Even in college football's new transfer portal order, nothing piques the interest quite like emerging freshmen. The allure of present-day impact combined with potential long-term brilliance leaves many programs -- and fan bases -- dreaming of what could be in the not-too-distant future.
That was especially true in 2024 where players like Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart quickly entrenched themselves as future stars.
Here are our freshman All-Americans for the 2024 season:
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Offense | Defense
Offense
QB: DJ Lagway, Florida Gators
Florida has come a long way since it lost to rival Miami 41-17 to open the season amid widespread calls for Billy Napier's firing. Lagway's emergence is a big reason -- and likely saved Napier's job. Lagway became just the seventh true freshman to start at quarterback for the Gators and dazzled when healthy, throwing for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns. Florida also went 5-1 when he started. Lagway has areas to clean up after throwing nine interceptions and completing 59.9% of his passes, but his athleticism, arm talent and leadership are all impressive qualities for the Gators to build around.
RB: Ahmad Hardy, UL Monroe Warhawks
Hardy went from an unranked recruit to one of the most productive Group of 5 running backs in the country. With two games going over 200 yards, he led all freshman running backs with 1,351 yards and won Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and also earn All-Sun Belt first team honors. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound back then hopped into the portal and landed in the SEC with Missouri, which needs to replace its two leading rushers from 2024.
RB: Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama Jaguars
Bothwell is another Sun Belt back who went unranked in high school, made an instant impact and is now getting courted by Power 4 programs in the portal. Bothwell ran for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns on 111 carries while splitting time with Ole Miss transfer Kentrel Bullock. At 5-foot-10, 219 pounds, Bothwell is a bit more physical than fellow transfer Ahmad Hardy and was more impressive on a per-touch basis, averaging 7.5 yards per carry, although he didn't break double-digit carries in any of South Alabama's final four games. Bothwell's size, vision and relatively limited wear-and-tear should appeal to plenty of SEC and ACC programs.
WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes
Smith's brilliance was on national display in Ohio State's 42-17 thumping of Tennessee in the CFP. The 6-foot-3 freshman tormented the Vols with six catches, 103 yards and two touchdowns. He's up to 65 catches and 1,037 yards to go along with 12 touchdowns on the season, becoming the first Buckeyes freshman receiver and only the 10th in program history to surpass 1,000 yards. Smith has elite positional size, speed and a dynamic catch radius. His physical traits transcend almost any receiver in college football regardless of class.
WR: Ryan Williams, Alabama Crimson Tide
For much of the season, Williams and Jeremiah Smith traded jabs as the nation's most explosive freshman receiver. The 17-year-old Williams led all Alabama receivers with 857 yards and eight touchdowns, while averaging an impressive 19 yards per catch. His signature performance was a 177-yard outing in a 41-34 win over Georgia in late September. Williams is an elite big-play threat with impressive ball skills and body control. He has lived up to his five-star billing so far in Tuscaloosa.
WR: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson Tigers
Wesco was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024 who ranked No. 28 in the ESPN 300. He became a downfield threat for Cade Klubnik, leading all Tigers receivers by averaging 17.3 yards per catch, and became the first Tigers receiver since Sammy Watkins to compile two 100-yard receiving games in the first four games of his collegiate career. Clemson leaned on the freshman heavily in their ACC championship game win, where he had eight catches, 143-yard performance to go along with two touchdowns.
TE: Decker DeGraaf, Washington Huskies
A three-star recruit out of California, DeGraaf stuck with Washington even after Kalen DeBoer departed to Alabama because incoming coach Jedd Fisch also recruited him at Arizona. He didn't wait around to make an impact. DeGraaf caught a 33-yard touchdown on the first snap of his collegiate career. Injuries at the position created an opportunity for DeGraaf to sustain a role and he made the most of it, catching 14 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns. Washington slid him into the starting lineup over the final four games. DeGraaf is a reliable pass catcher who showed enough blocking strides to earn trust of the Huskies' staff, who will now look to build on their 6-6 season in 2025.
OL: Jordan Seaton, Colorado Buffaloes
Heisman winner Travis Hunter and potential first-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders understandably captured much of the attention in Colorado. But the Buffs' decision to immediately install Seaton at left tackle solidified an offensive line that was the program's undoing a year ago. Sanders was sacked 17 fewer times with Seaton protecting his blind side in 2024. Seaton has a great wingspan, positional size and the athleticism to thwart edge rushers in pass protection. He's showing all the hallmarks of a future NFL left tackle.
OL: Josiah Thompson, South Carolina Gamecocks
Thompson ranked No. 61 in the 2024 ESPN 300, and the in-state player became the highest offensive line recruit South Carolina had ever signed. He enrolled early and then started every game for the Gamecocks. Thompson is massive at 6-foot-7, 300 pounds with the requisite skill set to become a dominant SEC tackle.
OL: Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Knapp was a former three-star recruit who wasn't even the top-ranked offensive tackle in Notre Dame's 2024 recruiting class. Yet he started at left tackle in the Irish's convincing 27-17 win over Indiana in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, even helping clear a hole on the left side for Jeremiyah Love's tone-setting 98-yard touchdown run. Knapp's another example of a player who enrolled early and impressed with his acumen.
OL: Tyler Mercer, North Texas Mean Green
A three-star center, Mercer initially committed to Tulane before flipping to North Texas. He quickly won the starting center job and held up very well as an interior pass blocker for a Mean Green offense that rarely yielded sacks. The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder has transferred to Kansas, where head coach Lance Leipold has hit the portal hard after a disappointing 5-7 season.
OL: Aidan Banfield, North Carolina Tar Heels
Banfield started nine games at left guard for North Carolina after choosing the Tar Heels over a slew of other ACC offers. He quickly hopped into the portal only to withdraw after North Carolina hired Bill Belichick. Retaining Banfield, a savvy interior player, is an early win for Belichick as he acclimates to the college football recruiting landscape.
All-Purpose: Isaac Brown, Louisville Cardinals
The former four-star had the look of a scatback-type entering 2024, but he has exceeded those expectations. Brown capitalized on early opportunities and outperformed more highly ranked recruits, rushing for 1,074 yards and 11 scores on 147 carries, and catching 30 passes out of the backfield. His best game came against Louisville's archrival Kentucky when he ran for 178 yards and two scores in a 41-14 win. Brown's speed and elusiveness make him a headache for defenders to try and wrangle in the open field and he looks like a budding star for coach Jeff Brohm.
Defense
DL: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina Gamecocks
The 6-foot-6, 248-pounder notched 6.5 sacks and forced three fumbles, teaming with fellow Gamecocks edge Kyle Kennard (11.5 sacks) to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Stewart has a coveted blend of edge quickness and pure power to take on offensive tackles in a variety of ways. The five-star prospect ranked No. 14 in the 2024 ESPN 300, and his blend of positional size, tools and early production portends a high future NFL ceiling. Along with fellow All-SEC Freshman selections in quarterback LaNorris Sellers and offensive lineman Josiah Thompson, the future is bright for South Carolina.
DL: Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma Sooners
It's not surprising that a former IMG Academy defensive tackle emerged as a key freshman contributor for Oklahoma. But few predicted that Jackson -- not high school teammate and 2024 five-star David Stone -- would quickly become a building block for the Sooners' defense. Jackson became the first true freshman to start a season opener at defensive tackle for Oklahoma since Tommie Harris in 2001. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder made 28 tackles and a pair of sacks along with nine starts to earn All-SEC Freshman honors. Jackson impressed Sooners coaches with his maturity, and he's a sturdy, physical presence who plays with leverage at the heart of Oklahoma's defense.
DL: Malik Blocton, Auburn Tigers
Auburn has to replace Jalen McLeod, who had eight sacks, and has five incoming defensive linemen either from the high school ranks or the portal to reinvigorate its trenches. One player the Tigers won't have to worry about is Blocton. He was a highly productive three-star at Pike Road High School (Alabama) who registered 118 tackles and 14 sacks as a senior in high school, then enrolled early with the Tigers. Blocton has great size at 6-foot-3, 291 pounds and notched 16 tackles (including four for loss) along with 1.5 sacks. His technique and play recognition exceeded the typical freshman. Perhaps that's to be expected considering his brother, Marcus Harris, was a standout defensive lineman at Auburn before continuing onto the NFL. Blocton seems to be on a similar trajectory.
DL: Colin Simmons, Texas Longhorns
No freshman menaced quarterbacks quite like Simmons this season. The Texas star leads all newcomers with eight sacks, including one in the SEC championship against Georgia, to go along with 39 tackles (12.5 for loss) and three forced fumbles. Simmons was named to the SEC's All-Freshman Team and plays with exceptional speed and burst off the edge. His elite athleticism, quick first step and pass-rushing ability flashed from Day 1, and he has since evolved into more of a complete threat. He's one of the brightest young stars on a loaded Texas defense and showed why in Texas' CFP win over Clemson, registering a tackle for loss and then intercepting a batted pass in consecutive plays in the second quarter.
LB: Sammy Brown, Clemson Tigers
The former five-star's mix of productivity, twitch and physicality landed him as the No. 13 overall player in the 2024 ESPN 300 and the second-best inside linebacker in the country when he arrived at Clemson. Brown made a strong first impression with 80 tackles and five sacks in his debut year. His production took off once Clemson inserted him into the starting lineup for good on Nov. 9. Brown had 54 tackles and a pair of sacks in his ensuing six games including a 14-tackle showing against SMU in the ACC championship and 10 more tackles against Texas in the College Football Playoff. He has all the requisite building blocks to become a highly productive staple in the second level of Dabo Swinney's defense for quite some time.
LB: Simeon Coleman, Cincinnati Bearcats
Coleman was a highly regarded linebacker who played for a pair of Maryland powers in DeMatha Catholic and Saint Frances Academy. He parlayed a strong spring into a productive first year in Cincinnati, racking up 32 tackles while appearing in all 12 games. Coleman has great positional size at 6-feet, 230 pounds, and he plays with physicality. The Bearcats moved him into the starting lineup midway through November, and he could be in line for a more productive sophomore season in 2025.
LB: Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Viliamu-Asa's versatility at linebacker stood out at St. John Bosco High School (California) where he was a four-star recruit. So far, he's been as advertised. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder has the size and length to rush off the edge, but he's also been effective as a run-stopper and even flashed in coverage. The result is 29 tackles, including three for loss, as well as a sack and an interception, although he suffered a knee injury in his first start on Nov. 23 against Army and missed Notre Dame's next game against USC.
DB: Koi Perich, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Keeping the former four-star in-state player home was a major coup for P.J. Fleck on the recruiting trail. It didn't take long to see why. Perich solidified himself as one of the nation's best ballhawks regardless of class, rattling off five interceptions in his first five games. Perich finished the seasons with 42 tackles -- including a 13-tackle performance against No. 4 Penn State -- and earned All-Big Ten First Team honors at defensive back. Perich was one of five finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year award and also impressed as a dynamic returner.
DB: Eli Bowen, Oklahoma Sooners
While much of the focus will be on Brent Venables' retooled offense in 2025, the Sooners quietly identified and quickly developed multiple under-the-radar impact freshmen contributors on defense. Neither Bowen nor teammate Jayden Jackson were ESPN 300 recruits coming out of high school. Bowen is undersized at 5-foot-9, 186 pounds but he's a willing tackler, notching a season-high eight tackles against rival Texas. His instincts also showed up on his first career interception when he jumped a screen pass from Jalen Milroe in Oklahoma's 24-3 win over then-No. 7 Alabama in late November.
DB: OJ Frederique Jr., Miami Hurricanes
The three-star recruit contributed immediately for the Hurricanes and blossomed into an all-around impact corner. He picked up Miami's scheme quickly and showed the length and instincts to hold up in man-to-man coverage. He's also a sturdy tackler (21 of his 27 tackles were solos) and ACC teams were reluctant to even look his way down the stretch. The South Florida native might have been overlooked in an elite Miami recruiting class that finished No. 6 in ESPN's 2024 rankings, but he isn't sneaking up on anyone anymore.
DB: KJ Bolden, Georgia Bulldogs
Flipping the five-star Bolden from Florida State was a major win for Kirby Smart last year. The Bulldogs could use former five-star, current starter and future high NFL draft pick Malaki Starks as a blueprint for Bolden, who has made an impact even while mixing in behind Starks and senior walk-on Dan Jackson. Bolden logged 54 tackles (including 40 solos) along with a sack, interception and forced fumble entering the College Football Playoff. He's adaptable, rangy and can close quickly- creating a foundation for the next elite Georgia defensive back under Smart's tutelage.
DB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Moore has surpassed his three-star ranking and has hardly looked out of place since entering Notre Dame's starting lineup in October after preseason All-America corner Benjamin Morrison suffered a season-ending hip injury. Moore has shown ball skills and a penchant for disruptive plays, picking off a pair of passes and forcing a pair of fumbles, but also a nose for the ball, grading out well in run support while making 37 tackles through Notre Dame's opening-round win over Indiana in the CFP. At 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, Moore has impressive length and fluidity. He's a heady player who has taken to defensive coordinator Al Golden's scheme seamlessly.