Tag: Freshman All-American Team

Top freshman quarterback and All-Pac 12 receiver reportedly set to stay at Arizona

Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Noah Fifita and All Pac-12 wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan are reportedly set to stay at Arizona despite head coach Jedd Fisch leaving for Washington Job.

The Arizona Wildcats will return starting quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, according to CBS Sports reporter Dennis Dodd.

Fifita was one of the best freshman quarterbacks in college football last season. He took over the reins at quarterback over Jayden de Laura and helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and an Alamo Bowl win.

He was named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after he threw for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just six interceptions on a 72% completion percentage in 12 appearances. His completion percentage ranked fourth nationally and his 25 touchdown passes led all freshmen quarterbacks.

Fifita was also named to the FWAAΒ  Offensive Freshman of the Year list on Tuesday.

One of his top receivers, McMillan, is also set to return to the Wildcats. In his second season in Tuscon, Arizona, he caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. McMillan earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors for his efforts.

The duo helped lead the Wildcats to four wins over AP Top 25 teams. The team also finished the season on a seven-game winning streak and its first 10-win season since 2014.

The pair’s future was put in doubt after Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch took the Washington head coach job Sunday. The Wildcats are set to hire former San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan as their next head coach.

A pair of Longhorns featured on Freshman All-American team

Accolades coming the way of these two Texas newcomers. #HookEm

The 2022 college football season is fast approaching and the preseason lists are coming at a furious pace.

The next list is the Freshman All-American from ESPN (subscription required) and a pair of Texas Longhorns were featured. Both of which are playing on the offensive line.

The first name on the list is offensive linemen [autotag]Cole Hutson[/autotag].

What ESPN Says…

Austin American-Statesman

Hutson, a four-star prospect, started Texas’ spring game at guard and clearly took advantage of being an early enrollee in a position group that sorely needs to be revamped. There is a youth movement for the Longhorns up front, but long term it will pay off. — Luginbill

This position group is going to be interesting because there is so much youth up front. Hutson and incoming five-star DJ Campbell are going to battle, but no matter what happens, it’s a positive for Texas to have this much competition along the offensive line. — VanHaaren

With the loss of Junior Angilau for the season, there is an opening for DJ Campbell and Cole Hutson. The latter enrolled early on and that allows him to get his work in and hopefully take a starting spot to protect Quinn Ewers and pave the way for Bijan Robinson.

The next name is [autotag]Kelvin Banks Jr.[/autotag]

What ESPN Says…

AP Photo/Michael Thomas

In fairness, there are three freshmen that likely will be starting or in the two-deep for the Longhorns come September. Banks and Hutson get the nod because Campbell did not enroll early. Banks has a head start … for now. — Luginbill

Banks is in the same conversation as Hutson and Campbell. He has a chance to play early; it’s just whether or not he can take advantage of it. — VanHaaren

Banks was a huge steal for Texas in the 2022 class following Mario Cristobal’s exit from the Oregon Ducks. We recently projected Banks as the left tackle starter in our two-deep list. Look for the five-star tackle to lock down the edge for Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood.

Other Big 12 players to make the list:

  • Jordan Hudson, WR: Texas Christian
  • Damonic Williams, DL: Texas Christian
  • Ty Kana, LB: Texas Tech
  • Jaren Kanak, LB: Oklahoma

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Pair of LSU Tigers land on FWAA Freshman All-America Team

Elias Ricks and Kayshon Boutte were recognized as some of the nation’s top freshmen for the 2020 college football season by the FWAA.

The accolades continue to pour in for LSU freshman cornerback Elias Ricks and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. On Monday, Ricks and Boutte were included in the Football Writers Association of America’s Freshman All-America team.

Boutte is the first LSU wide receiver to be named a Freshman All-American by the FWAA in the 20 years it has released such a list. Boutte rose to the occasion late in the year when the Tigers needed a receiver to step up and make plays. Boutte recorded 100-yard games in each of LSU’s final three games of the season, highlighted by an SEC-record 308 receiving yards in the regular-season finale against Ole Miss. The FWAA recognized that individual performance as its FWAA Freshman Performance of the Year.

“LSU continues to produce outstanding young cornerbacks,” the press release from the FWAA stated when referring to Ricks.

The two Tigers were two of eight freshmen honored by the FWAA for the 2020 season residing in the SEC. No other conference had as many freshmen on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team as the SEC. The ACC had five players, and the Big 12 had four players honored. The Big Ten, American Athletic Conference and Sun Belt Conference each had three players listed.

Ricks and Boutte recently were named to the 247 Sports Freshman All-American Team. Both players were also named to the All-SEC team by Pro Football Focus. Ricks also graded the highest in single coverage this past season according to PFF.

WATCH: LSU CB Eli Ricks returns Florida QB Kyle Trask INT for go-ahead TD