Within the scouting world, we’re at all times on the lookout for the most recent sensation. This 12 months, faculty soccer is providing loads of choices with true freshmen rating amongst a few of this 12 months’s most exhilarating performers.
Earlier than breaking down the who’s who amongst our October record of the High 5 freshmen in faculty soccer — full with scouting reviews and participant comps — it’s value explaining why many first-year gamers are making such a right away affect.
[Related:Why Colorado’s Travis Hunter is an unprecedented NFL Draft prospect]
Definitely, the gamers themselves deserve quite a lot of credit score. Superior coaching and training at the highschool (and even earlier) ranges have additionally made an simple affect.
Maybe much more important are the brand new guidelines of at present’s faculty soccer. Coaches now not have the posh of redshirting supremely gifted underclassmen within the hopes of saving them for future seasons. These gamers now have the choice of transferring elsewhere in quest of extra instant taking part in time or NIL alternatives.
That was the case, for instance, with Pitt‘s quarterback Eli Holstein, who started his faculty profession at Alabama. And whereas Holstein has been spectacular, he and different redshirt freshmen (like Texas‘ Arch Manning and Tennessee‘s Nico Iamaleava are technically of their second seasons on the faculty stage and have been, due to this fact, excluded from this text.
Solely the perfect of the perfect first-year freshmen have been eligible right here. And far to the chagrin of NFL scouts, which means they’re at the least two extra full seasons away from the draft. However that does not imply the remainder of us cannot take pleasure in them.
Right here is our have a look at the highest 5 freshmen you merely need to see to consider.
Gamers are listed in alphabetical order by final identify. Heights and weights listed have been offered by their colleges.Â
Dylan Raiola, QB,Nebraska, 6-3, 230
Coming off of the worst statistical efficiency of his younger profession (13-for-27 for 134 yards and no touchdowns with an interception), it will have been straightforward to drop Raiola from this record. To take action, nevertheless, can be to disregard the joy that the Husker legacy has introduced again to Lincoln, guiding Nebraska to a 5-1 begin, together with Saturday’s convention win over a gritty and beforehand undefeated Rutgers squad. Via six video games, Raiola is finishing 66.9% of his passes for 1,358 yards and 9 touchdowns with three interceptions.
The 5 victories already equal final 12 months’s complete for a once-proud Nebraska program that has not loved a profitable season since 2016. His father, Dominic, was a middle at Nebraska from 1997-2000, serving to the Huskers win the nationwide championship as a redshirt freshman.
It stays to be seen if the younger Raiola can match his father’s success within the NFL. Dominic was the fiftieth total choice in 2001 and began 203 video games over 14 seasons for the Detroit Lions.
Dylan Raiola throws a stunning 59-yard TD go
Scouting report: Dylan already possesses a pro-caliber body with loads of arm energy. He actually layers the ball properly on throws that require contact, feathering the ball excessive of defenders and main his receivers to open house. For a younger quarterback, he exhibits spectacular consciousness as nicely, deftly wanting off protection earlier than firing correct lobs downfield.Â
Participant comp: Sporting No. 15 in purple will virtually absolutely draw some comparisons to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs‘ celebrity Patrick Mahomes, however when it comes to each dimension and throwing fashion, Raiola jogs my memory extra of a younger Jameis Winston.
Dylan Raiola has the dimensions and throwing fashion of a younger Jameis Winston. (Getty Photographs)
Colin Simmons, Edge,Texas, 6-3, 245
So long as Steve Sarkisian is asking the performs in Austin, it’s going to virtually absolutely be offensive gamers (like Manning or wideout Ryan Wingo) producing a lot of the buzz across the Longhorns, however do not overlook Simmons within the crew’s ascent to No. 1 total within the newest polls.
The silky-smooth Dallas native leads the Longhorns in each tackles for loss (six) and sacks (4) within the early season, recording 18 tackles by the primary 5 video games. He was terrific in Texas’ SEC house debut in opposition to Mississippi State within the Longhorns’ final sport, setting career-highs with seven stops total, in addition to three tackles for loss, two sacks and a pressured fumble.
Scouting report: It is early, however Simmons already flashes the burst, bend and alter of course to challenge as a longtime difference-maker within the NFL. He occasions the snap nicely and enhances his pace with a extremely efficient counter inside.Â
Participant comp: It would rile up Longhorns followers to match their younger star to a former rival, however I see shades of a younger Von Miller (who starred at Texas A&M) in Simmons’ sport.
Colin Simmons has the burst and alter of course of a younger Von Miller. (Getty Photographs)
Jeremiah Smith, WR,Ohio State, 6-3, 215
Few applications persistently churn out NFL prospects like Ohio State. That’s very true at broad receiver, the place the Buckeyes have had a staggering 13 gamers drafted up to now 10 years, together with the final 4 within the first spherical. And the scary factor is none of them loved the instant success of Smith, who has hauled in six touchdowns (on 23 catches for 453 yards) over the primary 5 video games of his faculty profession.
On this period of hyperbole, prospects are sometimes characterised as “professional prepared” lengthy earlier than they’re, however together with his prototypical dimension and chiseled body, Smith already seems the a part of an NFL veteran. It’s straightforward to see why the Miami Gardens native was the consensus top-rated prep no matter place final spring and has shot up the depth chart for a nationwide title contending Buckeyes squad.
Scouting report: Smith’s dimension and pace mixture make him an apparent mismatch, however he additionally possesses spectacular physique management and really robust fingers. As you may see above, he’s already a one-handed snag specialist.
Participant comp: His potential to twirl, pluck, break tackles and depart opponents in his wake jogs my memory of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ standout AJ Brown.
Jeremiah Smith twirls, plucks and breaks tackles like AJ Brown did at Ole Miss — and does now within the NFL. (Getty Photographs)
Dylan Stewart, Edge,South Carolina, 6-6, 248
You will need to excuse Gamecocks‘ followers for crowing early, however South Carolina hasn’t boasted an edge rusher with this sort of juice since Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 total choice a decade in the past.Â
Stewart signed with South Carolina amid nice fanfare, touring from Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C. as one of many extra extremely touted defenders within the nation. He is actually lived as much as his billing to this point, recording 12 tackles in 5 video games, with half of them coming behind the road of scrimmage, together with 3.5 sacks and two pressured fumbles. Stewart was one of many few vivid spots for South Carolina in final week’s ugly 27-3 loss to Ole Miss, recording three tackles for loss and a sack.
Scouting report: Like his predecessor Clowney, Stewart boasts a uncommon mixture of top and explosiveness off the sting. He can beat tackles with a pure pace rush, greasing the nook like he is lathered in Crisco. He’s additionally extremely bodily, pushing would-be blockers into the lap of their quarterback with a easy bull rush. Maybe better of all, he is surprisingly polished already. Simply watch the coordination above between his slap, shoulder dip and shut on this go rush, for instance.
Participant comp: Stewart’s mixture of top, burst, bend and energy jogs my memory of a younger Montez Sweat at Mississippi State. Right here’s a scary thought for opponents, nevertheless: Stewart is considerably extra superior at this level in his faculty profession than Sweat, a former first spherical choose and 2023 Professional Bowler with 43.5 profession sacks.
As a freshman, Dylan Stewart is already extra superior than former Mississippi State star Montez Sweat. (Getty Photographs)
Ryan Williams, WR,Alabama, 6-1, 165
His final identify would possibly depart him final on the record for this text, however no matter place, Alabama’s 17-year-old star pass-catcher simply may be essentially the most spectacular freshman within the nation over the primary half of the 2024 season.
It’s straightforward to enterprise into hyperbole with Williams, who’s averaging a staggering 28.6 yards per reception over his first 5 video games, hauling in six touchdowns throughout that span. And make no mistake, this is not Williams feasting on lower-level competitors. Williams loved his finest sport in opposition to Georgia, snagging six grabs for 177 yards and, as you may see beneath, the game-sealing landing in opposition to the Bulldogs.
Scouting report: Just like the others on this record, Williams is not any shock to scouts. Whereas he’s technically the youngest participant in D-I soccer, Williams signed with the Crimson Tide because the two-time Mr. Alabama as a prep. His uncommon acceleration, physique management and mushy fingers have already made him a featured weapon in Kalen DeBoer’s high-octane offense.Â
Participant comp: Given his slight body, savvy past his years and Alabama pedigree, Williams will certainly draw loads of comparisons to Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. For these a technology older, there are similarities to a younger Marvin Harrison (the Corridor of Famer, not his rookie son), as nicely.
Slight of body however savvy past his years, Ryan Williams bears a resemblance to former Syracuse star — and eventual Corridor of Famer — Marvin Harrison. (Getty Photographs)
Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been masking the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Right now, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on Twitter @RobRang.
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