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Blake Baumgartner
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Tom VanHaaren
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Tom VanHaaren
ESPN Staff Writer
- ESPN staff writer
- Joined ESPN in 2011
- Graduated from Central Michigan
There are just two weeks remaining in the 2023 college football regular season. After 11 weeks, we can assess which true freshmen have become instant stars, while for others, we’ll still have to wait and see.
While there have been a lot of impactful newcomers, many have come from the transfer portal, and freshmen who might have otherwise been put into bigger roles have had more time to develop or redshirt and gain another year of eligibility.
Then there are players such as Alabama safety Caleb Downs, USC receiver Zachariah Branch and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, who have seemingly started since their first day on campus.
Here’s our breakdown of what the top 50 prospects from the 2023 ESPN 300 player rankings have done this season:
Note: No. 5 recruit Arch Manning (Texas), No. 9 Qua Russaw (Alabama), No. 12. Keon Keeley (Alabama), No. 19 Dezz Ricks (Alabama), No. 29 Eli Holstein (Alabama), No. 36 Dylan Lonergan (Alabama) and No. 46 Jahlil Hurley (Alabama) have not played this season and are on track to redshirt. They aren’t included in the top 50 below.
School: USC Trojans
2023 stats: Completed 1 of 3 passes for 0 yards in one game.
How he has fared so far: Nelson was the top recruit overall in the 2023 class, but he knew going in that he would have to sit behind Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Nelson didn’t have an expectation that he would play right away and has played in one game, the Trojans’ 56-28 victory over San Jose State on Aug. 26. It’s not yet known if Williams will enter the NFL draft after this season, so Nelson’s future role won’t be defined until that happens.
School: UCLA Bruins
2023 stats: Completed 91 of 175 passes for 1,344 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games.
How he has fared so far: Moore battled Ethan Garbers and Kent State transfer Collin Schlee in the preseason to take the reins of the Bruins’ offense and has shown flashes of what he’s capable of through some expected growing pains. Moore, who started five games this season before Chip Kelly went back to Garbers against Stanford on Oct. 21, was 17-of-27 for 290 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start — a 35-10 victory over San Diego State — on Sept. 9.
School: Oklahoma Sooners
2023 stats: Completed 13 of 15 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in four games.
How he has fared so far: Arnold was a perfect 11-of-11 for 114 yards and a score in a 73-0 shutout of Arkansas State on Sept. 2. After the West Virginia game, OU said it would try to redshirt Arnold, meaning he wouldn’t play the rest of the season. He has seen action in four games, which is the max number of games he can play in before burning his redshirt and preserving his year of eligibility. Dillon Gabriel is entrenched as the starter for the Sooners, but Arnold very well could be the future once Gabriel moves on.
School: Clemson Tigers
2023 stats: 17 tackles (12 solo) with two tackles for loss in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Woods was a versatile defensive lineman out of high school, displaying speed and power, and putting up a ton of production. He had 175 total tackles and 47 tackles for loss in his final two seasons of high school. He has played in nine of 10 games this season, playing in 227 snaps, and has 17 total tackles and two tackles for loss. Woods recorded a career-high three tackles in consecutive games against Wake Forest and Miami.
School: Miami Hurricanes
2023 stats: Miami has averaged 427.6 total yards per game, fifth in the ACC.
How he has fared so far: Mauigoa earned the starting right tackle job out of fall camp and has been a part of one of the country’s best offensive lines ever since. He has played in 615 snaps over 10 games this season and has allowed four sacks on 300 pass block snaps.
School: USC Trojans
2023 stats: 24 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns, seven carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, 22 kickoff returns for 390 yards and a touchdown and 15 punt returns for 309 yards and a touchdown in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Branch has proved to be a multipurpose player for USC this season. He is sixth on the team in receptions and fifth in receiving yards. He caught a 25-yard touchdown pass and had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Trojans’ 56-28 win over San Jose State on Aug. 26. He has accounted for 699 return yards and two scores on special teams.
No. 8. DJ Hicks, Defensive tackle
School: Texas A&M Aggies
2023 stats: 11 tackles (four solo) with two tackles for loss and one sack.
How he has fared so far: Hicks had Oklahoma, Miami and a few other big programs after him late in the process. He chose Texas A&M and has made an appearance in nine games this season. Hicks recorded a career-high three tackles and 0.5 sack in a 20-13 loss against Tennessee on Oct. 14.
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: 11 knockdown blocks in 507 snaps in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Proctor earned the starting left tackle position coming into the year and has held the job all season. Alabama’s OL paved the way for a rushing attack that had 288 yards and six scores on the ground against LSU.
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: 83 tackles (53 solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Downs, who earned the starting job at strong safety out of fall camp, leads Alabama in tackles with 83 and is fifth in the SEC in that category. He tallied a career-high 13 tackles and pulled down an interception in Alabama’s 40-17 win over Mississippi State on Sept. 30.
No. 13. Makai Lemon, Wide receiver
School: USC Trojans
2023 stats: Four catches for 13 yards and five kickoff returns for 94 yards in seven games.
How he has fared so far: Lemon was high school teammates with Nelson, so the two already had a connection coming into USC. The Trojans have some experienced receivers on the roster, so it didn’t seem likely that Lemon would make a huge impact coming into this season. He does, however, give the offense a good option at the position for the future, especially if Nelson eventually takes over at quarterback. Lemon had three receptions for 13 yards in a 66-14 victory over Nevada on Sept. 2, but has limited playing time outside of that.
School: Colorado Buffaloes
2023 stats: Six tackles (three solo) and one tackle for loss in eight games.
How he has fared so far: McClain, a heralded flip for Deion Sanders after initially committing to Miami, did not play much at the start of the season and Sanders called out his practice habits. McClain has bounced back since and started in Week 11 against Arizona. McClain had two tackles apiece in losses to Oregon and Oregon State.
School: Georgia Bulldogs
2023 stats: Nine tackles (five solo).
How he has fared so far: Wilson flipped his commitment from Michigan to Georgia out of high school and was the highest ranked commitment for the Dawgs in the class. He tallied his first career sack in the Bulldogs’ 51-13 victory over Kentucky on Oct. 7, and has registered at least one tackle in seven games this year.
School: Texas Longhorns
2023 stats: 47 tackles (28 solo) with five tackles for loss, three sacks and two passes defended in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Hill was an important commitment for Steve Sarkisian and his staff in the 2023 cycle. He was the No. 1 inside linebacker in the country, but he was also the No. 3 prospect in the state of Texas. The Longhorns needed help on defense and Hill has already made an impact. He’s third on the team in tackles, had six tackles and two sacks in a 34-24 victory over Alabama on Sept. 9, and has played in all 10 games this season.
School: Oklahoma Sooners
2023 stats: 29 tackles (17 solo) with four passes defended, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and two blocked punts in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Bowen’s journey to get to Oklahoma was a wild ride as he originally committed to Notre Dame, flipped to Oregon and then signed with Oklahoma all within a matter of days. The Sooners struggled on defense in the 2022 season and needed defensive help. Landing Bowen was a big win for the staff and the former five-star earned a starting job at safety coming into the year. He leads the team with four passes defended and after blocking punts in wins against both SMU and Iowa State, he recorded five tackles and forced a pivotal fumble in the Sooners’ 34-30 victory over Texas on Oct. 7.
School: Ole Miss Rebels
2023 stats: 33 tackles (15 solo) with five tackles for loss, 3 ½ sacks and one pass defended in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Perkins, who’s tied for second on the team with 3 ½ sacks, had two sacks in a 24-10 loss against Alabama on Sept. 30. He has played in all 10 games this season for Ole Miss and took home co-SEC freshman of the week at the end of October.
School: Oklahoma Sooners
2023 stats: Six tackles (three solo) with three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Adebawore recorded 2.5 tackles for loss in a 66-17 victory over Tulsa on Sept. 16. He has appeared in 10 games so far this season and saw praise from head coach Brent Venables for his work ethic prior to the season starting.
School: Miami Hurricanes
2023 stats: Miami has rushed for 172 yards/game – eighth in the ACC.
How he has fared so far: Okunlola played in three games before suffering a season-ending injury during the Hurricanes’ bye week in early October.
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: Seven carries for 22 yards in two games.
How he has fared so far: Young ran for 18 yards in a 56-7 win over Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 2. He was the No. 1 running back in the 2023 class and signed with Alabama alongside the No. 2 back, Justice Haynes. Despite their lofty rankings, Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams have taken most of the carries for the Crimson Tide this season. Young has appeared in two games so far and hasn’t had many opportunities to put together many impactful stats.
School: Tennessee Volunteers
2023 stats: Completed 7 of 14 passes for 97 yards and one TD.
How he has fared so far: Iamaleava led a scoring drive in a 49-13 victory over Virginia on Sept. 2 and saw more action in the Nov. 4 game against UConn. He had 86 yards passing and a score in that one. He came into Tennessee knowing that Joe Milton was the starter for the Volunteers and that he would have limited opportunities.
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: 16 carries for 95 yards in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Haynes rushed for a career-high 29 yards in a 56-7 victory over Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 2. Haynes signed with Young in the 2023 class, but has had more carries this season than his fellow freshman. Haynes has appeared in nine games so far and while he is behind McClellan and Williams, he has shown the ability to impact the run game in the future.
No. 25. James Smith, Defensive tackle
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: One tackle in eight games.
How he has fared so far: Smith recovered a fumble in the Crimson Tide’s 17-3 win at South Florida on Sept. 16.
School: Texas Longhorns
2023 stats: Six receptions for 107 yards in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Cook caught a 51-yard pass in a 38-6 victory over Baylor on Sept. 23.
School: Georgia Bulldogs
2023 stats: Seven tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss and one pass defended in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Aguero had a career-high four tackles and one tackle for loss in a 49-21 victory over UAB on Sept. 23.
School: Florida State Seminoles
2023 stats: Four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in seven games.
How he has fared so far: Williams caught a 44-yard touchdown pass in a win over Syracuse on Oct. 14.
No. 30. CJ Baxter, Running back
School: Texas Longhorns
2023 stats: 87 carries for 390 yards and three touchdowns and 12 receptions for 63 yards in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Baxter had the eventual game-winning touchdown run in a 31-24 win over Houston on Oct. 24.
School: Arizona State Sun Devils
2023 stats: Completed 34 of 60 passes for 403 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception in two games.
How he has fared so far: Rashada earned the starting QB job out of fall camp but hasn’t played since the first two weeks while dealing with an injury sustained in high school. He went 18-of-31 for 236 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening victory over Southern Utah.
School: LSU Tigers
2023 stats: 23 tackles (13 solo) in 10 games
How he has fared so far: Toviano had seven tackles (five solo) in a 42-28 loss at Alabama on Nov. 4 and then followed that up with a career-high 10 tackles during a 52-35 victory over Florida on Nov. 11.
School: Georgia Bulldogs
2023 stats: Six tackles (three solo) in four games.
How he has fared so far: M’Pemba had two tackles apiece in victories over Ball State and Mississippi.
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
2023 stats: One reception for 58 yards and one touchdown in five games.
How he has fared so far: Inniss recorded his first career reception and touchdown in a 41-7 victory at Purdue on Oct. 14.
School: Georgia Bulldogs
2023 stats: Four tackles (one solo) with 0.5 tackle for loss and 0.5 sack in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Wilson had a 0.5 sack in a 43-20 victory over Florida on Oct. 28.
School: Georgia Bulldogs
2023 stats: Eight tackles (three solo) in seven games.
How he has fared so far: Harris recorded a career-high four tackles in a 45-3 victory over Ball State on Sept. 9.
School: Oregon Ducks
2023 stats: No stats
How he has fared so far: Dickey appeared in games against Portland, Hawaii and California but didn’t record any stats.
School: South Carolina Gamecocks
2023 stats: 11 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Harbor caught six passes for 59 yards in a 30-17 loss at Texas A&M on Oct. 28.
School: USC Trojans
2023 stats: 11 receptions for 275 yards and a touchdown in nine games and one punt return for 10 yards.
How he has fared so far: Robinson caught four passes for 71 yards in a 56-10 victory over Stanford on Sept. 9.
School: Georgia Bulldogs
2023 stats: Four tackles (two solo) in four games.
How he has fared so far: Bowles had a career-high three tackles in a 48-7 victory over Tennessee Martin on Sept. 2.
School: Clemson Tigers
2023 stats: No stats
How he has fared so far: Vizzina played in the Tigers’ 66-17 victory over Charleston Southern on Sept. 9 but didn’t attempt a pass.
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
2023 stats: 13 tackles (nine solo) with one interception and three passes defended in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Mathews came down with an interception in a 63-10 victory against Western Kentucky on Sept. 16. He stepped in after Denzel Burke got hurt and played 47 snaps against Penn State.
School: Texas A&M Aggies
2023 stats: 70 carries for 232 yards and two touchdowns and eight receptions for 83 yards and eight kickoff returns for 154 yards in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Owens ran a career-high 18 times for 40 yards, tallying a touchdown, in a 30-17 victory over South Carolina on Oct. 28. His 232 yards places him third on the Aggies in rushing.
School: Oklahoma Sooners
2023 stats: 11 receptions for 70 yards in six games.
How he has fared so far: Pettaway recorded nine receptions for 56 yards in a 73-0 victory over Arkansas State on Sept. 2.
No. 47. Jalen Hale, Wide receiver
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: Four receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown in nine games
How he has fared so far: Hale hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass in the Crimson Tide’s 24-10 victory over Ole Miss on Sept. 30.
School: Oklahoma Sooners
2023 stats: Seven tackles (five solo) with a half-tackle for loss and one interception in 10 games.
How he has fared so far: Johnson had two tackles in a 73-0 victory over Arkansas State on Sept. 2 and recorded his first career interception in a 59-20 victory over West Virginia on Nov. 11.
School: LSU Tigers
2023 stats: Nine tackles (four solo) with one tackle for loss and one sack in nine games.
How he has fared so far: Womack had two tackles and a sack in a 34-31 victory over Arkansas on Sept. 23.
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 stats: One tackle in two games.
How he has fared so far: Renaud had one assisted tackle in a 17-3 victory at South Florida on Sept. 16.
University Laboratory School 6’5” 285 93 2 DE Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’4” 220 92
Maryland
Committed
12/07/2024
Nixa High School 6’8” 315 92 4 WR Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’6” 200 92
Ohio State
Committed
07/29/2023
Nashville Christian School 6’4” 225 92 6 QB-PP Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’3” 215 91
Texas
Committed
06/17/2024
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’2” 205 91 8 QB-PP Greensboro, NC
Grimsley High School 6’4” 195 91
Tennessee
Committed
08/03/2024
Tupelo High School 6’7” 260 91 10 WR Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg High School 6’3” 190 91
LSU
Committed
03/19/2025
Reidsville High School 6’6” 250 90
Oregon
Committed
11/30/2024
Georgetown Prep 6’7” 350 90 13 OLB Loganville, GA
Grayson High School 6’2” 215 90 14 ATH Spring Valley, CA
Mount Miguel High School 6’1” 180 90 15 CB Akron, OH
Archbishop Hoban High School 5’11” 180 90 16 ATH Spring, TX
Legacy The School of Sport Sciences 6’3” 185 90
Houston
Committed
05/27/2024
IMG Academy 6’8” 325 90 18 DE Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’5” 245 90 19 TE-H Bowdon, GA
Bowdon High School 6’7” 210 90 20 OT Mansfield, TX
Lake Ridge High School 6’7” 285 90 21 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 235 90 22 S Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’5” 200 88 23 WR DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 6’1” 180 88 24 TE-H Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’5” 225 88 25 OLB Mobile, AL
Saint Paul’s Episcopal School 6’4” 220 88 26 WR Miami, FL
Miami Northwestern High School 6’6” 190 87 27 RB Mineral, VA
Louisa County High School 6’0” 200 87 28 CB Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga High School 6’0” 185 86
USC
Committed
12/13/2024
Gainesville High School 6’4” 205 86
USC
Committed
07/27/2024
St. Frances Academy 6’3” 210 86 31 RB Jackson, AL
Jackson High School 5’11” 210 86 32 S Flowood, MS
Hartfield Academy 6’0” 200 86 33 TE-Y Saint George, UT
Pine View High School 6’7” 240 86
BYU
Committed
04/07/2025
Catholic High School 6’1” 205 85
Ohio State
Committed
03/31/2025
Fremont High School 6’2” 175 85 36 RB Frisco, TX
Lone Star High School 6’1” 190 85 37 OT Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’6” 290 85
Oregon
Committed
08/12/2024
Sprayberry High School 6’3” 180 85
Alabama
Committed
03/26/2025
Tavares High School 6’1” 215 85
Florida
Committed
03/06/2025
Collins Hill High School 6’2” 280 85 41 OLB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 220 85 42 CB Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 6’1” 185 85 43 OLB Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School 6’2” 195 85
Ohio State
Committed
04/03/2025
North Crowley High School 6’4” 305 84 45 QB-PP Newbury Park, CA
Newbury Park High School 6’5” 210 84 46 S Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’11” 195 84
Georgia
Committed
01/30/2025
Vero Beach Senior High School 6’6” 320 84 48 WR Alexander City, AL
Benjamin Russell High School 6’4” 210 84 49 CB Sarasota, FL
Booker High School 6’2” 175 84 50 QB-PP Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’2” 205 84 51 OT Durham, NC
South Garner High School 6’6” 270 84 52 WR Knoxville, TN
Knoxville Catholic High School 5’11” 175 84
Tennessee
Committed
10/31/2024
Picayune Memorial High School 6’5” 250 84 54 OLB Orange, CA
Orange Lutheran High School 6’4” 215 84 55 DT Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’2” 255 84 56 CB Toledo, OH
Central Catholic High School 6’0” 165 84
Illinois
Committed
02/01/2025
Myers Park High School 6’4” 220 84 58 WR Morton, MS
Morton High School 6’3” 160 84 59 DE Douglasville, GA
Douglas County High School 6’3” 235 84
Texas A&M
Committed
10/27/2024
Great Bend High School 6’6” 210 84 61 DE Pensacola, FL
Pensacola Catholic High School 6’4” 220 84 62 WR Cartersville, GA
Cartersville High School 6’1” 185 84
Georgia
Committed
03/15/2025
Oaks Christian High School 6’0” 180 84 64 WR Destrehan, LA
Destrehan High School 6’0” 200 84
LSU
Committed
03/22/2025
Gadsden High School 6’0” 175 84
Alabama
Committed
12/25/2024
Webb School Of Knoxville 6’4” 195 84 67 OT Mechanicsburg, PA
Cumberland Valley High School 6’7” 335 84
Notre Dame
Committed
01/30/2025
Jackson High School 6’4” 190 84 69 CB Baltimore, MD
Loyola Blakefield High School 6’2” 175 83 70 QB-PP Tampa, FL
Jesuit High School 6’4” 230 83
Florida
Committed
06/01/2024
Trinity Episcopal School 6’2” 200 83 72 CB Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’2” 170 83 73 OT Richmond, VA
St. Christopher’s School 6’4” 290 83 74 DT Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’3” 295 83
USC
Committed
04/01/2025
Byron P. Steele II High School 6’1” 210 83
Texas A&M
Committed
03/22/2025
Providence Day School 6’6” 280 83 77 WR Douglasville, GA
Douglas County High School 6’3” 180 83
Texas A&M
Committed
10/27/2024
Orange Lutheran High School 6’5” 295 83 79 CB Los Angeles, CA
Loyola High School 6’3” 165 83
USC
Committed
10/29/2023
Harrisburg High School 6’5” 245 83
Penn State
Committed
07/27/2024
Forney High School 5’9” 190 83 82 DT Cherry Valley, AR
Cross County High School 6’4” 300 83 83 TE-H Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’5” 215 83 84 CB Carrollton, GA
Carrollton High School 6’1” 175 83 85 DE Sarasota, FL
Cardinal Mooney High School 6’4” 255 83 86 OT Gonzales, LA
East Ascension High School 6’6” 280 83
LSU
Committed
02/13/2025
Desert Edge High School 6’1” 180 83 88 DE Washington, DC
Gonzaga College High School 6’6” 220 83 89 RB Texarkana, TX
Texas High School 5’10” 180 83
Oregon
Committed
07/27/2024
Willamette High School 6’5” 275 83
Oregon
Committed
09/23/2023
Valencia High School 6’0” 185 83 92 DE Gainesville, GA
Gainesville High School 6’3” 255 83
Alabama
Committed
02/21/2025
Edna Karr High School 6’4” 345 83
LSU
Committed
06/23/2024
Brandon High School 5’11” 180 83 95 RB Painesville, OH
Thomas W. Harvey High School 5’10” 205 83
USC
Committed
01/11/2025
Temple High School 6’5” 235 83 97 WR Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo High School 5’10” 170 83
Georgia
Committed
11/05/2024
Hough High School 6’0” 185 83 99 OT Avon Lake, OH
Avon Lake High School 6’5” 265 83
Ohio State
Committed
03/10/2025
South Pointe High School 6’4” 205 83
S Carolina
Committed
10/17/2024
Hermitage High School 6’2” 170 83 102 WR Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School 6’0” 175 83
Clemson
Committed
03/08/2025
La Salle College High School 6’4” 180 83 104 DE Princeton, NJ
The Hun School Of Princeton 6’4” 235 83 105 QB-DT Jackson, AL
Jackson High School 6’3” 195 83 106 DT Highland, UT
Lone Peak High School 6’5” 275 83 107 RB Carthage, TX
Carthage High School 5’10” 180 83 108 WR Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’0” 170 83 109 ATH Frisco, TX
Panther Creek High School 6’0” 170 83 110 WR Chesapeake, VA
Oscar Frommel Smith High School 6’4” 180 83 111 RB De Kalb, MS
Kemper County High School 5’10” 195 82 112 WR Aledo, TX
Aledo High School 6’1” 195 82 113 QB-PP Mustang, OK
Mustang High School 6’3” 215 82
Oklahoma
Committed
06/24/2024
Richardson High School 6’4” 290 82
USC
Committed
03/14/2025
Mansfield High School 6’3” 180 82 116 DT Clemmons, NC
West Forsyth High School 6’4” 305 82 117 WR Mineral, VA
Louisa County High School 6’0” 175 82
Rutgers
Committed
07/27/2024
Oaks Christian High School 5’10” 185 82
USC
Committed
04/05/2025
Carrollton High School 6’3” 210 82 120 ATH Detroit, MI
Cass Technical High School 5’10” 175 82 121 OG San Francisco, CA
Archbishop Riordan High School 6’6” 340 82 122 WR Naples, FL
First Baptist Academy 6’4” 200 82 123 DT Miami, FL
Miami Northwestern High School 6’3” 275 82 124 OT Clearwater, FL
Clearwater High School 6’5” 260 82 125 OLB Wadley, AL
Wadley High School 6’4” 220 82 126 S New Orleans, LA
Edna Karr High School 6’2” 195 82
LSU
Committed
08/03/2024
Bullis School 6’1” 190 82
Clemson
Committed
03/08/2025
Dorman High School 6’2” 185 82 129 RB Moultrie, GA
Colquitt County High School 5’11” 200 82 130 WR Douglasville, GA
Douglas County High School 6’1” 175 82
Auburn
Committed
01/11/2025
Jemison High School 6’5” 220 82
Auburn
Committed
07/27/2024
Bishop Montgomery High School 6’2” 205 82 133 DE Arlington, TX
James Martin High School 6’5” 230 82
TCU
Committed
01/18/2025
Haywood High School 6’0” 165 82 135 RB Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg High School 5’11” 200 82
Penn State
Committed
08/19/2023
Cardinal Newman High School 6’2” 210 82 137 DE Columbus, GA
Carver High School 6’4” 220 82 138 TE-H Dunlap, IL
Dunlap High School 6’5” 220 82 139 OLB Auburn, AL
Auburn High School 6’2” 205 82
Auburn
Committed
07/27/2024
Central High School 5’10” 200 82 141 TE-H Lexington, OH
Lexington High School 6’3” 220 82 142 OLB Miami, FL
Carol City High School 6’2” 220 82
Miami
Committed
11/22/2023
Weddington High School 6’3” 250 82 144 WR Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’3” 185 82 145 DE Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 6’5” 250 82
USC
Committed
02/23/2025
Weddington High School 6’2” 210 82
Notre Dame
Committed
11/12/2024
Monarch High School 6’2” 205 82 148 DE Duncanville, TX
Duncanville High School 6’4” 240 82 149 WR Saint Augustine, FL
Saint Augustine High School 6’2” 180 82 150 DT Bastrop, TX
Bastrop High School 6’3” 265 82 151 S McDonald, PA
Fort Cherry High School 6’0” 180 82
Penn State
Committed
11/02/2024
Kell High School 6’3” 200 82 153 S Leesburg, GA
Lee County High School 6’3” 175 82 154 TE-Y Mount Zion, IL
Mount Zion High School 6’6” 235 82 155 OT Washington Court House, OH
Miami Trace High School 6’7” 280 82
Clemson
Committed
03/07/2025
Lincoln-Way East High School 6’2” 200 82
USC
Committed
02/21/2025
Rutherford B. Hayes High School 6’0” 195 82 158 QB-DT Del Valle, TX
Del Valle High School 6’0” 190 82
Arizona St
Committed
09/22/2024
Newberry High School 6’4” 215 82
S Carolina
Committed
10/05/2024
Manhattan High School 6’3” 190 82
Kansas
Committed
01/02/2025
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’5” 240 82 162 S Winter Park, FL
Winter Park High School 6’3” 170 82 163 OG Exeter, NH
Phillips Exeter Academy 6’5” 285 82 164 QB-PP Lake Mary, FL
Lake Mary High School 6’4” 220 82
Notre Dame
Committed
06/01/2024
Mater Dei High School 6’3” 240 82 166 ILB Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’1” 225 82 167 ATH Chicago, IL
Morgan Park High School 6’0” 180 81 168 RB Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’1” 195 81 169 OT Lexington, MS
Holmes County Central High School 6’4” 295 81 170 ATH Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’0” 195 81 171 ILB Mobile, AL
Cottage Hill Christian Academy 6’3” 215 81
Auburn
Committed
07/27/2024
Shadow Creek High School 6’0” 180 81
Texas
Committed
06/25/2024
Vero Beach Senior High School 6’2” 165 81
Florida St
Committed
12/12/2023
Prosper High School 6’3” 280 81
Duke
Committed
11/25/2024
Avon High School 5’10” 180 81
Ohio State
Committed
01/02/2025
Bergen Catholic High 6’6” 270 81
Texas A&M
Committed
02/13/2025
Willis High School 6’0” 165 81 178 OT Brunswick, GA
Brunswick High School 6’5” 265 81 179 DT Petal, MS
Petal High School 6’6” 300 81 180 WR Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 5’10” 170 81
USC
Committed
03/11/2025
Glenville High School 6’3” 225 81 182 DE Thomasville, GA
Thomas County Central High School 6’3” 230 81 183 S Milton, FL
Milton High School 6’3” 200 81 184 DT Monroe, LA
Ouachita Parish High School 6’3” 330 81 185 OLB McMurray, PA
Peters Township High School 6’3” 230 81 186 OG Cartersville, GA
Cass High School 6’4” 305 81
Michigan
Committed
02/28/2025
Berkeley Prep 6’6” 280 81 188 CB Waco, TX
Connally High School 6’2” 165 81
Baylor
Committed
01/30/2025
Bishop Gorman High School 6’3” 250 81 190 OG Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’6” 295 81 191 WR San Antonio, TX
James Madison High School 6’3” 200 81 192 OT Sarasota, FL
Cardinal Mooney High School 6’5” 340 81 193 QB-PP Downey, CA
Downey High School 6’3” 175 81 194 WR Bronx, NY
James Monroe High School 6’1” 185 81 195 OT Virginia Beach, VA
Green Run High School 6’7” 275 81 196 DT Decatur, GA
Southwest DeKalb High School 6’6” 285 81 197 OG Kennesaw, GA
North Cobb High School 6’4” 340 81 198 S Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’1” 180 81 199 QB-PP San Marcos, CA
Mission Hills High School 6’4” 200 81
Penn State
Committed
06/25/2024
Rolesville High School 6’6” 230 81 201 OT Bauxite, AR
Bauxite High School 6’7” 325 81 202 DT Birmingham, AL
A. H. Parker High School 6’3” 305 81 203 OG Klein, TX
Klein High School 6’4” 325 81
Texas
Committed
03/29/2025
Harrisburg High School 6’3” 190 81
Rutgers
Committed
01/15/2024
North Oconee High School 6’4” 225 81 206 S Warner Robins, GA
Houston County High School 6’2” 185 81 207 ATH Honey Grove, TX
Honey Grove High School 5’10” 175 81
Baylor
Committed
07/27/2024
Flower Mound High School 6’4” 290 81 209 WR New Orleans, LA
McDonogh 35 High School 6’0” 160 81
LSU
Committed
06/23/2024
John F. Kennedy High School 6’6” 250 81 211 RB Dallas, TX
Lake Highlands High School 6’1” 205 81
SMU
Committed
02/06/2025
Olentangy High School 6’3” 225 81
Ohio State
Committed
04/04/2025
Portage Northern High School 6’5” 260 81 214 RB Spartanburg, SC
Mountain View Preparatory 5’10” 210 81 215 CB Tuskegee, AL
Booker T. Washington High School 6’0” 165 81
LSU
Committed
03/21/2025
Mount Carmel High School 6’6” 310 81 217 CB Windermere, FL
Windermere Prep 6’0” 165 81
Nebraska
Committed
11/26/2024
Booker T. Washington High School 6’5” 200 81 219 CB Jonesboro, GA
Jonesboro High School 6’0” 175 81
Miami
Committed
04/05/2025
West Boca Raton High School 6’3” 190 81
Louisville
Committed
03/08/2025
Mater Dei High School 6’2” 185 81 222 TE-H Visalia, CA
Redwood High School 6’5” 205 81
Arizona St
Committed
02/05/2025
Milford Mill Academy 5’11” 180 81 224 WR Carrollton, GA
Walton High School 6’4” 190 81 225 OG Draper, UT
Corner Canyon High School 6’4” 295 81
USC
Committed
03/11/2025
Greene County High School 6’2” 190 81 227 DE Irmo, SC
Dutch Fork High School 6’5” 230 81 228 OT Waterloo, IA
West High School 6’7” 270 81
Iowa
Committed
04/23/2024
South Garner High School 6’4” 220 81
Notre Dame
Committed
04/05/2025
Lake Minneola High School 6’4” 290 81
Clemson
Committed
03/09/2025
First Academy 6’2” 190 81
Florida
Committed
07/31/2024
Donelson Christian Academy 6’6” 220 81
Tennessee
Committed
08/05/2024
Duncanville High School 6’4” 235 81 234 DT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’1” 315 81 235 DE Cross Plains, TN
East Robertson High School 6’4” 220 81 236 WR Bossier City, LA
Airline High School 6’0” 180 81
LSU
Committed
11/12/2024
Nazareth Senior High School 6’5” 205 81 238 OT Leesburg, VA
Loudoun County High School 6’5” 275 81 239 QB-DT Kentwood, MI
East Kentwood High School 6’2” 190 81
Michigan St
Committed
02/08/2025
Bluffton High School 6’4” 200 81
Virginia Tech
Committed
01/02/2025
Cocoa High School 6’1” 180 81 242 WR Iowa Colony, TX
Iowa Colony High School 6’2” 185 81 243 DT Jackson, MS
Jackson Academy 6’2” 315 81 244 WR Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 190 81
Oklahoma
Committed
01/28/2025
Princeton Senior High School 6’2” 225 81
Penn State
Committed
07/31/2024
DePaul Catholic High School 6’1” 200 80 247 DE Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Christian High School 6’3” 245 80 248 DT Clayton, NC
Clayton High School 6’4” 260 80 249 DE Naperville, IL
Naperville North High School 6’2” 240 80 250 OT Cold Spring, MN
Rocori High School 6’6” 275 80
Minnesota
Committed
01/29/2024
Red Oak High School 5’9” 165 80 252 CB New Orleans, LA
Edna Karr High School 6’2” 175 80 253 WR Savannah, GA
Benedictine Military High School 5’10” 180 80 254 DT Owasso, OK
Owasso High School 6’3” 275 80 255 WR Norman, OK
Norman North High School 5’11” 175 80 256 DT Fort Myers, FL
Fort Myers High School 6’4” 270 80 257 DE Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra High School 6’4” 245 80 258 CB Seffner, FL
Armwood High School 6’1” 175 80
Miami
Committed
03/07/2025
Crean Lutheran High School 6’2” 270 80 260 CB Duluth, GA
Duluth High School 6’0” 195 80 261 DE Chicago, IL
Simeon Career Academy 6’5” 230 80 262 S Homestead, FL
Miami Northwestern High School 6’4” 180 80
Florida St
Committed
07/04/2024
Monsignor Donovan High School 6’5” 290 80 264 QB-DT Celina, TX
Celina High School 6’1” 205 80 265 DT Eugene, OR
Willamette High School 6’3” 305 80
Oregon
Committed
10/14/2024
Queen Creek High School 6’2” 205 80
Clemson
Committed
07/07/2024
Jackson Academy 6’2” 225 80 268 WR Sarasota, FL
Booker High School 6’0” 180 80
UCF
Committed
04/03/2025
Archbishop Hoban High School 6’7” 305 80
Ohio State
Committed
03/25/2025
Frenship High School 5’11” 175 80 271 OT Honolulu, HI
Kamehameha Schools 6’6” 310 80 272 DT Calypso, NC
North Duplin High School 6’3” 310 80
N Carolina
Committed
03/17/2025
West Boca Raton High School 6’1” 205 80
Miami
Committed
03/22/2025
Miami Southridge Senior High School 6’5” 210 80
Syracuse
Committed
03/30/2025
Buchholz High School 5’11” 190 80 276 OLB Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’2” 225 80 277 ILB Carthage, TX
Carthage High School 6’1” 215 80 278 OG Goodyear, AZ
Desert Edge High School 6’5” 315 80 279 S Miami Lakes, FL
Goleman High School 6’0” 190 80
Florida St
Committed
10/13/2023
Fruitland High School 6’5” 270 80 281 OG Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 330 80 282 OT Clarksville, TN
Kirkwood High School 6’6” 245 80 283 TE-H Jacksonville, FL
The Bolles School 6’4” 220 80
Ohio State
Committed
11/28/2024
Newnan High School 6’1” 210 80 285 OG Pace, FL
Pace High School 6’4” 300 80
Clemson
Committed
03/09/2025
Jonesboro High School 6’0” 185 80 287 OLB Loganville, GA
Grayson High School 6’2” 195 80 288 OT Prosper, TX
Prosper High School 6’4” 270 80 289 WR Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’1” 185 80
Auburn
Committed
01/01/2024
Davison High School 6’6” 320 80
Notre Dame
Committed
12/25/2024
Prosper High School 6’5” 265 80 292 DT Richland, NJ
Saint Augustine Prep 6’2” 275 80 293 ILB Lawndale, CA
Leuzinger High School 6’4” 230 80
Texas A&M
Committed
10/27/2024
Carvers Bay High School 6’5” 295 80
S Carolina
Committed
03/21/2205
Watkins Memorial High School 6’0” 190 80
Ohio State
Committed
11/16/2024
Willis High School 6’4” 300 80 297 TE-H Billings, MT
Billings West High School 6’4” 230 80 298 DE Rogers, AR
Rogers High School 6’2” 230 80 299 S Pascagoula, MS
Pascagoula High School 6’2” 185 80 300 WR Powder Springs, GA
McEachern High School 6’3” 210 80
-
Chris Low
AUBURN, Ala. — About three months after his second straight losing season at Auburn, Hugh Freeze found out in February that he had prostate cancer.
“At the time, the only thing you hear is that ‘C’ word,'” Freeze told ESPN on Tuesday.
Admittedly rattled, and more scared for his family than anything else, Freeze has since settled on a course of treatment, and after getting some encouraging news recently from doctors that his form of cancer was low aggressive, he has decided to wait until January and let doctors reexamine his situation instead of having surgery.
“I’m only 55. We’re a family of faith, and I just didn’t feel like it was time to rush into surgery,” Freeze said. “I’m at peace with it.”
The same goes for his football team as Freeze enters his third season on the Plains. He’s by no means content with the results the past two seasons — and neither is he naïve about the lack of patience within the realm of SEC football — but Freeze was outspoken when he arrived that it would take three full recruiting classes to get Auburn back into championship contention. His first two have both been top-10 classes nationally.
“I think it’s as settled as we’ve been as a program, the continuity of our staff, the pieces of our staff that we’ve added and what we’ve been able to do in building our roster in high school recruiting and in the portal,” Freeze said. “Now, we’ve got to go compete and win some more games, but I don’t feel any sense of panic.
“We’re on our way to getting where we want to be and where we should be.”
Auburn last had a winning season in 2020, when it was 6-5, and has won more than eight games only twice (2017 and 2019) since playing for the national championship in 2013. The Tigers finished 5-7 last season.
Freeze said the support and commitment from Auburn chancellor Christopher Roberts and athletic director John Cohen couldn’t be stronger, and in the world of name, image and likeness, Auburn is going all-in on locking in key players financially. The payroll for the 2025 roster will exceed $20 million.
One of the key acquisitions was quarterback Jackson Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma. Arnold was ESPN’s No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2023 signing class, but he was benched for part of last season after some early struggles.
“One hundred percent, I needed a reset,” Arnold said. “It was just time to move on. I needed to go to a place where I was going to put myself in a better position. I’m never going to say anything bad about OU or any of the people there, but it just wasn’t a fit. And as the season went on, maybe it was them losing confidence in me or whatever, but I never doubted that I could play at this level and win at this level.”
Arnold said it was especially important to him to play for an offensive-minded head coach and one with a history of coaching and developing quarterbacks. Freeze said he plans to call the majority of the plays this season (although new offensive coordinator Derrick Nix might call some), and Freeze said he will spend more time with the quarterbacks on the practice field this fall.
“[Quarterbacks coach] Kent Austin is great,” Freeze said. “From fundamentals and coverage recognition and all that, he’s better than I am, but I think it’s vital that they’re hearing my thoughts, and I just think this fall it would be even more vital that Jackson is hearing my thoughts.”
As spring practice winds down this week for Auburn, Arnold said his rapport with the receivers grows stronger every practice. And for Freeze, he said he has seen a “monumental difference” in the receivers, particularly with the addition of transfers Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech and Horatio Fields from Wake Forest.
“We’ve got more depth, and there’s a maturity factor, too,” Freeze said. “I know quarterbacks take the brunt of the deal, but there were times that [last year’s starter] Payton [Thorne] was ready to pull the trigger on something that should have been there and we didn’t run the right depth of a route or the right route.”
Cam Coleman, who averaged 16.2 yards per catch and had eight touchdown receptions a year ago as one of the more heralded true freshman receivers in the country, said his emphasis has been more consistency. He said the entire receiving corps has taken on a leadership role to push each other and hold each other accountable, which wasn’t necessarily the case a year ago.
“Every receiver brings something different to the table, and our identity is we’re going to catch anything and everything, by any means as possible,” Coleman said. “That’s no matter if we make the quarterback look good or the quarterback makes us look good. We’re going catch the ball and make things happen.”
Singleton’s speed should complement Coleman’s ability to win one-on-one battles down the field, and Malcolm Simmons is equally explosive. He returns for his sophomore season after catching 40 passes last season. The 6-3 Coleman said he’s up to 205 pounds.
“Good luck. That’s all I can tell anybody trying to cover him,” Singleton said of Coleman.
Arnold said his role is to come in and “play point guard” and that Freeze also likes his ability to extend plays. The Tigers struggled mightily to score last season. They finished 14th in the SEC in scoring offense (19.1 points per game) and were 13th in third-down conversions, while scoring just six rushing touchdowns in eight SEC games. But they did move the ball on offense and finished second in the league in yards per play (6.67 yards). Three of their seven losses last season were by a touchdown or less.
What plagued the Tigers were crippling turnovers, coming up empty on key third downs and not being able to finish drives — or even make field goals. They were 8-of-17 on field goal attempts in SEC play, but the good news is that regular kicker Alex McPherson is back after missing almost the entire past season a with gastrointestinal issues.
“We’re all in this together, and I know for a fact these coaches believe in me and they know I can do it, and in turn, I’ve been able to play a lot more,” Arnold said. “Mistakes are going to happen. No one’s going to be perfect, but my confidence is really high right now. I’m playing free and just being myself.”
Even with the cancer diagnosis, Freeze has also felt a sense of freedom. His players have seen it up close and personal.
“He’s out here every day, and it gives the whole team the sense that he cares, and that whatever he’s going through, he’s going to push through,” junior defensive end Keldric Faulk said. “It gives us the confidence to just ride behind him.
“The only difference I see is that he’s brought way more energy, and it’s contagious to the whole team.”
Freeze would tend to agree that his cancer diagnosis has helped him to narrow his focus, although life as an SEC head football coach tends to have that effect naturally.
“I don’t know. I think as much as anything it’s just been a reminder that every day is a gift, and man, I’m going to give my best to these kids, my family and our fans,” Freeze said. “That’s what I should be concerned about.”
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Adam Rittenberg
Northwestern is finalizing settlements with former athletes who filed hazing-related lawsuits against the university and former coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the school is set to go to trial in November.
In a motion filed last week, requesting a continuation of the trial date in Fitzgerald’s claim, Northwestern stated it recently began mediation with the athletes that resulted in an undisclosed settlement currently being finalized. Northwestern said athlete plaintiffs “will be witnesses in the ongoing litigation” involving Fitzgerald.
“While the terms of the provisional settlement are confidential, we intend to continue to work through the remaining outstanding issues to finalize a settlement that will hopefully allow both sides to move forward in a positive way,” attorneys Patrick Salvi and Parker Stinar, who are representing some of the former football players, said in a statement.
Fitzgerald’s attorneys on Tuesday said Northwestern’s motion for continuation was denied, and that the trial date for his case remains set for Nov. 3. They have repeatedly requested earlier trial dates so that Fitzgerald, fired in July 2023 for cause, can return to coaching college football.
“Coach Fitzgerald committed no wrongdoing,” Fitzgerald’s attorneys Dan Webb and Matthew Carter said in a statement. “Despite extensive written and testimonial discovery, there remains no evidence to show or suggest that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing at Northwestern. The discovery has thus confirmed what Northwestern said through President Michael Schill both before and after Coach Fitzgerald’s termination: that there is no evidence that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing.”
Dozens of former athletes filed hazing-related lawsuits against Northwestern and Fitzgerald in 2023 and 2024. They cited sexualized acts and other troubling rituals that occurred during Northwestern’s preseason training camp and at other times.
In last week’s filing, Northwestern said that after repeated requests, attorneys representing the athletes responded Jan. 29, noting that 81 athletes had relevant information. Northwestern said it had conducted six depositions and has 33 more scheduled, and has identified 40 former athletes to be witnesses in its defense against Fitzgerald’s claim, as well as non-plaintiffs “identified as having information related to the hazing and other conduct in the football program during Fitzgerald’s tenure.”
The school requested the continuation so it could finish depositions with athletes and depositions or document requests with approximately 70 “third-party” individuals identified as having relevant information, including many who live outside of Illinois.
Northwestern fired Fitzgerald three days after announcing a two-week offseason suspension for the coach, following the completion of a university-commissioned investigation into allegations of hazing from a sole football player in late 2022. The investigation found that hazing had occurred in the program but that there was no evidence Fitzgerald knew about what had happened.
The player went public with his allegations to The Daily Northwestern and then ESPN, and Schill ultimately fired Fitzgerald amid significant backlash. Fitzgerald had led the program since 2006 as is Northwestern’s all-time winningest coach and a two-time national defensive player of the year at linebacker.
Fitzgerald filed his lawsuit in October 2023, claiming that Northwestern violated a verbal contract by firing him for cause, after agreeing to the suspension following the conclusion of its own investigation. He also claimed Northwestern and Schill violated his written contract. He’s seeking $68 million that remained on his contract, which ran through 2030, as well as future earnings losses of approximately $62 million. Fitzgerald has been a volunteer assistant for his son’s high school team but has not re-entered college coaching.
“Coach Fitzgerald has proven himself a staunch advocate of student well-being, including consistently emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy on hazing,” Webb and Carter’s statement reads. “He implemented and maintained some of the strongest anti-hazing programs and policies in collegiate sports.”
They added that every Northwestern player signed a hazing policy form before being allowed to practice, and that his actions to prevent hazing were “fully integrated” into the program.
“He continues to assert that Northwestern illegally terminated his employment, violated an oral contract, and defamed him, causing significant damage to his sterling reputation,” the attorney statement reads.
Former Northwestern offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian also sued the school for defamation and spreading false information in the wake of the hazing scandal. Bajakian’s case has been consolidated with Fitzgerald’s and also could go to trial. Bajakian spent the 2024 season at Utah and is currently offensive coordinator at Massachusetts.
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