Identifying which freshmen are primed for success in year one across the country.

All player rankings are from the 247Sports Composite

Antwann Hill

QB - Memphis (No. 16 QB)

It will be no easy task for the six-foot-four Georgia native to replace the American Athletic Conference’s all-time leading passer, but, like Seth Henigan, Hill will have an opportunity to see the field often in his freshman season. Hill can become just the second freshman quarterback in Memphis’s history to start the season opener as a freshman, with Henigan being the first to do so. Hill will compete with former Colorado and Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis for the starting job.

“I’m looking to compete with him,” Hill said at the Navy All-American Bowl. “I am most definitely looking to compete right away.”

Hill is a tall, but mobile quarterback who scans the field well and brings a boatload of experience to the table, having thrown for over 10,000 yards and 120 touchdowns throughout his high school career. Hill competed in both the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas and the Polynesian Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hill had the most impressive frame out of the quarterbacks in San Antonio, and showed off his ability to put touch on his throws. Hill’s strong arm paired with his mobility and ability to read the field make me think he is ready to see the field early on.

After watching him compete at the Navy All-American Bowl, I believe that Hill has the skillset to start in the Tigers’ Week 1 matchup against Georgia State in Atlanta.

Bryce Underwood

QB - Michigan (No. 1 QB)

As Michigan’s fourth highest ranked recruit in program history, it goes without saying Underwood has the talent to compete for the starting job in Ann Arbor right away. The six-foot-three, 205 pound signal caller from Belleville, Michigan was a longtime LSU commit before flipping to Michigan weeks before signing day.

Underwood can become the first true freshman quarterback to start the season opener for the maize and blue since Chad Henne in 2004. To do so, Underwood will have to beat out former UCF and Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene.

When pictures from Michigan’s practices leading up to their bowl game were released, Underwood looked like the real deal. He is well built and is able to maneuver the pocket well, with a live arm that tossed for 44 touchdowns his junior year.

His skillset is much different than Keene’s, but I believe it fits the mold of what Michigan has done in recent years. Underwood offers the high upside as a pocket passer who can make all the throws, and his ability to scramble will allow the offense to operate like it did when JJ McCarthy was at the helm.

Because of the scheme fit, I believe Underwood will prove to be the Wolverines’ starting quarterback as soon as Michigan’s spring game in April.

D’Shaun Ford

RB - ULM (No. 43 RB)

“I want to be Ahmad Hardy 2.0,” Ford said. “They have produced some great backs so I want to be a part of that.”

Ford wasn’t lying when he told me that ULM has had recent success with freshmen running backs. Ahmad Hardy, an ECG Freshman All-American, rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman for the Warhawks, and subsequently transferred to Missouri when the transfer portal opened.

After committing to ULM during the Navy All-American Bowl, Ford made his intentions clear: he aims to start and produce during his freshman campaign, just like Hardy. And like Hardy, Ford is a bruising back who will punish defenders who stand in his way.

Ford may be in the fast lane as he drives towards playing right away, as not only Hardy entered the portal, but running back James Jones also departed from the program in December. There is a combined 315 carries and 1,687 yards up for grabs after the departures of the Warhawks’ leading rushers.

Dakorien Moore

WR - Oregon (No. 1 WR)

The highest ranked wide receiver in class of 2025, Moore was once an LSU commit before decommitting and eventually signing with Oregon. Moore will join fellow Texas-native Evan Stewart in a depleted Ducks receiver room. Top producers Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden declared for the draft, leaving plenty of targets up for grabs as Moore arrives on campus.

Moore brings excellent hands and YAC ability to the table, as seen from his insane one-handed grab at the Polynesian Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is threatening downfield and can stretch a defense vertically with his speed, a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Will Stein’s offense in Eugene.

Quarterback Dante Moore will have plenty to work with despite the departures of his top two receivers, top tight end and top running back. Moore could make an impact in his first season akin to that of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams this past year.

Linkon Cure

TE - Kansas State (No. 1 TE)

A reliable tight end is a quarterback’s best friend. For Cure and quarterback Avery Johnson, there was already an established relationship before Cure arrived on campus. Johnson was Cure’s host on his official visit and the two have been in contact since then.

“We have been talking a lot, texting back and forth and everything,” Cure said. “We have a very good relationship and I am very excited to play with him. He keeps developing at a very fast rate and I can see him as a Heisman candidate.”

Cure arrives in Manhattan for year two with Johnson as the starter under center. He will provide a reliable set of hands downfield in an offense that likes to rely on its tight ends. Ben Sinnot, a former tight end selected by the Washington Commanders in the 2024 NFL Draft, led the team in receiving yards in his final year as a Wildcat.

With Johnson growing as a passer and becomes more familiar with the offense, his weapons will benefit from the added experience. Cure can step right into the starting lineup and thrive in a system that is most effective with a dynamic tight end like him.

Bryce Baker

QB - North Carolina (No. 8 QB)

Baker became the first quarterback to join newly appointed head coach Bill Belichick to “Chapel Bill” when he signed with the Tar Heels. His arrival after the departure of incumbent starter Jacolby Criswell represents the dawn of a new era in Chapel Hill as Baker aims to start in year one.

Baker’s primary competition for the starting job is former Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne, who threw three touchdown passes in an overtime loss to Illinois—his only start of the season. Browne announced his commitment to North Carolina mere days after Baker signed with the Tar Heels.

As a two-sport athlete, Baker does not lack athleticism. He has the burst to make plays with his legs, but I would not label him as a modern dual threat quarterback. Think of CJ Stroud and his ability to use his legs despite being more comfortable in the pocket. Baker is talented and will benefit from the refinement and development offered under Belichick.

When it comes to Baker or Browne earning the starting job, I think that Browne’s game experience will be of value, but I see Baker starting a handful of games this season, even if Browne is named the starter for the season opener.

Andrew Marsh

WR - Michigan (No. 10 WR)

After closing his high school career with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Marsh steps into a receiver room that did not see anyone reach the 30-catch or 300-yard marks in 2024. With quarterback Bryce Underwood also arriving on campus, Marsh will have plenty of opportunity to shine in Ann Arbor.

The other competition for Marsh? Transfer additions Anthony Simpson from UMass and Donaven McCulley from Indiana, who combined for five receptions for 37 yards in 2024. Yikes. Marsh should be viewed as an instant contributor regardless of who is under center for the Wolverines.

Marsh has great hands and is able to make guys miss after the catch, and made some acrobatic snags during the week of the Navy All-American Bowl. Marsh is incredibly athletic and will need to refine the technical aspects of being a receiver, but should be able to produce immediately. The cold weather in San Antonio didn’t bother the wideout from Houston, a good sign as he makes the move to more frigid temperatures.

Jaron Keawe Sagopolutele

QB - California

Before Sagopolutele took the field in his home state of Hawaii for the final time, the talented signal caller had already flipped his commitment from California to Oregon, signed with Oregon, and entered the transfer portal only to end up re-committing to Cal.

The path to playing time for Sagopolutele could not have been made any clearer after Cal’s top three passers from the 2024 season entered the transfer portal. Incumbent starter Fernando Mendoza transferred to Indiana, Chandler Rogers reentered the portal after making stops at Cal, North Texas, ULM and Southern Miss, and CJ Harris entered his name in the portal this past week.

With so few quarterbacks on the roster, and none with the pedigree of the four-star Hawaiian prospect, Sagopolutele should be considered the favorite for starting in Cal’s season opener. The lefty is a pure passer with a strong arm, but lacks mobility and will have to grow in that area of his game. Cal allowed the third most sacks per game in 2024 and allowed the most total sacks in the country, so Sagopolutele will have to prove he can improvise and make things happen outside the pocket.

Way Too Early 2025 Impact Freshmen