It’s hard to step into college football as a true freshman and find success, but some of the best in NCAAF are Day 1 stars.
Only two freshmen, Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston, have ever won the Heisman Trophy, but even they weren’t true freshmen after redshirting their rookie season.
Below, we break down the top college football impact freshmen for this 2022 NCAAF season, with a few stars who will aim to become the first true freshman ever to win the Heisman.
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Top 2022 NCAAF True Freshmen:
WR/DB Travis Hunter, Jackson State
It feels weird to start this list off with an FCS player, but that’s what happens when the No. 1 recruit in the class heads to Jackson State to team up with Deion Sanders.
Hunter will play on both sides of the ball this season and is sure to make flashy plays as a receiver and corner. Even though he is in the FCS, it’s worth watching this future NFL draft pick dominate for Jackson State.
RB Nick Singleton, Penn State
Probably the top true freshman running back, Singleton heads to the school that helped mold Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders into NFL regulars.
He’s not currently listed as the starting RB, behind junior Keyvone Lee on the depth chart, but Singleton will get reps early and should steal the starting job soon enough. He’s got future Heisman potential, maybe as soon as this year if the Nittany Lions give him the ball enough.
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The Texas Offensive Line
The Longhorns brought in three of the top offensive line recruits this year with Kelvin Banks, Cole Hutson and DJ Campbell all entering ready for regular reps. It’s unclear which, if any, will steal starting jobs for Week 1, but Texas’ OL is in good shape.
The best of the bunch is probably Campbell, who was the top-ranked OL recruit in the country, standing six-foot-three and weighing 310 pounds with good athleticism.
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WR Luther Burden, Missouri
The top-ranked receiver recruit (behind the two-way Hunter), Burden should be the Week 1 WR1 for the Tigers this season.
He’ll give whatever QB Missouri goes with this year, likely Brady Cook, big-play potential and a safety net at the same time. Rarely do we see a receiver win the Heisman Trophy, but Burden has that potential in the improving Missouri program.
You can bet on Burden and the Missouri Tigers over at our top college football sportsbook:
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Other NCAAF Freshmen To Watch:
- DB Domani Jackson, USC
- QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson
- LB CJ Hicks, Ohio State
- LB Harold Perkins, LSU
- WR Evan Stewart, Texas A&M
- DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
- The rest of Georgia’s freshman defenders
How To Bet On College Football
The best way to bet on college football this NCAAF season is at any of our top college football sportsbooks. You can bet on any of these impact freshmen to win individual awards or you can bet on their teams each week using game lines.
Place Your College Football Bets Now
If you’re new to the college football scene, check out our handy college football betting guide to help you get in the action. Also, keep an eye on our college football odds page for the latest up-to-date betting lines.
