Freshman Tracker: Week 1

Every year, freshmen play a huge role in determining the NCAA National Championship. The same can certainly be said about the college fantasy world. Two years ago, a low-rated running back recruit came from nowhere to rush for 1,388 yards and eleven scores for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. This year, I selected Damion Fletcher with my first pick of the Athlon Sports college fantasy league. Athlon’s Freshman Tracker will monitor all the biggest debuts and best first seasons for freshman from around the nation.

Here are some of the best debuts of ’08:

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State    (35 pass yds, 9 car, 52 yds, TD)
The top prep athlete in the nation got his first taste of action on Saturday and showed why he was one of the top rated recruits. Scrambling to his left, Pryor made a few would-be tacklers miss and headed into the endzone. Pryor could be an elite fantasy option in 2009.

Austin Davis, QB, Southern Miss*    (206 pass yds, 2 TD, INT, 12 car, 63 yds, 2 TD)
In his first start for new head coach Larry Fedora, Davis led the Eagles offense to 633 total yards. Davis is a solid fantasy option most weeks, however, a road trip to Auburn means the bench in week two.

Chandler Harnish, QB, N. Illinois*    (326 pass yds, 2 TD, 8 car, 10 yds)
The young quarterback led a valiant comeback effort on the road against a Big Ten foe in week one only to come up just short of a victory. However, owners should temper expectations since Harnish performed so well against 2007’s worst defense.

Other solid debuts:
Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor        (125 pass yds, 11 car, 29 yds, TD)
Chris Harper, QB, Oregon        (12 car, 61 rush yds, TD)
Jacory Harris, QB, Miami        (190 pass yds, TD, 3 car, 22 yds, TD)
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Darrell Scott, RB, Colorado        (11 car, 54 yds, TD)
The nation’s top prep runner scored his first collegiate touchdown on Sunday in the CU-CSU rivalry match-up. However, most of his damage was done in mop-up duty as the game got out of hand.

Stephfon Green, RB, Penn State*    (10 car, 89 yds 2 TD, 1 rec, 3 yds)
The Lions fastest player did not disappoint Saturday – albeit against the Fighting Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina. Green’s role will be better defined this weekend against Pac-10 foe Oregon State.

Chris Rainey, RB, Florida*        (6 car, 58 yds, TD, 1 rec, 10 yds)
The SEC version of Green also played well in a lop-sided affair in Gainesville. Rainey will be a dynamic play-maker each week for Florida. However, the limited number of touches may keep him out of fantasy line-ups. At least early in the season.

Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama        (17 car, 96 yds, 2 rec, 5 yds)
In what might have been the most impressive freshman debut in the nation, Ingram showed flashes of greatness. His blue-collar, physical style of play fits perfectly behind that great Bama o-line. The backfield is crowded, though, so stay tuned.

John Clay, RB, Wisconsin*        (12 car, 71 yds, TD)
The Badgers rolled up 404 yards rushing this weekend and Clay was a major part of it. The crowded Badger backfield is not likely to yield many carries to Clay but when he does get into the game, the big, 232-pounder can be special.

Other solid debuts:
Caleb King, RB, Georgia*        (12 car, 95 yds)
Josh Haden, RB, Boston College    (15 car, 66 yds, 1 rec, 1 yd)
Jewel Hampton, RB, Iowa        (9 car, 68 yds, 2 TD)
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon St.    (14 car, 54 yds)
Enrique Davis, RB, Ole Miss        (6 car, 24 yds, TD)
Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado    (4 car, 38 yds)
Brandon Bolden, RB, Ole Miss    (8 car, 76 yds, TD)
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DeAndre Brown, WR, South. Miss    (4 rec, 92 yds, TD)
The biggest recruit in school history did not disappoint Saturday. The tall (6’5”) freshman showed his big-play ability in his first game, averaging 23 yards-per-catch in the blowout win over Louisiana-Lafayette.

DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State    (4 rec, 47 yds, TD)
In what has become a gluttony of weapons, another true freshman debuted in Columbus with a bang. The fundamentally sound, hard-working freshman played well in mop-up duty for the Buckeyes. The future for Ohio State appears to be just fine.

Julio Jones, WR, Alabama        (4 rec, 28 yds, TD)
The most physically gifted true freshman receiver to come out of high school in a number of years did not disappoint Saturday night in Atlanta. While not a huge game statistically, any fan could see Jones’ impact on the game was enormous. He is going to be very, very good.

Other solid debuts:
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia        (2 rec, 40 yds, TD)
Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas        (1 car, 11 yds, 3 rec, 32 yds, TD)
Nathan Palmer, WR, N. Illinois*    (3 rec, 170 yds, 2 TD)

Kavario Middleton, TE, Washington     (4 rec, 35 yds)
This freak of an athlete worked his way onto the field late Saturday night. The numbers were not huge but against one the nation’s best secondaries – on the road in a rivalry game – Middleton played well in his first ever taste of college football.

* - redshirt freshman

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