Freshman-15: Week 7 (2024)
A weekly spotlight on 15 freshmen across the country who had standout performances. All stats are courtesy of PFF Premium Stats. (2024 season)
Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren (0) runs the ball. (Matt Bush-Imagn Images / Matt Bush-Imagn Images)
Michael Van Buren
QB - Mississippi State
Snaps:
QB - 67
Stats:
Passing - 20/37, 54.1%, 306 yards, 8.3 YPA, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing - 5 carries, 15 yards, 3.0 YPA, 0 TDs, 0 fumbles
Van Buren was asked to step up to the plate as a true freshman when starting QB Blake Shapen went down with an injury. A first-year quarterback with a first-year head coach in Jeff Lebby. Van Buren's first start? Against Texas in Austin. Not an easy task but he fought till the clock hit 0:00. Fast forward to this past week, and Van Buren was given another tall task: beat Georgia. While Mississippi State lost 41-31, it was a valiant effort led by the young quarterback.
Lebby's scheme is one of the best at manipulating coverages and giving the quarterback open receivers, its why Dillon Gabriel followed Lebby from UCF to Oklahoma, and Van Buren has only grown more and more comfortable in the system. A solid outing against a solid defense and top 5 team will get you recognition as a true freshman.
Kudos to the Bulldog offensive line, who kept Van Buren clean on 70.7% of his dropbacks, despite a 48.8% blitz rate by Georgia. Van Buren will have yet another test against ranked Texas A&M in Starkville, where the Bulldogs are 4-2 against the Aggies.
Ryan Browne
QB - Purdue
Snaps:
QB - 62
Stats:
Passing - 18/26, 69.2%, 297 yards, 11.4 YPA, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
Rushing - 16 carries, 129 yards, 8.1 YPA, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
After only seeing meaningful action against Indiana State in Week 1, Ryan Browne took over for Hudson Card after Card went down with injury. Browne performed admirably in Card's place and took ranked Illinois to overtime, losing on a failed go-ahead 2-pt conversion.
Browne did it all, slicing up a disciplined Illini defense and gashed them on the ground as well. Browne took a team that had just gotten destroyed by Notre Dame to competing until the very end against one of the Big 10's top teams. After that performance, some may want to see more from Browne while others have already seen enough to start Browne the rest of the season.
Purdue takes on No. 2 Oregon on Friday, Oct. 18 in what will be a real test for Browne. The Boilermakers have often been spoilermakers for top teams (looking at your Ohio State) but Purdue doesn't quite look like a threat so far with only one win in 2024.
Evan Bullock
QB - Louisiana Tech
Snaps:
QB - 84
Wide Out - 3
Stats:
Passing - 18/25, 72.0%, 290, 11.6 YPA, 5 TDs, 0 INTs
Rushing - 4 carries, 6 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble
Pretty impressive numbers in just your second start. The redshirt freshman played a great game against Middle Tennessee State, accounting for six total touchdowns compared to only one turnover.
Bullock looked great out there, tossing the ball around as if it was a walk through. His average depth of target (ADOT) was 11.0 yards downfield, and had an NFL passer rating of 150.0. Bullock also did not account for any turnover worthy plays, so he protected the football on top of pushing it downfield with great success.
Bullock is certainly the future in Ruston. While they already lost their Week 8 matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 15 against New Mexico State, they host UTEP next Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.
Jeremiah Smith
WR - Ohio State
Snaps:
Slot - 7
Wide out - 56
Kick Return - 1
Stats:
Receiving - 13 targets, 9 catches, 100 yards, 11.1 YPC, 1 TD, 0 drops
Jeremiah Smith has been having a big season up to this point but his biggest game in terms of volume just came in Eugene, Oregon. Smith was relied on heavily as the Buckeyes looked to take down Oregon in a rocking Autzen Stadium. Despite the loss, Smith came through and delivered, reaching the 100-yard mark for the second time in his career.
Smith saw a season-high 13 targets head his way, with his previous high being 8 targets against Akron in Week 1. That is as clear as it gets when it comes to who the top receiver is on this Buckeyes roster. Smith has already passed the likes of NFL hopeful Emeka Egbuka and former five star players in Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss.
After the loss to the Ducks, Smith and the Buckeyes have a week to reset and look ahead to Nebraska. It will be another chance in Columbus for Smith to show his quality against a good opponent.
Jordan Napier
WR - San Diego State
Snaps:
Slot - 17
RB - 1
Kick Return - 11
Stats:
Receiving - 4 catches, 91 yards, 22.8 YPC, 1 TD
Aztec QB Danny O'Neil has been a Freshman-15 member, but this week one of his weapons in the slot takes home the nomination. Napier thrives in the slot, with 145 of his total 151 offensive snaps coming from the slot.
It hasn't been the biggest season for Napier, but against Wyoming he had himself a day. Napier brought in both of his contested catches and had an average depth of target of 22.0 yards downfield. Talk about a big play receiver. Napier also made the most of his opportunities, accumulating a massive 9.10 yards per route run, good for fifth among wide receivers with at least 3 routes run in Week 7.
Napier and the Aztecs have a week off after escaping Laramie with a win, and have a few rough matchups ahead with Washington State, Boise State and UNLV all scheduled in their next four games.
Mazeo Bennett Jr.
WR - South Carolina
Snaps:
Slot - 40
Wide Out - 4
Stats:
Receiving - 3 catches, 57 yards, 19.0 YPC, 1 TD
South Carolina's offensive performance was very up and down against the Tide, but Bennett was a bright spot, bringing in all of his targets and hitting paydirt as well.
Bennett had an average depth of target of 18.7 yards downfield, as he took the top off Bama's defense and opened up routes underneath for LaNorris Sellers to hit. Bennett continues to be a threat out of the slot and has now scored every other week for the Gamecocks.
Bennett's next matchup is a tough one, as the Gamecocks remain on the road against Oklahoma who are also looking to bounce back after a humiliating loss to their rivals in Dallas.
ULM running back Ahmad Hardy (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown. (Luke Richard/ULM Athletics
Ahmad Hardy
RB - Louisiana Monroe
Snaps:
RB - 32
Stats:
Rushing - 15 carries, 121 yards, 8.1 YPA, 2 TDs, 0 fumbles
Receiving - 2 targets, 2 catches, 53 yards, 0 TDs
Hardy once again had a standout performance out of the Warhawk backfield. He not only crossed the century mark on the ground for the third time this season, but Hardy also had his first multi-touchdown game and had a career-best 53 yards in the receiving game.
Big performances should no longer be a surprise for Hardy, who has now accumulated over 500 yards on the ground in his freshman campaign. Averaging 5.0 yards per carry, Hardy has been one of the best freshmen running backs so far this season. While fellow Freshman-15 member RB Caden Durham of LSU is garnering many mid-season freshman all-american nominations, I believe that Hardy is more deserving up to this point.
Isaac Brown
RB - Louisville
Snaps:
RB - 34
Slot - 1
Kick Return - 5
Stats:
Rushing - 20 carries, 146 yards, 7.3 YPA, 2 TDs, forced 8 missed tackles
Receiving - 3 targets, 1 catch, 1 yard, 2 drops
Brown was instrumental in moving the ball against a tough Virginia team. The Cavaliers made things very difficult for Louisville who won by a narrow margin in the ACC matchup.
Brown didn't have the best day in the receiving game, having multiple drops can do that to a running back. But Brown continues to be one of the nation's best freshman running backs along with ULM's Ahmad Hardy. Brown should also be getting shouts for being the best freshman running back in the nation - and Brown also returns kicks.
Brown now faces Miami at home in what very well could be an upset. Brown will go head to head with another electric freshman out for the backfield in the Hurricane's Jordan Lyle.
Boo Carter
CB - Tennessee
Snaps:
EDGE - 2
Slot - 30
Special Teams - 7
Stats:
Defense - 3 pressures, 2 sacks, 1 hurry, 4 tackles, 3 targets, 2 catches allowed, 19 yards allowed
Carter started the season with high expectations as a freshman, garnering some preseason all-american nominations, and was projected to be a contributor on both defense and special teams.
Carter may be a corner back, but he made an impact rushing the passer against Florida. The defense played a crucial role in the Vols' comeback as they needed overtime to take down the Florida Gators in Neyland Stadium. Carter still has much room to grow as a cover corner, but he has proved to be a threat in blitz packages for Tennessee.
Koi Perich
S - Minnesota
Snaps:
SS - 23
FS - 29
Corner - 1
Special Teams - 12
Stats:
Defense - 1 pressure, 1 hurry, 2 tackles, 3 targets, 1 catch allowed, 7 yards allowed, 2 INTs
For the second week in a row, the Minnesota high school football star forced multiple turnovers in a narrow win for the Golden Gophers. A week after Perich caught the game-winning interception in an upset of No. 11 USC, Perich caught a game-winning interception courtesy of UCLA QB Ethan Garbers.
Perich has now strung together consecutive big performances for Minnesota, and played at least 45 snaps in both games. As Perich plays more, the more this coaching staff is realizing Perich cannot be taken off the field. He just makes plays. He is proving to be one of the best freshman defensive backs in the country, and also has displayed a clutch gene that only the best of the best possess.
KJ Bolden
S - Georgia
Snaps:
SS - 17
FS - 24
Special Teams - 15
Stats:
Defense - 2 tackles, 4 targets, 2 catches allowed , 13 yards allowed, 1 INT
Given Bolden's pedigree and playing time right out the gate, it may be a surprise to some that his first Freshman-15 appearance came in Week 7 and not earlier. While in totality Bolden has been quite impressive in coverage (0 touchdowns allowed and 35.4 NFL passer rating allowed) Week 7 was Bolden's first big performance.
Against Mississippi State, Bolden logged his first interception of his career, and allowed a mere 17.7 NFL passer rating when targeted. Bolden was used in an assortment of ways, and it certainly helps that the other safety lining up with him is a potential first round pick in Malaki Starks. Bolden is clearly the next guy in line destined for stardom, and his first interception made his Week 7 performance a statement game.
Bolden now faces a very tough test this weekend in Austin as the Bulldogs face a potent passing attack against one of the best receiving rooms in the country.
Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen (23) breaks up a pass in the Sooners’ game against Texas on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports)
Eli Bowen
CB - Oklahoma
Snaps:
SS - 5
Corner - 52
Special Teams - 7
Stats:
Defense - 8 tackles, 5 targets, 3 catches allowed, 8 yards allowed
While the Sooners may have left Dallas with their tail between their legs, Bowen had a solid outing in his first Red River Rivalry game. The true freshman cornerback was all over the place making tackles and was quick to come up and make tackles in the short passing game.
Bowen had only logged 4 tackles going into the Red River game, and was clearly prepared to stop Oklahoma's bitter rivals. With all of the screens and passes designed to open up RAC opportunities dialed up by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, Bowen played a big role in shutting down those plays.
They say success is when preparation meets opportunity, and in Bowen's first start, he showed he knew the formula.
Jawaun Campbell
EDGE - Jacksonville State
Snaps:
EDGE - 33
DT - 4
Special teams - 2
Stats:
Defense - 1 pressure, 1 sack, 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Campbell drew a start for Jacksonville State in what would turn out to be a dominant win over the Aggies. Campbell made his presence felt both as a pass rusher and as a run stopper.
Campbell is a bit undersized for an edge rusher, measuring in at 5-foot-11 and 267 pounds, but he plays with a mean streak that resulted in i big performance against New Mexico State. Campbell logged his first career sack as well as his first career forced fumble. Campbell has also shown some versatility as he flexed inside on some snaps to rush from the interior of the defensive front rather than off the edge.
Nico Gramatica
K - South Florida
Snaps:
K - 2
Stats:
Kicking - 1/1 on FG, 1/1 from 50+, long of 52 yards
Gramatica is no stranger to the Freshman-15 list as well as converting field goals from long range. The true freshman kicker is not only the only special teamer to make the Freshman-15, but he is also 3/3 on field goal attempts this season.
It was another tough outing for South Florida, as the Bulls lost 21-3 to Memphis in Week 7, but when the time came for Gramatica to blast a ball through the uprights from distance, the young kicker continued to be automatic. The Bulls' only points on the day were courtesy of the young kicker with a howitzer for a leg.
Ezell Jolly
RB - UTEP
Snaps:
RB - 13
Slot - 1
Wide Out - 1
Stats:
Rushing - 27 carries, 120 yards, 4.4 YPA, 0 TDs, 0 fumbles
Receiving - 3 targets, 3 catches, 28 yards, 9.3 YPC, 0 TDs
Jolly was a bright spot in the UTEP offense against a superior WKU side, as the redshirt freshman topped 100 yards for the first time in his career. Jolly showed a lot of good things on the day, and could eventually be a star at the position, something the Miners haven't had since Aaron Jones was the lead back in El Paso, Texas.
Jolly was full of explosive plays, forcing 4 missed tackles, gaining 66 yards after contact, and having 3 rushes of 10 or more yards. He also moved the sticks on nearly a third of his carries, totaling 8 first downs on the day.
Jolly's next game came on Wednesday, Oct. 16 and was the program's first win since October, 2023. Jolly did not have a great performance against the Panthers, but will have opportunities to shine on the road in Week 9 against Louisiana Tech.
