Freshman 15: First-year players who will make an immediate impact

Yeah, I'm putting a kicker on this list because they are extremely valuable when they can crush it like Borregales. The younger brother of last year's Lou Groza Award winner, Jose, Andres enters Miami following in his brother's footsteps. He made a 57-yard field goal in a game and hits 65+ yarders in practice. With a goal of reaching the ACC championship (and beyond), having a kicker you can trust is crucial.

Bowman (#5 pictured) has world-class speed and with the way Lincoln Riley wants his offense to operate, expect him to find ways to make an impact. As a receiver, he can loosen up defenses. Whether it is on slants or seam plays, defenses must account for short plays that he can take to the house as well as keeping someone deep to stop the big play. On defense, he can be a great coverage corner who steps in for a few picks. He'll likely field a few kicks in Norman.

As of now, Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan takes over for Ian Book at quarterback for the Fighting Irish. However, freshman phenom Tyler Buchner is in waiting if Coan struggles early on. Buchner is the future, with a big arm and ability to read through progressions, and is able to make throws that even Book wasn't keen on. 

There is an opening for someone to backup the Wolverines' 2020 leading rusher Hassan Haskins, and Edwards has a great shot to be that guy. He is explosive and can be a big playback right out of the gate. For a team looking for more offensive weapons, the Detroit native should get a lot of touches.

Head coach Scott Frost is up against it, going 9-17 since he's returned to his alma mater three years ago ... finishing fifth in the Big Ten West each year. Frost needs to find anyone that can catch passes and Fidone can fill that void. Junior Austin Allen will be at the top of the tight end depth chart but Fidone -- Iowa's high school player of the year -- should get a fair share of opportunities to catch passes. He caught 10 touchdown passes his senior season and may find himself posted wide at times just to get him on the field.

A combination of being the nation's top prospect and going to a program that needs his production means Korey Foreman should have a giant freshman season. Foreman is a big-time pass rusher who can disrupt Pac-12 offenses this season and be a guy that NFL scouts drool over the next three years. The Trojans' defense improved in 2020 and brings back a lot of experience, so Foreman may just need to come in to do damage.

Bama has been churning out great receivers of late and Hall looks to be the next in line. He's got the speed, hands and he can go get the ball, and also possesses size (6'3, 200 lbs) that makes him a physical presence. With the Crimson Tide losing a lot of receiving talent to the NFL this spring, Hall, along with fellow freshman receiver Jacorey Brooks, will certainly get an opportunity to get looks.

Master Teague III will be the starter out of the gate but look for Henderson to push him for touches. He rushed for over 2,400 yards and 45 touchdowns as a high school junior and should be the next in a long line of great Ohio State backs. 

While sophomore quarterback Dylan Morris played well in the Huskies' 3-1 season, freshman Sam Huard is the future of the Washington program. Huard is the son of Damon and nephew of Brock -- both former Huskies signal-callers. He's one of the highest-ranked quarterback prospects U-Dub has ever signed and is the cause for a lot of buzz about the future of the program. If Morris gets off to a shaky start, expect Huard to take over. 

A physical assassin, Jennings is focused, determined, and aggressive. He is outstanding at filling in gaps as well as chasing down runners with a determination rarely seen in freshmen defenders. In a tough Big Ten East, look for Jennings to quickly become of the Terps' best defensive players. 

Alabama always reloads and typically the Tide don't have to rely on freshmen to contribute right away. But Latham is a guy that can come in and make an immediate impact on that offensive line. With a new quarterback and offensive weapons, having a big, tough tackle for protection is a valuable asset. 

Ringo redshirted in 2020 due to a shoulder injury but should be a force now that he's healthy. The top cornerback prospect in 2020, Ringo is a strong cover man who can shut down his guy and force offenses to look away from his side of the field. With a very young secondary (fellow freshmen Nyland Green and Jalen Kimber join a unit with only one returning starter), Ringo's experience in the program will help him be a leader.

Sanders is such an athlete that new head coach Steve Sarkisian may elect to play him on both sides of the ball. In high school, he was an elite pass catcher (63 receptions, 1,161 yds, 16 TDs his senior year) and as a pass rusher recorded four sacks and an amazing pick-six. Who knows where Sark will play Sanders on gameday but rest assured that he'll find a way to get him on the field as much as possible. 

Clemson needs to find a way to replace Travis Etienne, the ACC's all-time leading rusher. Senior Lyn-J Dixon is the incumbent but Shipley could be the guy that eventually takes over sooner rather than later. He possesses the same type skillset as Etienne (rusher, pass catcher, returner) and is an explosive athlete. Look for Dabo Swinney to find ways to get him touches immediately. 

Quarterback Ty Thompson is the big freshman name to arrive on campus this fall, but he has work to do to climb the depth chart and get playing time. Tackle Kingsley Suamataia will get a lot of playing time protecting whoever starts at quarterback for the Ducks. Not only can Suamataia replace Penei Sewell (who opted out of the 2020 season and was selected in the 2021 Draft), but he is friends with the Sewell family -- which includes current Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell -- and knows the expectations of the program. Oregon believes they can crack the College Football Playoff for the first time since the inaugural event in 2014-2015 and Suamataia could the key to unlocking the Ducks' offensive potential.