Chris Low's Best True Freshman - MSU has 2 listed

jackobee

Redshirt
Mar 10, 2008
365
0
0
1. <font color="#225DB7">Warren Norman</font>, RB, Vanderbilt: Led the SEC with 1,941 all-purpose yards and broke Herschel Walker's freshman record for all-purpose yards. Rushed for 783 yards to finish eighth in the league in rushing and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.

2. <font color="#225DB7">Alshon Jeffery</font>, WR, South Carolina: Led all SEC freshman receivers with 43 catches for 735 yards and six touchdowns. Jeffery finished sixth in the SEC in receiving yards per game (61.2) and also averaged 17.1 yards per catch.

3. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: Started at cornerback all 12 games for the Gamecocks. He led the team with nine passes defended and was fifth with 52 tackles. Also returned punts and lined up at quarterback in the Wildcat formation in the win over Clemson.

4. Daren Bates, S, Auburn: Started all 12 games at safety and was fourth on Auburn's team with 63 tackles, which led all SEC freshmen. Included were 2.5 tackles for loss, and he also had an interception for the Tigers.

5. <font color="#225DB7">Chad Bumphis</font>, WR, Mississippi State: Started in six games and led the Bulldogs in catches (32), receiving yards (375) and receiving touchdowns (4). Also had a rushing touchdown and returned kickoffs and punts.

6. <font color="#225DB7">Trent Richardson</font>, RB, Alabama: Backed up Heisman Trophy winner <font color="#225DB7">Mark Ingram</font> and was second on Alabama's team with 642 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Also caught 14 passes and showed off his explosiveness with a 52-yard touchdown run against Arkansas.

7. <font color="#225DB7">Washaun Ealey</font>, RB, Georgia: Only started in two games, but led the Bulldogs with 639 yards rushing. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry and averaged 103.4 yards in his last five games. Ealey had 183 yards on the ground in the win over Georgia Tech.

8. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: Started in seven games and tied for second on the team with four interceptions, which led all SEC true freshmen. He intercepted <font color="#225DB7">Tim Tebow</font> twice in the Florida game and returned both for touchdowns.

9. <font color="#225DB7">Orson Charles</font>, TE, Georgia: Capable of lining up at several different spots in the passing game, Charles started in two games and was third on Georgia's team with 21 catches for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 17.4 yards per catch.

10. Nico Johnson, LB, Alabama: His role increased after Dont'a Hightower went down with a knee injury. Johnson started in two games and had 25 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and he also broke up two passes and forced a fumble

Edited because I screwed up
 

jcdawgman18

Redshirt
Jul 1, 2008
1,379
0
36
But his total yards number is very inflated by the high number of kickoff return yards due to a high number of returns. Not saying he doesn't belong at the top of the list, but he is in no way better than Herschell Walker.
 

kired

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2008
6,963
2,250
113
Did State or Ole Miss recruit him? I don't remember him being targeted by either of us. How did he slip through?
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
55,908
24,876
113
It's one thing to lead the league in KO return average, but he had twice as many yards as the two top players in that category (as did Leon Berry).
 

olemissbydamn

Redshirt
May 24, 2006
1,479
0
0
Committed to Ark St in January of senior year.

Trooper Taylor had been recruiting him somewhat for OK St. When he was hired at AU, he turned them on to Bates.

Auburn brought him in and committed him the weekend before signing day as a way to lure Aubrey Phillips. Phillips ended up signing with FSU. In hindsight, AU got the better deal of the two as Phillips quit FSU.

Bates got in the mix early at AU out of necessity. I want to say they were thin on the depth chart at safety and someone got injured. That opened the door for Bates to start.