Freshman-15: Week 4 (2024)
A weekly spotlight on 15 freshmen across the country who had standout performances. All stats are courtesy of PFF Premium Stats. (2024 season)
Marcel Reed
Snaps:
QB – 75
Stats:
Passing - 16/29, 55.2%, 173 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT
Rushing - 12 carries, 92 yards, 7.7 YPA, 0 TDs
It was yet another clean game from the redshirt freshman, who got his second start in a row in place of sophomore Conner Weigman. Reed led the Aggies to a narrow 26-20 victory over the visiting Bowling Green Falcons, who had barely lost to top 10 Penn State in their preceding game.
The night started off well for Reed, who threw a beautiful ball up the seam for TE Theo Melin-Ohstrom to go grab. After that, there were some plays he didn't see and errant passes, but he moved the ball down the field consistently, setting up K Randy Bond for four field goals. Reed continued to impress with his mobility and posed a threat as a runner each time he took the snap. The growing pains as a passer were evident, but that is normal for a freshman. What is not normal for a freshman, is to protect the football the way Reed has. Reed did not have a single turnover or turnover-worthy play against Bowling Green and has not given the ball away yet in 2024.
Texas A&M faces Arkansas in Arlington, Texas this coming Saturday, with Conner Weigman being a game-time decision, according to head coach Mike Elko. If Weigman is not ready to go for the third straight week, Reed will once again be called upon.
Fluff Bothwell
Snaps:
RB: 20
QB: 1
Slot: 1
Wide Out: 1
Stats:
Rushing: 14 carries, 116 yards, 8.3 YPA, 2 TDs, forced 7 missed tackles
Receiving: 1 target, 0 catches, 0 yards
Bothwell has once again made the Freshman 15 list and, unlike last week, he did it after logging double digit snaps. The Jaguars got their second win of the year against a heavily favored App State side that had struggled with the run all year. Bothwell carried his excellent form into the favorable matchup and stuffed the stat sheet on the way to a 48-14 win.
Bothwell showed off his elite contact balance, running through arm tackles and breaking off hard-earned runs. Fluff ran through six players on his way to the endzone in the third quarter, and left Mountaineer defenders flabbergasted and frustrated. Bothwell also displayed good vision on his runs, finding the open holes and accelerating through them for big gains.
Bothwell has a lot of momentum going into Baton Rouge this weekend for a date with LSU, who just lost star LB Harold Perkins for the year to an ACL injury. Bothwell faces the biggest test of his young career and could face an LSU defense that allowed over 120 yards to leading rushers from South Carolina and Nicholls State, or it could be an LSU defense that limited USC to under 70 rushing yards and UCLA to 14 rushing yards averaging 0.6 YPA.
Sione I. Moa
Snaps:
RB - 32
Slot - 1
Stats:
Rushing - 15 carries, 76 yards, 5.1 YPA, 1 TD, forced 7 missed tackles
Receiving - 3 targets, 3 catches, 17 yards, 5.7 YPC, 0 TDs
Moa put the cherry on top of an emphatic upset in Provo with a 21-yard touchdown rush. Moa made the Kansas State defense look silly, spinning and bludgeoning his way to the endzone on a mean run. After leading the Cougars in rushing last week, Moa helped undefeated BYU earn a spot in the AP Poll, coming in at 22nd, one spot above Kansas State.
Moa's performance was the best of his career, as he had tallied a mere 17 yards on the ground going into Week 4. He made the most of his opportunities and added 65 yards after contact. His 7 missed tackles forced were good for joint-most among freshman running backs, and he also contributed to the receiving game by way of short passes, picking up 17 yards with 27 yards after the catch.
Moa leads all BYU running backs in rushing yards after Week 4. After a big performance against a top opponent, Moa should see increased opportunities moving forward.
Gio Lopez
Snaps:
QB - 57
RB - 1
Stats:
Passing - 16/24, 66.7%, 154 yards, 6.4 YPA, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Rushing - 6 carries, 104 yards, 17.3 YPA 1 TD, 1 fumble
Who would've thought. South Alabama has not one, but two representatives on this week's Freshman-15 list. The agile Lopez has joined fellow Jaguar Fluff Bothwell as one of this week's most exciting freshmen. Lopez guided South Alabama past a favored App State in Boone, and he did it both in the air and on the ground.
Lopez was accurate with his throws and made good use of his legs, gaining over 250 total yards and only turning the ball over once. Lopez was instrumental in the Jaguars dismantling of App State, who have struggled with dual-threat quarterbacks all season. Lopez gashed the defense with his legs and was also only sacked once in the contest.
South Alabama faces LSU next, and Lopez will face a hostile environment in Baton Rouge. Lopez has yet to throw an interception in the current campaign and faces a defense that has only forced two interceptions all year. Despite the rough matchup, it is possible the mobile signal-caller will continue that streak as they march into Death Valley.
Eli Holstein
Snaps:
QB: 48
Stats:
Passing - 16/24, 66.7%, 247 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
Rushing - 8 carries, 110 yards, 13.8 YPA, 2 TDs, 1 fumble
You could argue that Holstein should've made his Freshman-15 debut before Week 4, and you would have been able to make a very compelling case due to how well he has played. But after a 70-point performance against Youngstown State in which Holstein played limited snaps, the redshirt freshman put up massive numbers.
The Alabama transfer was able to find open receivers left and right and put on a scoring clinic, totaling 5 touchdowns on the day. Holstein was also without starting running back Desmond Reid for the contest as he was held out for precautionary reasons. Holstein has been putting up big numbers all season long, as he has thrown 12 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions this year.
Pitt has a bye week this week to get ready for a full ACC slate, which is kicked off in Chapel Hill against North Carolina, who allowed James Madison to score 70 points this past week. A week of rest with his running back healthy makes Holstein a likely candidate for the Week 6 edition of the Freshman-15.
Kadin Semonza
Snaps:
QB - 75
Wide Out - 6
Stats:
Passing - 31/41, 75.6%, 296 yards, 7.2 YPA, 3 TDs, 0 INT
Rushing - 3 carries, 7 yards, 2.3 YPA, 0 TDs
Ball State was expected to be one of the worst teams in all of FBS, shown by their team rating in EA College Football 25, but they have a young signal caller who is proving to be talented and able to push this team past the low expectations set upon them. The Cardinals may only have one win after three games, but their Week 4 overtime loss to Central Michigan could certainly not be blamed on QB Kadin Semonza.
Semonza had a fantastic outing, tossing for nearly 300 yards and a hat-trick of touchdowns. Semonza protected the football as well, as he did not throw any interceptions or fumble the ball at all, and only had 1 turnover worthy play. Semonza displayed excellent touch and accuracy on a touchdown throw that he placed in the far corner of the endzone, placing it right where his receiver could snag it. Think of a typical throw from Anthony Richardson, with its near-linear trajectory. Semonza's pass was the opposite of this. It had a beautiful arc and dropped right into the arms of his target.
Ball State's next matchup will be a real test for Semonza, who has already faced the Miami Hurricanes, as the Dukes of James Madison host the Cardinals after a shootout win over North Carolina.
Kaden Stanton
Snaps:
LT - 61
Stats:
Blocking - 0 sacks allowed, 0 hits allowed, 0 hurries allowed, 0 pressures allowed, 0 penalties committed
It is not often that offensive linemen will find their way on this list. Tyler Mercer of North Texas was on the initial list but due to the low number of freshmen getting starts along the offensive line, Stanton joins what will be an exclusive club.
Stanton transferred to Tulsa after taking a redshirt during his first year at New Mexico State. He earned the starting left tackle role and has had his fair share of ups and downs this season. In a Week 4 matchup against Louisiana Tech, who logged 6 sacks against Nicholls State, Stanton held his own, not even allowing a single pressure against the Bulldogs. Stanton accomplished this while logging a season-high 35 pass blocking snaps, and also did not draw a single penalty, the first time Stanton has gone a game without one.
Stanton has already faced the highs and lows of being such a young starter in the trenches, but he has the tools to eventually become a top-tier player in the American Athletic Conference. Tulsa's next game is on Saturday against Tyler Mercer's North Texas.
Mazeo Bennett Jr.
Snaps:
Slot - 22
Stats:
Receiving - 5 targets, 5 catches, 71 yards, 14.2 YPC, 1 TD, 0 drops
Bennett's arrival in Columbia came with excitement around his playmaking ability, and he has already shown flashes of it so far. Bennet found paydirt twice in his young career and averages over 15 YPC thus far.
While his big performance came against Akron, Bennett showed his big play ability on a long touchdown catch that was delivered by backup QB Robby Ashford, who got the nod ahead of an injured LaNorris Sellers. Bennett ran a post against quarters coverage and put a move on the safety, gaining separation downfield where Ashford placed the ball. Bennett works almost exclusively from the slot, with 87.1% of his snaps coming from inside.
Bennett would benefit from having one quarterback throwing to him, but both Ashford and Sellers have proven able when it comes to finding the young receiver downfield. South Carolina has a bye week before taking on Ole Miss.
Durell Robinson
Snaps:
RB - 37
Slot- 3
Stats:
Rushing - 16 carries, 157 yards, 9.8 YPA, 2 TDs, forced 11 missed tackles
Robinson has above average size for a running back, measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. He moves well for a taller back, with good burst hitting holes and as expected for a ball carrier his size, he has excellent contact balance.
Robinson had a field day against Florida Atlantic, nearly averaging 10 YPC. His elusiveness was on display and is shown in his 11 forced missed tackles. The redshirt freshman has shown his ability to break tackles since his days at Charlotte in 2023, where he played in four games before redshirting. Robinson leads the Huskies in rushing despite having only the third-most carries on the team.
Already at 2-2, UConn needs only one more win to match last year's win total, and Robinson has played a significant role in getting to this point. The Huskies take on Buffalo in Week 5 and Robinson has a chance to put on another big performance.
Jordan Lyle
Snaps:
RB - 12
Kick Return - 7
Stats:
Rushing - 6 carries, 104 yards, 17.3 YPA, 1 TD
Kick Return - 1 return, 25 yards
Lyle has been very productive in his first year in Miami and has been doing it behind Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez. Oh, and having QB Cam Ward develop into a Heisman contender helps too. Despite having far fewer carries than Martinez, Lyle leads the Hurricanes in rushing thanks to a big day against USF.
Lyle was very efficient with his touches, including in the return game. Lyle reached the century mark and found his way into the endzone, a familiar place for him. The peculiar thing about this performance is that Lyle only had 4 yards after contact and did not force any missed tackles. He was barely touched and just evaded tacklers and hit wide open holes. Lyle torched the Bulls' defense and picked up next to nothing after contact.
His longest rush of the day was 91 yards, so aside from the big run, Lyle was pedestrian. But those big runs are what gets you on a list such as this, and Lyle's Week 4 performance will be followed up on Friday against Virginia Tech as the Hurricanes get into ACC play.
Dylan Riley
Snaps:
RB - 15
Stats:
Rushing - 6 carries, 96 yards, 16.0 YPA, 2 TDs, 55 yards after contact
Receiving - 2 targets, 1 catch, 13 yards, 0 TDs
Move over Ashton Jeanty! Just kidding, Jeanty is not going anywhere. But Dylan Riley had himself a game against Portland State. The freshman had a massive game and made the most of his first action of the season.
Riley did not appear in a game at Boise State until Week 4. But his impact was immediately felt with nearly 100 yards on the ground along with a pair of touchdowns. Riley only trailed Jeanty in yardage but Jeanty did not find the endzone. Riley is also not the first Bronco running back to make the Freshman-15 list as Sire Gaines was a member of the initial list. Riley will likely remain in a reserve role moving forward due to the depth and talent ahead of him.
Boise State faces Washington State this weekend, who are coming off an Apple Cup win. Riley is not expected to see extended action moving forward, with Jeanty and Gaines taking a majority of the workload.
Ashton Hampton
Snaps:
Corner - 16
Slot - 3
Special Teams - 11
Stats:
Defense - 1 tackle, 1 target, 0 catches allowed, 0 yards allowed, 1 INT returned for TD
Clemson was beating NC State 45-7 at half when they started to rotate in their backups and even third stringers. Sure, the final score was much closer, but knowing the context of who Clemson had out on the field helps put the score into perspective. Clemson Clobbered the Wolfpack. And freshman cornerback Ashton Hampton contributed in a big way with a big play.
Hampton was not on the field much, and he was thrown to even less, but the one time CJ Bailey, a Week 3 member of the Freshman-15, threw his way, Hampton snatched the ball out of the air and returned it 53 yards to the house. It was one of two scores by Clemson in the second half, and Hampton made the most of an unexpected opportunity.
Clemson's new-found offense and already stingy defense should help Hampton see more playing time as the year goes on, and that could come as early as this week when Clemson hosts new ACC member Stanford on Saturday night.
CJ Heard
Snaps:
SS - 36
Slot - 6
FS - 28
Special Teams - 13
Stats:
Defense - 15 tackles, 2 targets, 2 catches allowed, 15 yards allowed
Heard was named a Preseason True Freshman All-American by 247Sports, and they were definitely on to something. Heard has been extremely productive on the field, leading the Florida Atlantic Owls in tackles, and has forced a fumble and recovered two as well.
In Week 4, Heard had a nose for the football as he racked up numerous tackles. It was not his best game in terms of coverage or ball production, but he limited big plays and was great in sun support. If Heard maintains this level of production, he could easily find himself in high demand should he enter the transfer portal.
Heard will have a great opportunity to fill the stat sheet on Saturday as the Owls take on Wagner. The game will also be another favorable matchup where the Owls hope to pick up their second win of the season.
Nico Gramatica
Snaps:
K (FG) - 2
K (Kickoff) - 5
Stats:
Kicking - 2/2 on FG, 2/2 from 50+, long of 58 yards
The first kicker makes his way to the Freshman-15. Gramatica emphatically etched his name onto this list with his first field goal attempt of his young career against the Miami Hurricanes and his efforts shall be rewarded.
Gramatica was perfect on his field goal attempts on the day, making both kicks which were both from at least 50 yards out. His first kick was the best, however, as he drilled a 58-yard field goal to open his account in Tampa. He also made a 51-yard attempt and may have established himself as having the best kicking performance by a true freshman in college football history, even if the kicks themselves were not consequential - Miami beat USF 50-15.
Gramatica is in a timeshare at kicker, as he does not kick PAT's and does not even handle all field goal duties. But having a cannon for a leg will get him on the field soon enough, and Gramatica could also see top schools begging for his signature should he test the market in the transfer portal.
Michael Hawkins Jr.
Snaps:
QB - 39
Stats:
Passing - 11/18, 61.1%, 132 yards, 7.3 YPA, 1 TD, 0 INTs
Rushing - 11 carries, 41 yards, 3.7 YPA, 0 TDs, 1 fumble
There was an element of pleasant surprise amongst Sooner fans when Oklahoma's initial depth chart showed Hawkins as the backup QB as a freshman. I doubt they knew how soon he would become the starter, and it was not because of injury.
Hawkins provided a spark that QB Jackson Arnold did not offer in Oklahoma's SEC opener against the visiting Tennessee Volunteers. Arnold was not moving the ball down the field, was turning the ball over, and had struggled all season long. Hawkins got the offense rolling and 12 of the Sooners' 15 points came with Hawkins at the helm. Hawkins was not only the leading passer for Brent Venables' team, but he was also the leading rusher. Hawkins couldn't get the win, but it was clear that the offense looked different when he was in the game.
Hawkins has been announced as the starter against Auburn and will face a tough defense in a rowdy environment before having a bye week ahead of the Red River Rivalry.
