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ESPN Analyst- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
The 2021 season saw some of the most chaos and parity we've seen in quite some time. Part of that chaos involved true freshmen who made an impact on their respective teams.
A true freshman quarterback supplanted a preseason Heisman candidate at Oklahoma. A late addition to the Texas' 2021 class led the Longhorns in receiving yards. A Georgia tight end dominated from the start.
The first-year players came in ready to play and made a difference across the country. With the regular season finished, here is the ESPN true freshman All-America list for 2021.
Quarterback
Tom Luginbill: Caleb Williams, Oklahoma
Williams beat out a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate midway through the season, and while he was inconsistent at times, his overall level of play at a marquee position was fantastic. He can beat defenses with his arm or legs, is very dynamic and has amazing leadership qualities. Williams has an extremely bright future in Norman.
Tom VanHaaren: Williams, Oklahoma
Williams replaced then-starter Spencer Rattler early in the season and never looked back. He finished the season with 1,670 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also had 408 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Rattler has since entered the transfer portal, and Williams is the starter going forward.