College football’s top true freshmen to watch in 2018

The day of true freshmen sitting and patiently awaiting their turn to play college football has long passed. Many fuzzy-cheeked new arrivals land on college campuses very mature, both athletically and physically ready to not only compete but assert themselves as top players on their teams and, in some cases, in all of college football.

Some previous trend setters as true freshmen were among college football’s elite:

1973-RB Tony Dorestt (Pittsburgh) had 1,686 yards rushing and earned first team All-America honors.
2004-RB Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma) proclaimed himself ready for the NFL right out of high school. He was right, compiling 1,925 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns as a consensus All-American and finishing second in the Heisman balloting.
1977-DE Hugh Green (Pittsburgh) had a very memorable first college football game with 11 tackles, two sacks and a blocked punt against powerful Notre Dame. He completed his initial campaign with 92 tackles, 15 TFL and 12 sacks.
1991-OT Tony Boselli (USC) was special. As a true freshman, he was recognized as a first team All-PAC 10 performer and was chosen as the Trojans offensive MVP as a left tackle.
1996-RB Ron Dayne (Wisconsin) racked up 2,109 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground as a young workhorse runner.
2007-WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) paced the entire nation with 134 catches for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns.
1980-RB Herschel Walker (Georgia) was the offense in Athens with 1,616 yards and 15 touchdowns. He carried the Bulldogs on his back all the way to a National title, taking first team All-American honors and finishing third in the Heisman voting.
*2012-QB Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) won Heisman as a redshirt freshman, accounting for 5,116 yards and 47 total touchdowns.

That’s in the past. Who will be this year’s edition of Jonathan Taylor, 2017 Wisconsin phenom? Who may duplicate the star efforts of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm as new college signal-callers? Here is a list of true freshmen that should be headline grabbers in 2018.

Georgia running back Zamir “Zeus” White had 5,083 career yards in high school with 85 touchdowns. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are off to the NFL while running back DeAndre Swift returns to UGA as a multi skilled option. But watch out for Zeus. Insiders are calling the 6-foot-1, 210 pound White the next Todd Gurley. A sharp dresser and very confident young man, he is a “yes sir, no sir” type who appears humble. Now he also owns more than 30 pairs of shoes so Zeus has style, too.

Florida quarterback Emory Jones (6-3, 185) a dual threat who head coach Dan Mullen is hoping can be another Dak Prescott-type in his offense. The quarterback spot in Gainesville has been a merry-go-round. Malik Zaire and Luke Del Rio have left the premises. Feleipe Franks returns as an incumbent starter followed on th depth chart by Kyle Trask and Jake Allen. However, Jones is s good fit for Mullen’s scheme. In fact, Mullen offered him as a ninth grader when the coach was at Mississippi State. Jones may not start the season opener, but I predict it won’t be long before he sees the field. He originally decommitted from Ohio State, and Nick Saban was in hot pursuit of him until the very end.

Running back Lorenzo Lingard (6-0, 190), the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, will don jersey No. 1 for the Miami Hurricanes. The No. 2 running back in the 2018 class compiled 3,775 yards and 56 touchdowns last season. In one game against Oviedo (Fla.), he rolled up 358 yards and four touchdowns. Lingard is also the state’s 110 meter hurdles champion. He has great cutting ability but is also a physical runner. His coming out party may come against LSU in the season opener.

Elite free safety Caden Sterns (6-1, 192), a one-time LSU pledge, signed with Texas. He totaled 235 stops and 11 picks in high school. The Longhorns have a special club of elite safeties who went on to the pros such as Kenny Vaccaro, Earl Thomas and Michael Griffin. Sterns might qualify for that fraternity.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (6-5, 206) was the top rated overall prospect in the ’18 class. He could unseat incumbent Kelly Bryant, who some think may rate as a 2019 NFL first round draft pick. How? Lawrence, who carries a rocket arm, tallied 13,908 passing yards and 161 touchdowns during his prep career. Physically, he is more than ready to compete. Clemson expects to compete for the national title again, and the best playmaker will lead the offense.

LSU landed wide receiver Terrace Marshall (6-3, 205), who is just coming off a serious ankle injury suffered last season. No one has really seen what he is capable of providing in a Tiger jersey yet but Marshall is a special talent. Arriving early for spring drills has been a benefit for him from the mental preparation side. He has a tremendous catching radius. Marshall fits perfectly into offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s offense well.

Former NFL running back Joe Delaney was Terrace’s great uncle. Lawana Latson, who serves as his personal coach (instructor), has tutored a pair of NFL wicde receivers, Troy Edwards and Trent Taylor. Marshall will remind some LSU fans of another former pro, Tiger great Michael Clayton.

Auburn’s new arrival running back Asa Martin (5-11, 200) is already on campus this spring after recording 2,228 yards and 33 scores as a prep senior. The departures of Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway leaves a void on The Plains. Martin was Alabama’s Mr. Football. Auburn fans who recall Joe Cribbs, Cadillac Williams, Brent Fullwood and Tre Mason envision Martin among those special backs.

Nicholas Petit-Frere (6-6, 272) is an Ohio State offensive tackle. It is rare to see an o-lineman on a list like this, but the elite prospect was the seventh overall recruit in the ’18 class according to 247 Sports. Petit-Frere was offered by Michigan while in ninth grade. He’s got a mean streak and is freakish as an athlete. It is not normal to see true freshman start on the line for a power liek the Buckeyes, but with reliable starter Jamarco Jones now in the NFL, don’t be surprised if this younger Buck gets his chance early.

Wide receiver Justin Shorter (6-4, 213), a coveted New Jersey product, is the crown jewel of Penn State signing class. With tremendous hands, concentration and very advanced skills for his stage of development, Sharter can be an instant contributor. Daesean Hamilton and Saeed Blacknall have moved on from Happy Valley so the Nittany Lions are seeking a playmaker.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (6-0, 191) is a new USC receiver named after an Egyptian god. He is also the younger brother of former Notre Dame wideout Equanimeous St. Brown, now headed to NFL. St. Brown had 146 grabs at Mater Dei in Anaheim (Calif.) for 2,785 yards and 42 touchdowns. His arrival at USC coincides with the entry of a new hope at quarterback, J.T. Daniels. Amon-Ra feels he has legit shot at Heisman before he leaves Trojans. He relishes being compared to former USC greats like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquise Lee and Robert Woods. Amon-Ra’s dad is a former bodybuilder who was the three-time Mr. World and twice named Mr. Universe.

When LSU squares off with Miami in season opener, Nesta “Jade” Silvers (6-2, 308) hope to make an impact on the UM defensive line. The No. 2 rated tackle in the 2018 class amassed 107 tackles, 31 TFL and 12 sacks as a senior. He is disruptive and dominating. Silvers is a throwback along the lines of former ‘Canes greats Jerome Brown, Cortez Kennedy and Warren Sapp. Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz envisions Silvers as an immediate 3 tech contributor who could end up as “the heart of the defense.”

Jaiden Woodbey (6-2, 205), the nation’s No. 2 safety in ’18 class out of Fontana (Calif.) is a long way from home. At Florida State, he will step into spot vacated by 2018 top NFL pick Derwin James. The ‘Noles new defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett is more than happy to take on the new, versatile talent.

Patrick Surtain (6-2, 198) ened up at Alabama. This one stings LSU fans, but I’m just delivering the message. Surtain is THAT good. He can make a splash for Nick Saban’s secondary as a true freshman. The son of the former NFL standout conerback is good enough to find a spot on the freshman All American team at season’s end.

Former Parkway High quarterback Justin Rogers was half of the dynamic passing game duo at this school with the aforementioned Terrace Marshall. Rogers (6-4, 210) is a dual threat who had 2,646 yards and 26 touchdowns while running for an additional 566 yards and nine scores as a junior. Like Marshall, his senior season was shortened due to injury. Rogers possesses tremendous skills, reads defenses very well and is a leader. He is the favorite to overtake sophomore Shawn Robinson and replace graduated starter Kenny Hill at TCU. Rogers is already drawing comparisons to another northern Louisiana product, Dak Prescott.