We’re entering the final weeks of the 2024 college football season, but there’s a lot to look forward to in the future. The future is especially bright thanks to several standout freshmen who took over college football in their rookie seasons. Here are the freshmen who have had the best seasons so far.

Quarterback CJ Bailey | North Carolina State

CJ Bailey wasn’t the Week 1 starter at NC State, but since taking the reins at quarterback, he’s held his own. He has passed for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns with just four interceptions, and has rushed for two more scores. In his last outing against Stanford, he completed 90 percent of his passes with three touchdowns, finishing with a 237.8 passer rating and a 98.4 QBR.

QB DJ Lagway | Florida

Would Florida have beaten Georgia if DJ Lagway hadn’t gotten hurt? We’ll never know, but the Gators led 10-3 – with the ball – before the freshman superstar suffered an injury against the Bulldogs. Lagway has shown flashes of greatness while navigating a quarterback battle to become the starter.

QB Dylan Raiola | Nebraska

Dylan Raiola has been the guy from Day 1 in Nebraska and has lived up to the expectations. He has thrown for 1,921 yards and 10 touchdowns and helped Nebraska return to the AP Poll for the first time since 2019 earlier this season.

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RB Isaac Brown | louisville

Isaac Brown is averaging 7.5 yards per carry on 106 carries with seven rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown in an upset over Clemson.

RB Caden Durham | L.S.U.

Caden Durham has speed on the track, literally, and it shows on the field. He can bring any play home and already has eight touchdowns this season.

WR Nick Marsh | Michigan State

Nick Marsh might be flying a little under the radar compared to other freshman wide receivers due to the limited success the team has had at 4-5 Michigan State. However, true ball connoisseurs can see that Marsh is a diamond in the tough season in East Lansing.

Marsh has 33 receptions for 553 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans’ leading receiver. He looks like a complete package, whether it’s in jumps or yards after the catch.

WR Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State

There hasn’t been a better freshman in all of college football than Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State. His eight receiving touchdowns rank ninth nationally and he is breaking freshman records that have stood since Cris Carter played for the Buckeyes. Smith has become the WR1 on an Ohio State team loaded with five-star talent, including projected first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.

WR Ryan Williams | Alabama

Ryan Williams is 17 years old and already Alabama’s best wide receiver. He has 35 receptions for 702 yards and seven touchdowns, highlighted by a game-saving touchdown to defeat No. 2 Georgia. Williams knows how to get open and make moves after the catch like a veteran, even though he is the youngest player on the field.

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OT Anthonie Knapp | Notre Dame

Anthonie Knapp took over the starting left tackle position after an injury to Charles Jagusah at Notre Dame and hasn’t looked back. Like most rookie offensive linemen, Knapp has been better in the running game to start his career, but his growth in pass protection is showing week after week.

OT Jordan Seaton | Colorado

Jordan Seaton had more pressure on his shoulders than any freshman entering the year, tasked with protecting elite quarterback Shedeur Sanders after the offensive line was horrible last year. Seaton has had his growing pains, but overall, he has been a lynchpin on the blind side and a key part of Colorado’s resurgence.

OT Josiah Thompson | South Carolina

Josiah Thompson entered South Carolina as a five-star recruit and has lived up to his rating after starting at left tackle in every game this year.

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Colin Simmons Edge | Texas

Colin Simmons has an off-the-charts explosion that reminds some in burnt orange of Brian Orakpo of the late 2000s. Simmons has four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss this season.

Dylan Stewart Edge | South Carolina

Dylan Stewart has looked like a veteran since Day 1 at South Carolina, recording a sack in all but two games. Stewart has 5.5 sacks on the year with two forced fumbles. He already looks like an elite SEC running back for years to come.

CB Zabien Brown | Alabama

Zabien Brown made one of the biggest plays of this college football season with his game-sealing interception against Georgia. That’s just one of the many plays he’s made in his first year.

CB DO Frédérique | Miami (Florida)

In the last six games, OJ Frederique has allowed just three catches for 24 yards and had one interception. He didn’t start the year as a starter, but since entering the lineup he has become a key defensive piece to Miami’s undefeated start.

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S KJ Bolden | Georgia

KJ Bolden hasn’t been the primary starter all season for Georgia, but he has received significant reps all season. However, in his first start against Florida, he had five tackles and a pass deflection, showing his versatility against the run and the pass that has been on display all season.

S CJ heard | FAU

CJ Heard has 62 tackles in his true freshman season, finishing with double-digit tackles in three games. He leads FAU in tackles.

S Koi Perich | Minnesota

It can be argued that Koi Perich has been the best defensive rookie in the country thus far. He’s been all over Minnesota’s defense and has intercepted five passes in six games. He entered as the second-highest-rated modern high school recruit to commit to Minnesota and has lived up to the hype.