The Guide to Identifying 2025's Top Freshmen

Drafting freshmen in devy fantasy football leagues is tricky. Most managers do not watch high school football tape (don't blame you there) and if you do there is a lack of parity in competition that makes it difficult to really understand what you are watching. Recruiting rankings are a helpful guide, but they don't tell the full story.

Let's start with process, then I will breakdown my 6 favorite freshmen breakout candidates for the 2025 season. That way you will know why I am targeting the players in my drafts, not just that I am.

The Process

I am cautious when placing true freshman into my devy fantasy football rankings. If you compare my rankings to the industry consensus you will see that I am well below where most sites rank first-year players. There are three main reasons I am hesitant to place these prospects atop my rankings.

1. There is no proof of concept. That may sound simple but it is often overlooked. Recruiting rankings are not gospel. They miss and so do the evaluators offering to the highly ranked recruits. Until I see it happen, I don't know that a player can produce at the college level even if they come in as a 5 star recruit.
2. The waiting game. The rating (RBBR) that I assign to players, from devy to NFL veterans, is heavily weighted towards their immediate contribution to your fantasy football line-up. That is why my dynasty rankings are more favorable than industry consensus to older players who produce (like Derek Henry) and also why they are less favorable to players we have to wait three years for before we even know which (if any) NFL offense they will be playing in.
3. I refuse to sell hype. The Rookie Big Board is built on good process. It is easy to show up year after year and sell the next shiny prospect and create hype that leads to clicks. That hype, and those clicks, may lead to subscriptions but it is not the way to build championship rosters. I am here to build championship rosters with you. That is why good process matters.

I do not fade freshman entirely, though. That also would also not be good process. If I faded all incoming players, I would have a lot less Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman than I do right now. Here is what I do look for when evaluating if I will add a true freshman to my devy rosters.

1. A quick path to opportunity. The most important thing I am looking for when drafting a freshman is whether I will get a solid understanding of their play style and future potential in their first season on my roster. A player who produces year one, like Alabama's Ryan Williams, will see their value sky rocket. That gives me the confidence to build my NFL roster with the knowledge I will be getting a future first round pick at wide receiver. A player who shows off a talented skill set, even without major production, can also provide increased value. Consider Texas' Ryan Wingo who didn't produce like Ryan Williams but did show off good hands, a versatile skillset and good play speed.
2. An early enrollee. It is a growing trend for freshman to forgo the final semester of high school and "enroll early" by starting college during that spring semester. When recruits choose this option it gives them the ability to go through spring practice with their new team. This advantage allows them to learn the playbook, gain the confidence of coaches and create chemistry with their new teammates. Some people write off spring game performances, but a freshman who impresses during this time period will move up my rankings.
3. Hype from the beat. This is another one that seems simple but I find important. I read, listen and watch a lot of content from a large and wide pool of team beats. Beat reporters have a lot of options for what they can discuss during the spring and summer months leading up to a season. When there is consistent, positive feedback about a freshman, I pay attention. Last spring, it was widely reported that Jeremiah Smith was going to have a larger role than a traditional Ohio State freshman wide receiver has had. Conversely, there was little hype for Tennessee's Mike Matthews. Both receivers were 5 star recruits but I drafted a lot more Smith than Matthews-despite my fandom.

Drafting freshman in devy can be very valuable. The key is to identify freshman who can prove themselves early, have had time in the program and are being identified early by coaches, teammates and trusted beat writers. Once you know who you like, proceed with cautious optimism and be patient-let the value come to you.

The Breakout Candidates

Now that we have established the criteria, let's breakdown six incoming freshman who fit what I am looking for. The below list is not exhaustive of the freshman I am looking to gain exposure to, but it does feature the ones I am the most excited about.

Gideon Davidson (5-11, 185) is expected to be the lead back right away for the Clemson Tigers this season. Jay Haynes, Keith Adams Jr and David Eziomume are the veterans returning to the running back room this season. They combined for 83 carries last season. Phil Mafah, who is off to the NFL, ran the ball 216 times. We can expect Davidson to get the majority of those vacated attempts.

Head Coach Dabo Sweeney has called him "physically impressive" and "further along than I thought he would be". He impressed during spring practice and plays with a smooth, athletic run-style. Cade Klubnik compared his first step acceleration and cuts to those of Travis Etienne.

Dallas Wilson (6-3, 200) dominated the Florida spring game. He caught 10 receptions for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 10 receptions are a Florida spring game record. Head coach Billy Napier has lauded Wilson for his football IQ and physicality. The Gator beat has been more impressed with his hands and the speed that comes with his large frame.

Wilson should start as the season as the flanker in a newly-energized Gators offense. Wilson will have J. Michael Sturdivant pulling top coverage off him along the boundary and the speedy Eugene Wilson III opening up space over the middle of the field. That leaves him a lot of room to connect with his highly rated quarterback DJ Lagway and skyrocket his devy value.

Bryce Underwood (6-4), 208 made waves when he flipped late to Michigan, after initially being committed to LSU. Underwood reportedly was swayed by a $10.5 million NIL package. The highly touted 5 star recruit did enroll early and participate in the Wolverine's spring program. Underwood had the benefit of splitting QB1 reps with only Jadyn Carr, since transfer Mikey Keene and Davis Warren suffered injuries that kept them off the practice field.

I still think Mikey Keene, who impressed at Fresno State and has previously worked with offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, could beat out Underwood for the Week 1 starting job. If that does happen, though, I expect it to be temporary.

Once Underwood takes over the starting job, he will have his work cut out for him. The passing offense was in shambles last year, after the departure of JJ McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh. He will be throwing to a wide receiver core that features limited proven production and won't have first-round NFL Draft pick Colston Loveland to throw to.

Dakorien Moore (5-11, 182) is the second highest rated commit in Oregon history. Moore's ball skills and athleticism impressed during spring practice, creating an expectation that he had locked down a starting role. Then Evan Stewart suffered an injury that will cost him most, if not all of the 2025 season.

Now the expectation is that Moore will be the top receiver in an offense that likes to show off it's top guy. Troy Franklin caught 81 balls for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns as the X in 2023. Last season Tez Johnson caught 83 balls for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns. Oregon's other main receivers do not spark excitement: Gary Bryant Jr, Kyler Kasper and Malik Benson.

Bo Jackson (6-0, 215) rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Ohio State spring game. He is a balanced runner who combines physicality with speed and sharp footwork. Jackson will not start the season as the lead back, that role belongs to redshirt sophomore James Peoples. The Buckeyes, though, have a great blueprint for how to utilize two talented running backs. Expect CJ Donaldson to also be in the rotation, as a short-yardage specialist.

The Buckeyes play Grambling State in Week 2 and Ohio in Week 3. Jackson could see meaningful touches in both of those games. If he impresses, he should secure a 6-10 touch a game role. That would be enough to show off an impressive skillset and boost his devy value.

Malik Washington (6-4, 215) was a huge get for the Terps. The dual-threat quarterback chose to stay close to home with his eyes set on reenergizing a Maryland team that went just 4-8 last season. Washington pairs up with offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who has a reputation for developing quarterbacks from his time in the NFL and with Andrew Luck at Stanford.

Washington completed 66% of his passing attempts for 168 yards and threw for 2 touchdowns in the spring game. Washington has not officially been the named the starter yet, but the expectation is that the dynamic freshman will be leading the team come Week 1.

Betting on a true freshman against a BIG10 schedule is daunting, but Maryland pulls a favorable draw this season. They open the season against Florida Atlantic, Northern Illinois and FCS Towson University. Their big 10 opponents include: Wisconsin, Washington, Nebraska, UCLA, Indiana, Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State. Notably, they avoid Ohio State, Penn State, USC and Oregon.

Honorable Mentions

Y'all know I couldn't stick to just six guys, here are a few more that are high up on the Rookie Big Board.

• Ohio State WR Quincy Porter (6-4, 205) had his black stripe removed in record time during spring ball. A crowded receiver room means volume will likely be limited but he could flash enough athleticism to see a boost in devy value as we project who will take Carnell Tate's volume heading into the 2026 season.
• Florida WR Vernell Brown III (5-11, 172) is a speedster who impressed during spring practice. If Dallas Wilson hadn't overshadowed him, we would be talking about Brown a lot more. He should be featured in the five-deep receiver rotation right away.
• LSU RB Harlem Berry (5-10, 185) is an explosive athlete who has been noted for his hands as well as his ability to win on the ground. Caden Durham will be the clear RB1 but Berry could easily beat out Kaleb Jackson for RB2 touches. LSU is set for a deep College Football Playoff run. The Tigers will need two productive running backs to sustain that long of a season.
• Cal QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele (6-3, 225) is in pole position to win their starting job. Sagapolutele has big-time arm talent and was originally committed and enrolled at Oregon before switching to the Bears. He will be developed by Bryan Harsin and Nick Rolovich who, despite having tumultuous heading coach careers, are a pair great developers for the young passer.
• Colorado QB Julian Lewis (6-1, 190) was selected by Coach Prime to attend BIG12 media days. That is a rare choice for a coach to make, especially when QB Kaidon Salter, who is the projected starter, also was in attendance for the team. Lewis was QB10 in the 2025 class, a high 4-star recruit who was graded highly as a pocket passer and decision maker. If Salter falters early in the season, Lewis could take the reigns of the Buffaloes offense.
• Tennessee WR Travis Smith Jr. (6-3, 207) is a sleeper candidate you need to know. Smith has good ball skills and wins above the rim. Head coach Josh Huepel has praised him for his grasp of the playbook and his ability to win in contested situations. Tennessee's receiver room is wide open with D'Onte Thornton and Bru McCoy having graduated. Smith should see early volume as a part of the Vols four-deep rotation.