CBS Sports ranks Top 25 college football true freshmen since 2000

The 21st century is now a quarter over. With that, CBS Sports decided to take some time to go back and look at the Top 25 college football true freshmen since 2000.

There are always some prospects who come to college with high expectations and others who look like developmental projects. Regardless, it’s impressive when young players are able to break out in college football, given how fast and physical the game is next season. That’s why breakout freshmen seasons can become just so memorable for college football. They’re surprises, but they’re also a sign that good things are still to come for a player.

CBS Sports did not have a set methodology for ranking the best college football players since 2000. Statistical and team success are both vital, of course, but there’s not just one metric involved. So, with that in mind, here are the 25 best true freshman performers since 2000.

1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (2018)

Future first round pick Trevor Lawrence came to college with massive expectations on his right arm. He’d quickly live up to them, producing one of the best offenses that Clemson has ever seen. Along the way, he’d become one of two true freshmen quarterbacks to win a national championship as the starting quarterback, and the only one in the 21st century.

Lawrence would finish his freshman season with 3,280 passing yards and 30 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He’s the only FBS true freshman to go for those marks with fewer than five interceptions in the past 25 years. On top of that, in the clutch against the best competition, he was dominant, going for 674 yards and six touchdowns in two College Football Playoff games.

2. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (2024)

The most recent player to have a phenomenal freshman season proved to be Jeremiah Smith, a wide receiver at Ohio State. He’s only had the one season of college football. Still, it was a national championship season that put him on the cover of the EA Sports College Football video game.

For the year, Smith would have 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. It was the kind of season that has fans excited for how he’s going to follow that up with a sophomore effort in 2025. Certainly, the Buckeyes hope he can build on it.

3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma (2004)

Before he had one of the great NFL careers, Adrian Peterson had one of the great college careers. That started with his breakout season as a true freshman, when he joined the Oklahoma Sooners. Almost as soon as he got there, he’d be breaking records.

To start his career, Peterson rushed for at least 100 yards in nine-straight games, including rushing for more than 200 yards twice. In the end, he’d finish with 1,925 yards and 15 touchdowns on the way to an unbeaten regular season and a national championship appearance.

4. Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College (2009)

For a brief period, Boston College went on a run of excellent teams. Those were groups led by the likes of Matt Ryan at quarterback. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles had some great standout players too, though. That, notably, included linebacker Luke Kuechly.

Kuechly would eventually set the record for tackles in a career, despite only playing three seasons. That record has fallen to third all-time now, but is a tribute to the fast start he had on his college career. After being a relatively overlooked recruit, he had 158 tackles and 13 tackles for a loss as a true freshman.

5. Derek Stingley, CB, LSU (2019)

LSU defensive back Derek Stingley comes in as CBS Sports’ top-rated defensive back that college football has seen in the 21st century. That came after he came to college with some generational hype and was able to live up to it along the way. That was as part of one of the great national championship teams in recent memory.

Stingley was arguably the best corner in all of college football in 2019. That’s not just freshmen. He finished the season with 38 tackles, six interceptions, and 21 passes defended. Opposing passers, meanwhile, completed only 37 percent of passes when targeting him.

6. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (2021)

The Georgia Bulldogs’ run of championship success under head coach Kirby Smart has been highlighted by elite defense. However, there’s talent on both sides of the ball, with perhaps the Bulldogs’ best offensive player in recent seasons being tight end Brock Bowers.

Such a good tight end he was considered a Heisman candidate at times, regardless of position, Bowers broke onto the scene in 2021. There wasn’t anyone like him in college football at the time. He became a go-to target and snagged 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns for the year.

7. Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma (2001)

Few teams have been as consistent in the 21st century as Oklahoma. That has, in no small part, been because few college football teams recruit the same type of talent as the Sooners do. Certainly, after winning a national championship, they already had talent but Tommie Harris came in and made his presence felt anyways.

Harris would push for a starting spot on the defense almost immediately. That was no accident either. He finished that campaign with 32 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

8. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin (2017)

Throughout the 21st century, few college football programs have produced as many good running backs as Wisconsin. Jonathan Taylor was one of the running backs in that line of success. Still, his freshman season managed to stand out to anyone who watched.

As a true freshman, Taylor would rush for 100 yards in 10 different games. Given that, it’s no surprise that he would receive Heisman votes that season. Taylor finished up with 1,977 yards and 13 touchdowns on 6.6 yards per carry on the way to a 12-0 regular season.

9. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (2016)

Ed Oliver went to Houston when the Cougars were in the AAC. At the time, he was a five-star recruit, which was unprecedented for a Group of Five school to be able to recruit. So, to say expectations were high, would be an understatement.

Still, Oliver would live up to those expectations and more. The interior defensive linemen had 66 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and five sacks. That was second nationally in tackles for a loss as well.

10. Mike Williams, WR, USC (2002)

The USC Trojans have never had a shortage of great wide receivers. Mike Williams is a key piece of that history. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Williams was on an incredibly talented offense and was catching passes from a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback in Carson Palmer.

Williams was USC’s top receiver, even as a freshman. He had 81 catches for 1,265 yards. On top of that, he led the Pac-10 in receiving touchdowns with 14. He’d improve on those numbers as a sophomore, but only played in two college seasons, making his freshman year stand out even more.

The rest of CBS Sports’ Top 25 college football freshmen since 2000

11. Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama (2016)
Today, Jalen Hurts is best known as a Super Bowl winning quarterback. Back in 2016, though, he was just breaking onto the scene as a freshman quarterback at Alabama. He’d become the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year with 2,780 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 954 rushing yards, and 13 rushing touchdowns.
12. Phillip Rivers, QB, NC State (2000)
Quarterbacks put up massive numbers regularly today. That wasn’t the case when Phillip Rivers was a freshman at NC State, though. Still, as a freshman, Rivers exploded into college football with 3,054 yards and 25 touchdowns.
13. Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue (2018)
Purdue found one of the great young wide receivers in 2018. Rondale Moore did everything. He had 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns, while even returning kicks.
14. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (2013)
The Virginia Tech Hokies had a special defensive back in Kendall Fuller. A lot was expected of him, and he was quickly able to live up to those expectations. He’d put up 58 tackles and six interceptions as part of the best young units in the country that season.
15. Derek Barnett, DL, Tennessee (2014)
When he first got to Tennessee, Derek Barnett was listed at 265lbs and seemed undersized for the defensive line. That didn’t stop him, though. He’d make 72 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, and 10 sacks in his first season on campus.
16. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma (2014)
As a true freshman, Samaje Perine set a college football record. He’d set the single game rushing record, going for 427 yards and five touchdowns during a Big 12 game. That was part of his 1,713 yard, 21 touchdown, and 74 missed tackle season.
17. Maurice Clarett, RB, Ohio State (2002)
Ohio State would win the national championship in 2002, and Maurice Clarett was no small part of that. He’d rush for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns over 11 games. On top of that, he was responsible for the double-OT touchdown to win the national championship.
18. Cam Robinson, LT, Alabama (2014)
Offensive line is a tough position to thrive in as a freshman. Usually, given the physicality, it takes time in the weight room and more development. It goes to show just how good Cam Robinson immediately was, becoming a Day one starter who allowed two sacks all season.
19. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina (2019)
Sam Howell was one of several North Carolina quarterbacks who would make runs to the NFL. Howell proved to be special right away. He went for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions as a freshman.
20. Ahmad Brooks, LB, Virginia (2003)
Ahmad Brooks came to Virginia with recruiting hype. He wouldn’t disappoint early in his career, either. Brooks was immediately impactful, with a team-high 117 tackles along with 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, and six passes defended.
21. Roosevelt Nix, DT, Kent State (2010)
The MAC is represented among CBS Sports’ Top 25 freshmen seasons in college football since 2000. After all, Roosevelt Nix was a standout in 2010. He’d be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year after making 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as an undersized true freshman.
22. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee (2007)
One of the best players in the history of Tennessee football, Eric Berry introduced himself as a freshman in 2007. The future SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American, and Jim Thorpe winner was still relatively unknown when he made a 96-yard pick-six off of Tim Tebow, making an early name for himself in a season he’d have 86 tackles and five interceptions.
23. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia (2014)
Halfway through his freshman season, Nick Chubb began starting games for Georgia and would break out in short order. Largely in relief of Todd Gurley, Chubb stunned the SEC. He finished with 1,547 rushing yards, an SEC-best 14 touchdowns, on 7.1 yards per carry.
24. Myles Jack, LB/RB, UCLA (2013)
Myles Jack was playing both sides of the ball for UCLA in 2013. Primarily a linebacker, he’d get 10 starts on defense. However, he’d also get two starts at running back. Linebacker was always his best position, but when UCLA’s depth was tested he’d already proven as a freshman he could help on both sides of the ball.
25. LaRon Landry, S, LSU (2003)
As a true freshman in 2003, LaRon Landry started 10 games for LSU. That was on one of the best defensive units of the 21st century, helping the Tigers along the way to a national championship.