Tag: true freshmen

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell mentions 6 true freshmen who could contribute in 2024

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell mentions 6 true freshmen who should contribute in 2024

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell met with the media on Sunday evening after the Badgers wrapped up their second week of fall training camp.

The biggest note from the period was Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke reportedly trending toward capturing the starting quarterback job.

Fickell avoided naming Van Dyke the starter during his press conference. But practice reps are reportedly telling the story of Van Dyke as the No. 1, and redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke as the No. 2.

Related: Wisconsin has terrific history when entering football season unranked in AP Poll

One other significant note from Fickell’s availability: he mentioned six true freshmen who could see the field and contribute as early as this season.

Those players: OT Kevin Heywood, CB Xavier Lucas, OT Emerson Mandell, OT Colin Cubberly, RB Darrion Dupree and RB Dilin Jones.

Here are relevant notes and context surrounding each player:

  • Heywood was the No. 50 overall player in the class of 2024 and is living up to that billing. He reportedly turned heads during spring practice and may win the backup job at left tackle
  • Mandell (No. 191 in the class) and Cubberly (No. 661) both could compete for depth roles along the line. That is due in part to the program’s lack of depth at the position, especially after an injury to Vanderbilt transfer Leyton Nelson.
  • Lucas (No. 372) has been one of the bigger standouts at fall camp. Wisconsin is loaded in the secondary. Him already in position to make an impact is a testament to his talent and potential.
  • Breakout performances from Dupree (No. 392) and Jones (No. 146) have dominated the headlines at fall camp. Wisconsin has solid veterans in place at the position. But there is precedent for a talented freshman being too good to leave on the sideline (Jonathan Taylor, 2017)

This list also does not mention Thomas Heiberger (four-star, No. 463), who was reportedly in line to compete for snaps at outside linebacker before suffering a knee injury.

Takeaway No. 1 from Fickell’s comment and the storylines from fall camp is that these players will form Wisconsin’s core for years to come.

Takeaway No. 2, importantly, is that Fickell’s top-ranked class of 2024 is already become a success story only months after joining the program. Fickell’s future at Wisconsin relies on his recruiting prowess leading to better on-field results.

It’s early, but the current signs are positive in that respect.

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5 true freshmen who could have a big impact for the Sooners in 2023

With winter workouts ongoing ahead of the start of spring ball, which true freshmen have a chance to make an impact in year one for the Oklahoma Sooners?

Earning playing time as a true freshman can be difficult. Veterans on the depth chart with knowledge of the defense and experience against the higher level of competition often get favored because of the security the coaches feel with those players.

In 2022, players like [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], and [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] made an impact for the Sooners. Guys like Kanak and Thomas flashed throughout the season, even if they didn’t get a full complement of snaps as a backup.

Barnes, on the other hand, was huge for Oklahoma as Eric Gray’s primary backup. Thrust into playing time due to the injuries of Marcus Major, Barnes held onto the job and gave Oklahoma a different element running the football. He’s expected now to be the Sooners’ lead back with [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag] off to the NFL.

After the turnover that Oklahoma experienced each of the last two offseasons, there’s an opportunity for several 2023 true freshmen to come in and be day-one impact players.

For the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to assume [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] stays healthy for the duration of 2023, which would limit [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] to backup duty. Arnold gives [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] and the offense a much better option at quarterback if the Sooners were to need someone to fill in for Gabriel in a pinch.

Offensive lineman Josh Conerly is one of the top true freshmen in college football

Oregon’s 5-star OT Josh Conerly was named to the true-freshman All American Team.

Oregon is expected to have an experienced offensive line in 2022, but as with all position groups, having depth is very important.

The Ducks have that depth along the O-line, which includes true freshman Josh Conerly Jr., one of the top recruits in the Class of 2022.

At 6-foot-4 and 294 pounds, the Seattle native was wanted by nearly everybody, including his hometown Washington Huskies. But Conerly decided to travel down I-5 and be a Duck instead.

Ahead of his freshman season, Conerly is in elite company, named by On3 as a true freshman All-American.

This is what On3.com said on Conerly:

Oregon has sustained a rash of injuries along the offensive line with approximately half of the Ducks’ 14 scholarship players at the position missing time (in the past). That’s created an opportunity for Josh Conerly Jr. to step up as a potential true freshman starter in Eugene. (He) has been working with the first unit. It remains to be seen how things will shake out when and if the health at the position improves, but Conerly’s chances of starting will likely increase the longer this goes. The Seattle Rainier Beach product was among the headliners in Dan Lanning’s first signing class at Oregon and ranked as the No. 40 overall prospect in the 2022 On3 Consensus.

Of course, Conerly is yet to take a snap of college football, and there is currently an uphill battle for him to earn playing time with a veteran group of returning linemen in Eugene. Regardless, it’s pretty clear early on that the former 5-star recruit is going to have an entertaining career with the Ducks.

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Four Longhorns mentioned on 247Sports’ true freshmen who matter in 2022

247Sports recently listed the top freshmen who matter this upcoming season.

It’s no secret that Texas will be relying on several true freshmen to step up this upcoming season. Continue reading “Four Longhorns mentioned on 247Sports’ true freshmen who matter in 2022”