It’s rare to find a true freshman who can play right away in the SEC. If a unit is relying on first-year players week in and week out, it’s probably not competing for the SEC title.
Georgia, the SEC champion, had just two freshmen see 100+ snaps in 2024 on defense. Safety KJ Bolden and linebacker Chris Cole.
While playing freshmen may not lead to current success, it can speak to a bright future.
Talent plus experience leads to quality.
Defenses getting major contributions from young players offers hope for the future. With the new year fast approaching, let’s look at the SEC defenses that have something to look forward to in 2025.
We’ll evaluate which defenses in the SEC got the most from true freshmen in 2025. Three units led the way, all having six true freshmen see 100+ snaps this fall. Bowl season is still ongoing, and this number can grow, but most of the 2024 data is already in the books.
Here are the three teams that stood out when it came to true freshman contributions on defense in 2024.
Florida Gators
According to 247Sports, Florida’s 2024 recruiting class ranked No. 13 nationally. Several signees made an immediate impact with the Gators. Six true freshmen saw 100+ snaps on the defensive side of the ball.
LJ McCray was a five-star and the top-ranked defender in the class. This fall, he totaled seven pressures and a sack while making eight stops.
On the interior, UF got contributions from D’Antre Robinson and Micai Boireau.
Boireau was a three-star and ranked No. 760 overall in On3’s Industry Rankings, but his size allowed him to see the field right away. His 23 snaps played in the bowl game were a career-high.
Linebackers Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham, along with safety Gregory Smith, also made impacts in 2024.
LSU Tigers
LSU’s defense needed a massive overhaul in 2024. Part of that meant relying on young players to be difference makers. LSU saw an improvement under defensive coordinator Blake Baker in year one and young talent signals the progression can continue into 2025.
LSU’s top freshman was defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux. In 249 snaps, Breaux notched four pressures and made eight stops. Fellow defensive tackle and five-star recruit Dominick McKinley had seven pressures and three sacks.
The presence of Breaux and McKinley positions LSU to build one of the SEC’s best defensive tackle rooms in the coming years.
On the backend, LSU got immediate contributions from cornerback PJ Woodland and safety Da’Shawn Spears.
Defensive end Gabe Reliford and lineback Dahvon Keys are names to watch entering 2025, too.
Auburn Tigers
Of the three teams on this list, Auburn’s group may be the most impressive.
Cornerback Jalyn Crawford and safety Kaleb Harris proved to be two of the best young defensive backs in the country. The two combined for nine pass breakups and Harris registered 22 stops. Cornerback Kensley Louidor-Faustin also saw time.
Up front, Auburn got contributions from two young defensive ends. Demarcus Riddick was a top 100 recruit and piled up 15 pressures and three sacks. Amaris Williams graded out well, too.
On the interior defensive line, true freshman Malik Blocton provided the Tigers with 305 snaps.