15 freshmen who made an immediate impact

The gap between high school football and college football is as wide as the Atlantic. So when an athlete fresh out of his senior year not only gets significant playing time but also makes a meaningful contribution, it deserves recognition. In no particular order, check out the true freshmen who have made names for themselves in 2018.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

We all felt for Kelly Bryant when he lost the Tigers’ starting job to Lawrence four games into the season. Now having seen what Lawrence can do, it’s hard to fault Dabo Swinney’s decision. The freshman has already broken a number of the school records set by Deshaun Watson, leading the Tigers to a fif^th-straight win against their biggest rival and an all-but-guaranteed spot in the College Football Playoff.

Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

The Orange aren’t haven’t a historic year on the gridiron by accident. Give head coach Dino Babers credit for developing a lot of his players, but Cisco’s one of those guys who showed up ready to make plays from Day 1. He’s second in the nation with six interceptions this season, and he has an uncanny ability to rise to the occasion: Two of his best games, statistically speaking at least, came against Clemson and Notre Dame.

Isaiah Bowser, RB, Northwestern

The Wildcats are the winners of the Big Ten West for the first time, and that might not be the case if it weren’t for Bowser. Since taking over as Northwestern’s feature back in the matchup with Rutgers, he’s had four games with more than 100 yards rushing, including 165 yards in the win over Iowa that clinched the division for Wildcats.  

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

When you’ve got a near shoo-in for the Heisman at QB, you don’t have to look too far to find some elite receivers. Tua Tagovailoa already had such a player in Jerry Jeudy, but Waddle has emerged as an impressive complement. His 690 receiving yards are second-most among Bama receivers, but it’s his explosive-play ability that makes him really exciting. He averaged 24.3 yards per reception against rival Auburn, including a 53-yard TD reception from Jalen Hurts.

Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State

If there was ever a team in need of an immediate impact player, it just might be the Beavers. Oregon State has been in the rebuild stage for what feels like forever — but Jefferson seems like the real deal when it comes to a guy to build around. He’s sixth in the nation with 1,680 rushing yards on the season, including six games with 100-plus yards and two games with 200-plus yards. He also was instrumental in the Beavers’ win over Colorado, their first Pac-12 victory since 2016.

Houston Griffith, DB, Notre Dame

It’s no secret the Irish have a lot of defensive weapons, particularly up front. Griffith has been an excellent complement in the secondary and has shown versatility, playing at the corner, safety and nickel positions. With so many dominant upperclassmen, Griffith hasn’t necessarily been the go-to guy. But he provides depth and has made enough stops to put his own team, and those he goes up against, on notice.

Caden Sterns, S, Texas

Texas football is finally, once again, starting to feel like Texas football. When Sterns picked off Tulsa QB Luke Skipper on the first play from scrimmage in Texas' home opener, he put Longhorn fans on notice. Now he's tied for second in the Big 12 with four interceptions on the year, and his tackling ability has been steadily improving as the season progresses. Sterns has also made his mark on special teams — among other big plays, his blocked field goal against USC is one that Trojan fans won't soon forget.

Max Borghi, RB, WSU

Gardner Minshew has stolen most of the headlines on the Palouse this season, and rightfully so. But imagine a patented Mike Leach air-raid offense WITH a real threat on the ground. With Borghi in the Cougars' backfield, that could be the wave of the future. The Washington State freshman hasn't put up the gaudy statistics you sometimes see from Pac-12 running backs, but he has emerged as a grinder — the kind of back who can get you the short yardage third-down conversion or goal-line score.

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

It's a tale as old as time: The Crimson Tide don't rebuild; they reload. Among the future greats in Tuscaloosa is Surtain, who has the size, speed and hard-hitting ability we've come to expect from Bama defenders at every level. Any freshman who makes an impact in a rivalry game gets bonus points in my book, and Surtain issued one of the plays of the game, stuffing kicker Anders Carlson on a failed fourth-down trick play.

Pooka Williams, RB, Kansas

If you watched the Jayhawks' effort against sixth-ranked Oklahoma, then you know about Williams. The running back had the best game of his already excellent season, rushing for 252 yards and two touchdowns and almost single-handedly keeping his team in the game. Averaging 7 yards per carry, his 161 attempts have garnered 1,125 yards this season — good enough for second in the Big 12.

Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn

This season didn’t go the way Gus Malzahn and the Tigers had hoped, but if Schwartz is an indication of the future, things might be looking pretty bright. With 19 grabs, the freshman is averaging 16.2 yards per reception. He’s able to get it done on the ground as well, with four rushing touchdowns on the year (including one against Alabama; always an impressive feat). Oh, and he also is a track standout who set a high school world record in the 100m last year — speed that has translated well onto the gridiron.

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

To get an idea of how dominant Parsons has been in his inaugural campaign, one need look no further than the top of the Penn State stat sheet. You’ll find him in the lead spot, with 69 tackles on the season. He’s shown a preternatural ability to pressure the quarterback and stuff the run and has also contributed on special teams. If you watched the Maryland game, you know he’s a playmaker both in space and at the line of scrimmage…one of those athletes who feels like a leader on the team, despite being among the youngest.

Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

In truth, Moore probably deserves his own article. The freshman phenom leads the nation in receptions with 103, which is second most in a single season in Big Ten history. He’s had a school-record seven games with more than 100 receiving yards and has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times. He’s a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award and the Maxwell Award and a finalist for the Hornung Award. He also happens to be one of those fun-to-watch, video-game style athletes, and as such, is making Purdue fun to watch.

Ronnie Perkins, DE, Oklahoma

The 2018 Oklahoma Sooners team won’t be remembered for its defense, but Perkins will likely be remembered long after 2018. He’s been a bright spot on a struggling squad — when Curtis Bolton returned a fumbled ball 48 yards for a score and a win against West Virginia, it was Perkins’ pass rush that started it all. Should the stars align for a Big 12 Championship win and an Oklahoma Playoff spot, look for Perkins to play a key role.