College Football: Freshmen set to make a splash in 2023
By Rory Daniels
As we get closer to the season start and the recruiting focus switches to the 2024 class, it’s easy to forget the incoming class of freshmen.
Many will get limited snaps as they begin their journey in college football. The big names on everybody’s lips on signing day, now sit behind the more experienced guys on the depth chart.
However, there’s always a few that make an immediate splash, here’s five we think have a route to playing time this fall.
Dante Moore, Quarterback - UCLA
Ranked only second to Arch Manning in the 2023 Quarterback class according to On3, Moore arrives into Chip Kelly’s offense as a consensus five-star prospect.
The Bruins brought in transfer Collin Schlee from Kent State who might land the role at the start of the season. But, it’s difficult to see Moore, with his impressive arm and physical stature (6’3, 202lbs) being kept on the bench for too long.
Caleb Downs, Safety - Alabama
Five-star safety Caleb Downs lands in Tuscaloosa at a favourable time. Having lost Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams and Brian Branch to the NFL, Alabama has plenty of open spots in the secondary.
Downs was the number 1 safety in the country and should pair nicely with junior Malachi Moore, providing the Crimson Tide with a super athletic and twitchy, safety tandem.
Cormani McClain, Cornerback - Colorado
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was always going to cause a stir on the recruiting scene. He was able to do so last year at Jackson State getting a surprise commitment from corner Travis Hunter.
Well, now at a Power-5 program, Colorado, Sanders doubled down and nabbed the country’s top corner again. Cormani McClain chose the Buffs over Florida and should line up across from Hunter from day 1.
Nyckoles Harbor, Wide Receiver - South Carolina
How do you solve a problem like Nyck Harbor? The 6’5, 225lbs prospect out of Washington DC played defensive end and tight end during his high school career.
Add to that the fact he runs the 100m in 10.32 seconds (see below) and where to play him becomes quite the conundrum.
College football is about prolific offense and that’s why Shane Beamer has him pencilled in as wide receiver to start life with the Gamecocks. Expect to see him move around the formation and cause headaches for SEC defenses.
Nyckoles Harbor, a 5 star defensive end recruit who is a high school junior, ran a 10.32 100M dash this weekend.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 4, 2022
He’s 6-5, 235 pounds and can FLY 😳
(🎥: @runnerspace) pic.twitter.com/rvsohlmZOB
Peyton Bowen, Safety - Oklahoma
The race for five-star safety Peyton Bowen was a wild one. A paperwork issue meant Bowen, who had verbally committed to Oregon, had a chance to flip to Oklahoma. All this came after Notre Dame had been favourites to land him initially.
Now firmly at home with the Sooners, Bowen projects to be one of the stars of the Brett Venables defense. Venables made a habit of turning college defensive players into NFL stars at Clemson, Bowen should be next in line.
