True freshmen in college football may not have the same overwhelming impact that they did in the past. In the era of super seniors and transfer players, the dominance of players like Jake Fromm and Tua Tagovailoa has shifted. However, this does not mean that true freshmen cannot still make a significant impact on the game. Players like Caleb Downs at Alabama and Anthony Hill at Texas have proven their value to their teams. In some cases, true freshmen have even emerged as top players on their teams, such as Eric Singleton at Georgia Tech and Dillon Thieneman at Purdue.
Alongside a list of the top 100 impact freshmen in college football, we have highlighted the most likely impact freshmen for each of the top 10 teams according to CBS Sports’ preseason rankings for the 2024 college football season. These freshmen may not be the highest-rated players, but they are the ones most likely to see early playing time and make a difference on the field.
For more information on all 100 impact true freshmen to watch this season, be sure to check out our comprehensive list.