We’re now in June and college football season is less than three months away, and the excitement is really starting to build. While we all know the returning stars, like Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, we also get our first look at the 2014 recruiting class in college uniforms. While many freshman won’t see the field this year, some of the big names will get a chance for early playing time.
Here are the top 10 freshmen we could see make an impact this season.
10. Lorenzo Carter (Defensive End/Linebacker, Georgia)
The Bulldogs already have an elite set of outside linebackers in Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd, so there’s a chance that Carter doesn’t see the field at all in 2014. However, he was one of the best pass rushers in the 2014 recruiting class, so he could see the field exclusively in passing situations, where new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt can let him loose.
9. Raekwon McMillan (Linebacker, Ohio State)
Ohio State always seems to have linebackers who are very good at the college level, with solid projections moving forward. McMillan likely won’t start, but helps provide good depth early on with ability to see the field early.
8. Leonard Fournette (Running Back, LSU)
Viewed by many as the best player in this class, Fournette is well-built to take the beating of rushing in the SEC. Les Miles likes to have a feature back, and Fournette could start from day one, and be rated far higher than the eighth best impact freshman, but he joins a crowded backfield in Baton Rouge.
7. Jabrill Peppers (Cornerback, Michigan)
The Wolverines finished 66th in pass defense in 2013, so they need some help in the secondary. Peppers was a consensus Top-5 player in the 2014 class, and flashes potential as a shutdown corner.
6. Myles Garrett (Defensive End, Texas A&M)
A top recruit in the 2014 class, Garrett is a very good pass rusher, who will see some early opportunities. While the Aggie defense has talent, they have struggled to stop opposing offenses, and it all starts up front. Garrett will be able to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, which can, to some extent, help mask poor secondary play.
5. Andrew Brown (Defensive Tackle, Virginia)
Virginia finished 75th in run defense last season, and they add Brown, who shows potential to be a great penetrator. He will also bring some pass rush up the middle, and can help improve on UVA’s sack total from last season. Brown will start as part of a rotation, but he's too talented to not be upgraded to a starter during the season.
4. Tony Brown (Cornerback, Alabama)
Brown is an elite athlete who immediately upgrades the Tide’s secondary, especially after the inconsistency from the cornerbacks in 2013. If he can stay healthy, he should be a starter on opening day.
3. Jalen Tabor (Cornerback, Florida)
With Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson, and Jaylen Watkins all leaving for the NFL, Tabor has a good chance to start from Day 1 in Gainesville. Playing across from Vernon Hargreaves, we will hear Tabor’s name a lot, for better or worse, as that spot will be targeted often.
2. Cameron Robinson (Offensive Tackle, Alabama)
Robinson is currently slated to start at left tackle for the Tide in 2014. With a new quarterback at the helm in Tuscaloosa, stability at the blind side will be key, and Robinson has the potential to be elite.
1. Kyle Allen (Quarterback, Texas A&M)
Allen is projected to step in as a true freshman and fill the shoes of Johnny Manziel as the quarterback of the Aggies. A much different player than Manziel, Allen is more of a drop back passer, so it will interesting to study how the A&M offense changes, as they will definitely feature more structure than the past two seasons.