We are entering the final weeks of the 2024 college football season, but there is much to look forward to in the future. The future is especially bright thanks to a number of standout freshmen taking over college football in their rookie seasons. Here are the freshmen who are having their best seasons so far.

QB CJ Bailey | NC State

CJ Bailey wasn’t NC State’s starter in Week 1, but he’s held his own since taking the reins at quarterback. He threw for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns, throwing just four interceptions and rushing for two more scores. In his last game against Stanford, he completed 90 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and finished with a 237.8 passer rating and 98.4 QBR.

QB DJ Lagway | Florida

Could Florida have beaten Georgia if DJ Lagway hadn’t been injured? We’ll never know, but Gators lead 10-3 – collect – before the freshman superstar was injured against the Bulldogs. Lagway has shown signs of excellence as he advances in the QB battle to become the starter.

QB Dylan Raiola | Nebraska

Dylan Raiola was the guy from Day 1 at Nebraska and he lived up to the hype. He threw for 1,921 yards and 10 touchdowns and helped Nebraska return to the AP Poll for the first time since 2019 earlier this season.

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RB Isaac Brown | louisville

Isaac Brown is averaging 7.5 yards per carry on 106 carries with seven rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 151 yards and a score against Clemson.

RB Caden Durham | LSU

Caden Durham has pure track speed and it shows on the field. He can bring any play to the field and has already scored eight goals this season.

WR Nick Marsh | Michigan State

Nick Marsh may be flying a bit under the radar compared to his other freshman wide receiver counterparts due to the limited team success Michigan State has had at 4-5. But true ball connoisseurs can tell you that Marsh has been a diamond in the rough during a difficult season in East Lansing.

Marsh has 33 catches for 553 yards and three touchdowns and ranks as the leading receiver among the Spartans. He looks like the complete package, whether it’s the jump ball or yards after the catch.

WR Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State

There hasn’t been a better freshman in college football than Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. His eight receiving touchdowns rank 9th nationally, breaking major-league records since Cris Carter played for the Buckeyes. Smith became the WR1 on an Ohio State team loaded with five-star talent, including projected first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.

WR Ryan Williams | Alabama

Ryan Williams is 17 years old and already Alabama’s best offensive player. He has 35 catches for 702 yards and seven touchdowns, highlighted by a game-saving touchdown to knock off No. 2 Georgia. Even though Williams is the youngest player on the field, he knows how to get open and move after the catch like a veteran.

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Extension Anthonie Knapp | Notre-Dame

Anthonie Knapp took over the left tackle position at Notre Dame after Charles Jagusah was injured and hasn’t looked back. Like most rookie offensive linemen, Knapp was better in the run game to begin his career, but his improvement in pass protection is evident each week.

OT Jordan Seaton | colorado

Tasked with guarding elite quarterback Shedeur Sanders after the offensive line was terrible last year, Jordan Seaton had more pressure on his shoulders than any freshman entering this year. Seaton had his growing pains, but overall he was a cornerstone of the bullpen and played a key role in Colorado’s resurgence.

OT Josiah Thompson | South Carolina

Josiah Thompson entered South Carolina as a five-star recruit and has lived up to his rating after starting every game at left tackle this year.

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Edge Colin Simmons | Texas

Colin Simmons has an edge burst that reminds some of the burnt orange Brian Orakpo of the late 2000s. Simmons has four sacks and 7.5 tackles this season.

Edge Dylan Stewart | South Carolina

Dylan Stewart looked like a veteran from day one at South Carolina and was fumbled in all but two games. Stewart has 5.5 sacks on the year with two forced fumbles. He already looks like an elite SEC forward for years to come.

CB Zabien Brown | Alabama

Zabien Brown made one of the biggest plays of the college football season with his interception against Georgia. This is just one of the many plays he made in his first year.

CB OJ Frederique | Miami (Fla.)

Over the last six games, OJ Frederique has allowed just three catches for 24 yards and one interception. He didn’t start the season as a starter, but since entering the lineup, he has become a key defensive part of Miami’s undefeated start.

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S KJ Bolden | Georgia

KJ Bolden was not in Georgia’s starting lineup all season, but he did get significant reps throughout the season. However, in his first start against Florida, he had five tackles and a pass breakup; This showcased the versatility against the run and the pass that has been on display all season long.

S CJ I Heard | FAU

CJ Heard had 62 tackles in his true freshman season and finished with double-digit tackles in three games. He leads FAU in tackles.

S Koi Perich | Minnesota

There’s an argument to be made that Koi Perich is the best defensive freshman in the country so far. He was all over the Minnesota defense and caught five passes in six games. He entered Minnesota as the second-highest-scoring modern-day high school student ever to attend, and he lived up to expectation.