NCAA Football Top 5 Freshman standouts for Week 1

The transition from High School Football to playing in important Week 1 matchups for College Football can take time to reach the field and at times frustrate true freshman players.  Many players have caught the eye of opposing coaches and the top 5 list of true freshman players for week 1 are filled with natural playmakers.  5. Starting off the list is a true freshman wide receiver out of Phenix City, Alabama (Central High School), Cam Coleman (WR) that had 2 receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown for Auburn University.  Coleman came into the Fall camp with a chip on his shoulder only to find himself starting for the Auburn Tigers. 

Alabama A&M was a good opening opponent for Coleman and Auburn and we look forward to seeing him grow throughout his freshman year.  4.  Ryan Williams (WR) out of Saraland, AL (two-time Player of the Year in Alabama) brings the Rolling Tide the complete wide receiving package.  Williams ended the game with 2 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns for Alabama against an inferior Western Kentucky.  More impressively, Williams is 17 years old.  In the highly revamped offense led by Coach DeBoer and quarterback Jalen Milroe, Williams may end up being the best offensive threat that the Rolling Tide present.  3. The first true freshman quarterback to impress for week 1 played his high school football in Buford, GA.  Dylan Raiola (QB) lived up to his expectation of his five-star reputation. 

Raiola passed for 238 yards with 2 touchdowns and more importantly no turnovers for Nebraska against UTEP.  As the season advances, competition will be creating opportunities to test the Nebraska program.  2. Chaminade-Madonna (FL) five-star recruit Jeremiah Smith (WR) brought a level of belief to the Horseshoe in Columbus for Ohio State on Saturday.  His first pass was a dropped ball, but bounced back with 6 receptions for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Coaches raved that most impressively was his route running and his body control in the red zone throughout the game.  Expectations were high for Smith, but Jeremiah delivered for his first game as a Buckeye.  1.

If you sit and watch highlight reels from this past Saturday’s game for South Carolina you will notice a defensive line that has speed and size, and is led by number 6, Dylan Stewart (EDGE) out of Friendship High School (Washington D.C.).  The pass rusher ended his debut with 4 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks for the Gamecocks against Old Dominion.  The timing of the plays in crucial situations is what lands Dylan Stewart as our top true freshman for Week 1 which also landed Stewart as SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.