Simmons, who many believe is the top edge rusher from the Class of 2024.
Simmons ranked 28th overall in the class, and arrives in Austin after a solid high school career at Duncanville. He’s one reason Texas is among the favorites to win the CFP at top NCAAF sportsbooks.
A good example of why Texas is so excited about Colin Simmons.
Watch the ball get off on this pass rush attempt. pic.twitter.com/UNirVYASNW— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) April 22, 2024
Simmons isn’t the only SEC freshman on the D-Line to enter the 2024 season with high expectations. Missouri landed the top defensive recruit from the class with the signing of Williams Nwaneri, whose 6-6, 270-pound frame will get playing time beginning in Week 1.
Another top SEC defensive frosh is David Stone, who was a teammate of Seaton’s at IMG Academy. He was ranked right behind Nwaneri as the No. 2 defensive player of the class, and will be part of the early D-Line rotation for Brent Venables at Oklahoma.
Can Raiola Turn ‘Huskers Into B1G Contenders?
While he’s well off the radar screen for Heisman Trophy favorites, Dylan Raiola is still heading into the 2024 campaign with enormous expectations. The question is whether those expectations could lead to inflated NCAAF odds on the Cornhuskers.
Raiola is being counted on to rejuvenate a Nebraska program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2016, and that pressure is multiplied by his family ties to the Cornhuskers. The 6-3, 220-pounder was rated as the top QB of the freshman pack, and has been groomed for this at multiple prep schools along the way.
Almost every college recruited Raiola, but Matt Rhule and Nebraska won out. To beef up the receiver corps he’ll be throwing to, the Cornhuskers landed a couple of experienced transfers in Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor.
HOUSE CALL @RaiolaDylan ➡️ @LloydJaylen
and yes, bro was triple jumping in the end zone 🤣#GBR | @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/8ehr5lPVoA— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) April 27, 2024
Billy Napier and Florida have experienced three consecutive losing seasons, and the Gators will begin the season with 6th-year senior Graham Mertz under center. Waiting in the wings is the top dual-threat QB of 2024, DJ Lagway.
It’s Mertz’s job to lose, and he’ll have a familiar target in Chimere Dike who was a wideout at Wisconsin when Mertz was there. It’s not an easy September schedule, however, and Napier will turn to Lagway if Mertz and the Gators start poorly.
Coleman, Wingo Lead Young Receivers
Auburn is yet another program looking to get back to greatness following a string of losing seasons, three to be exact. A big problem for Hugh Freeze last season was the passing game, and the Tigers will have a rebuilt group of downfield targets for Payton Thorne to look for.
Leading that group is freshman Cam Coleman, a home-grown product that was also heavily courted by Clemson, Texas A&M and LSU.
Coleman will be thrust into a featured role for Auburn, while fellow 5-star WR recruit Ryan Williams will have to play his way into the mix at Alabama. He could have gone elsewhere when Saban left, and there were offers, but Williams stayed in Tuscaloosa.
It will be interesting to see how Steve Sarkisian and Texas settle things at wideout, but freshman Ryan Wingo is sure to be part of the rotation from the beginning, and part of the reason the Longhorns are popular Saturday picks.
Ryan Wingo is a big play machine, he hauled in 4 of his 4 catchable targets for 81 yards and 2 TDs.
Here is every target…and throw from Wingo 📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/0uH96MbWbz— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) April 21, 2024
Texas lost its top 3 wide receivers and best tight end, forcing the Longhorns to bring in a cast of transfers. That could be a blessing for Wingo, who was No.8 on ESPN’s list of WR for 2024.
