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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.
Running back
Luginbill: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Henderson lived up to his No. 1 running back ranking in the 2021 ESPN 300. He has special tools and was a top national back regardless of class this year. The former five-star has a rare blend of speed and power, and he is learning how to pass protect. Henderson topped 1,000 yards this year and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground.
VanHaaren: Henderson, Ohio State
Henderson led the Buckeyes in rush yards (1,165) and touchdowns (15). He was a big part of the offense and even broke some Ohio State freshman records along the way. He did not look like a freshman this season and will be one of the best returning running backs next season.
Luginbill: Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Allen looks like an NFL running back (6-foot-2, 238 pounds) but is the age of a high school senior since he reclassified from the 2022 class. The 11th-ranked RB in last year's ESPN 300 exceeded 1,000 yards at 7.1 yards per attempt. His yards after contact and power are impressive. We discussed the possibility of him playing linebacker, like our college projection on Derrick Henry, and both players proved us wrong.
VanHaaren: Allen, Wisconsin
Allen was a big part of Wisconsin's turnaround this season from a 1-3 start to finishing 8-4. While the team also featured transfer Chez Mellusi, Allen ran for 1,125 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Badgers, both team highs. The team had been lacking a star at running back, and the Badgers found it with Allen.
Wide receiver
Luginbill: Xavier Worthy, Texas
Steve Sarkisian has found ways to move the explosive Worthy around to create matchup problems for defenses this season. He is tall, long, fast and equipped with excellent hands. Worthy had 12 touchdown grabs and was just shy of 1,000 yards receiving. We may have undervalued the No. 8-overall WR in the ESPN 300.
VanHaaren: Worthy, Texas
Worthy was a late addition to this Texas team after initially signing with Michigan. In hindsight, it was an important addition, as he led the team in receiving with 981 yards and 12 touchdowns. The next closest receiver on the team in touchdowns had four.
Luginbill: Mario Williams, Oklahoma
Though his projection dipped the last few games, Williams lived up to our preseason selection and projection. His intangibles have played the biggest role in his early success. He was fourth on the team in receptions and is effective underneath, thanks to excellent awareness as a route runner and quickness after the catch.
VanHaaren: Williams, Oklahoma
Note: Not all duplicate selections will have profiles.
Tight end
Luginbill: Brock Bowers, Georgia
Like Henderson, an argument could be made that the sure-handed Bowers was one the best tight ends in college football this season. Bowers emerged after injuries hit the position, and he is now Stetson Bennett's top big-play receiver heading into the College Football Playoff. Bowers leads the Dawgs in catches, yards and receiving TDs.
VanHaaren: Bowers, Georgia
Offensive line
Luginbill: Bryce Foster, Texas A&M
With Foster among the top interior line prospects in the 2021 class, it was not surprising to see him quickly establishing himself as a starter in College Station. What's surprising was his initial success at center, a novel position for the ESPN 300 player. He is physical and made his biggest impact in the run game. Foster started every game this season.
VanHaaren: Foster, Texas A&M
Luginbill: Reuben Fatheree II, Texas A&M
Things were rocky in the trenches early on for the Aggies, but the future looks bright, with two big men making this freshman All-America team. A towering and lengthy tackle that also played basketball in high school, Fatheree came to College Station with excellent physical tools and has been solid at right tackle in college football's toughest conference.
VanHaaren: Fatheree, Texas A&M
Luginbill: Connor Colby, Iowa
Colby is just the sixth true freshman to start on the O-line in Kirk Ferentz era. An early enrollee, the tenacious and flexible blocker was aided by work in the spring. He hit the ground running this fall, cracking the two-deep and then the starting lineup at guard. Colby's pass-protection skills elevated as the season progressed.
VanHaaren: Colby, Iowa
Luginbill: Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Alt made this final season rendition after filling in when injuries hit the Irish up front. He more than held his own. We saw upside in the former three-star prospect but could not have predicted his immediate success at left tackle. He was sound from a technical standpoint and very talented in pass protection.
VanHaaren: Alt, Notre Dame
Alt was part of a transformed Notre Dame offensive line that came together late in the season. He had a transformation himself, as he was a tight end in high school and is now going to be a staple on the Irish offensive line.
Luginbill: Campbell Barrington, BYU
The former three-star recruit had no Power 5 offers when he signed with BYU last year, but he held his own for the Cougars this season. Barrington is sound fundamentally and a physical blocker at the point of attack. He played alongside his brother Clark Barrington, who was also underrecruited but developed into solid starter.
VanHaaren: Garrett Dellinger, LSU
Dellinger was a big get for LSU out of high school and is already contributing. He was a big, strong recruit out of Michigan that LSU targeted heavily and has added nearly 30 pounds since arriving on campus.
Defensive line
Luginbill: Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Oliver made the most of his early opportunities, recording five solo tackles (three for loss), two sacks and three hurries in a win over Baylor in his first start. The 10th-rated end in the ESPN 300 tied for seventh in the country with 11.5 sacks and was a disruptive presence off the edge for the Cowboys. His upside is off the charts.
VanHaaren: Oliver, Oklahoma State
Luginbill: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Williams landing on this list from an elite Buckeyes defensive line class that included No. 1 overall defensive player Jack Sawyer is a bit of a surprise. Five-star J.T. Tuimoloau showed impressive flashes, but with five sacks and a forced fumble, Williams had the most productive and impactful season despite limited snaps.
VanHaaren: Williams, Ohio State
Luginbill: Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
Stewart made this final All-American list and perhaps should have been on my mid-season edition. He excelled all season as a pass-rusher, tallying 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. A three-star prospect out of Boston with adequate size and minimal recruiting attention, his explosive power off the edge is as good as any.
VanHaaren: Stewart, Coastal Carolina
Luginbill: Leonard Taylor, Miami
Taylor has made more of an impact than his modest stat lines would indicate. He came on as the season progressed, tallying two sacks for the Canes. He has size and explosive quickness at 300 pounds. Taylor, a former five-star, should become a dominant ACC defender before his time is done in Coral Gables.
VanHaaren: Taylor, Miami
Linebacker
Luginbill: Dallas Turner, Alabama
Nick Saban recruits five-stars for a reason: so he can plug and play them early. Injuries at linebacker allowed Turner to gain valuable playing experience. He registered 25 tackles (seven for a loss) and 5.5 sacks. He showed flashes of being a dominant edge rusher, even as a freshman.
VanHaaren: Turner, Alabama
Luginbill: Junior Colson, Michigan
Not only is Colson starting for a College Football Playoff team, but he's fourth on the Wolverines in tackles. The former ESPN 300 prospect has played really well down the stretch and possesses excellent run-stopping tools between the tackles.
VanHaaren: Colson, Michigan
Colson was fourth on the team in total tackles for Michigan with 56. He had two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery this season on a rejuvenated Wolverines defense.
Luginbill: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
The former three-star prospect was a strong contributor for the Sooners despite battling through an injury. Stutsman has shown strong instincts and good range in sideline-to-sideline production. He had 31 solo tackles on the year.
VanHaaren: Eric Gentry, Arizona State
Gentry was seventh on the team in total tackles with 40 this season for Arizona State. He had four tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry in 11 games.
Defensive back
Luginbill: Denzel Burke, Ohio State
As always, recruiting is not an exact science. Burke was not even the top-ranked cornerback prospect in Ohio State's class. Not only did he start, but he led the Buckeyes in passes defended and is arguably one of the top freshman defenders in the country.
VanHaaren: Burke, Ohio State
Luginbill: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The former ESPN 300 and Under Armour All-American has made an impact in a deep Alabama secondary. In a rotator role, he has 17 tackles, a sack and an interception. The fact that McKinstry is even in the mix and producing for the No. 1 program in the country is an accomplishment.
VanHaaren: McKinstry, Alabama
Luginbill: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson
To play safety in defensive coordinator Brent Venables' defense, players must have an excellent understanding of football. Inserting a freshman is uncommon, and it hasn't happened in a season opener for the Tigers since 1973. The ultra-versatile Mukuba made his collegiate debut against Georgia and posted eight tackles and a pass breakup. He never looked back on his way to 46 tackles and a sack.
VanHaaren: Mukuba, Clemson
Luginbill: Darian Chestnut, Syracuse
Chestnut was spectacular for Cuse this season. The former three-star prospect from New Jersey posted 43 tackles and three interceptions. What's not necessarily showing up in the stat line is his ability to shut down the opposing team's top target.
VanHaaren: Chestnut, Syracuse