True freshmen who stood out in Week 13 in college football
College football’s regular season came to an end with a bang Saturday with several exciting rivalry games with playoff implications. We saw true freshmen make game-changing plays in three of the biggest games of the weekend.
Two Alabama freshmen helped the Crimson Tide beat archrival Auburn the first Iron Bowl decided in overtime. An Oklahoma State true freshman pass rusher made multiple plays behind the line of scrimmage, including the game-winning sack. And an Ohio State true freshman running back scored a late touchdown in the Buckeyes’ failed comeback attempt.
QB Jaxson Dart, USC
Jaxson Dart made his third start of the season for the Trojans in a 35-31 loss to No. 13 BYU. He played well in what was one of USC’s better offensive showings in recent weeks. Dart was 23-of-35 for 248 yards and one touchdown, and ran for 28 yards and another score.
Dart, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, flashed some of the arm talent and playmaking ability that had him ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle by On3.
With Lincoln Riley the new coach at USC, Dart potentially becomes one of the biggest quarterback dominoes in college football.
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson capped off the regular season with 128 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the 42-27 loss at Michigan. The former On3 Consensus five-star prospect rushed for 74 yards on 17 carries against the stingy Wolverines defense. He scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter. Henderson also caught five passes for 54 yards, including a fourth-quarter touchdown on a swing pass from C.J. Stroud on fourth down.
Henderson wraps up the regular season with 1,172 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns, and averages more than 7 yards per carry. He should be one of the best running backs in college football over the next two seasons.
WR Ja’Corey Brooks, Alabama
Ja’Corey Brooks entered the Iron Bowl with just two catches for 21 yards on the season. Regardless, Alabama turned to him as star receiver Jameson Williams was ejected for targeting in the first half. Brooks answered by making one of the biggest plays of Alabama’s season.
With Alabama trailing 10-3 ad facing third-and-10 with 29 seconds left, Bryce Young found Brooks down the right sideline for the game-tying touchdown. The throw was strong, but the catch was even better. Brooks tracked the ball over his outside shoulder and managed to get both feet in bounds as he fell to the ground.
Alabama would go on to win in four overtimes. Brooks was rated as a five-star and the No. 28 overall prospect in the 2021 On3 Consensus.
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Brock Bowers continues to show he is a dominant pass-catching threat for the top-ranked Bulldogs. The former five-star prospect showed his explosiveness Saturday in the Bulldogs’ 45-0 win over Georgia Tech. Bowers had three catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
The first touchdown came early in the second quarter. Bowers took a quick pass from Stetson Bennett and promptly outran the Yellow Jackets’ secondary for a 77-yard touchdown.
You have to remind yourself we’re watching a freshman tight end on plays like the one above. The same could be said for Bowers’ second touchdown, which came on a 9-yard, toe-tapping jump ball in the corner of the end zone.
EDGE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
On a defense loaded with upperclassmen, it was a true freshman who made the game-sealing play to clinch Oklahoma State’s 37-33 win over Oklahoma. Collin Oliver literally crawled on all fours to bring down Oklahoma quarterback (and fellow true freshman) Caleb Williams to end the game.
The sack was Oliver’s second of the night. He leads Oklahoma State’s stingy defense with 8.5 sacks this season. Oliver, from Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe, brings a strong athletic background to the table and is a tough matchup for offensive tackles with his quickness and motor.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
Kool-Aid McKinstry has worked into a key role on Alabama’s defense in recent weeks and was among the Crimson Tide’s top performers in Saturday’s wild Iron Bowl win. He played 70 snaps at cornerback and made his biggest play in the fourth overtime. McKinstry undercut a route from Auburn receiver Shedrick Jackson to T.J. Finley’s pass on what would be Auburn’s final offensive play.
McKinstry also had a sack earlier in the game. He was as a five-star recruit and the No. 14 overall prospect in the 2021 On3 Consensus.