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Justin's college football true freshmen to watch for 2025. His top 10 CFB freshmen, including Bryce Underwood, Dallas Wilson, Dakorien Moore, and more.
Last season, freshman wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Ryan Williams (Alabama) took the college football world by storm with their electrifying play. Who will be the top true freshmen in 2025?
We might not have receivers of the Smith and Williams caliber in this class, but that doesn't mean there aren't a number of very good football players who will make a fast impact, from a true freshman quarterback expected to take over at Michigan to one of the most hyped offensive tackles in recent memory over at Tennessee.
In no particular order, here are the top freshmen to keep an eye on in college football in 2025.
Bryce Underwood - QB - Michigan
Alright, I know I said "no particular order," but we're still starting with the player who is the consensus pick to be the most important freshman in the country this year: Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Even before we get into what makes Underwood special, this pick is pretty obvious because it's rare to get a true freshman quarterback starting at a program as good as Michigan. The last freshman to start the season opener for Michigan was Tate Forcier in 2009. If Underwood wins the job, he'll be just the fourth true freshman to start the season as the Wolverines quarterback.
Bryce Underwood's teammates expressed genuine awe in how the 17-year-old prodigy has carried himself since arriving at Michigan.
Read more on the FOX Sports App or https://t.co/eTD1EK1wxx pic.twitter.com/uQ2sM4ZXU1
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) July 26, 2025
Underwood is the No. 1 overall-ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class, and he didn't come to Michigan — a school not necessarily known for its quarterback development in recent years, with the only real success story since Henne being J.J. McCarthy — just to sit on the bench. He has elite arm talent and is capable of making every throw.
Malik Washington - QB - Maryland
It looks like freshman quarterback Malik Washington will win the job at Maryland this year, giving us two Big Ten programs with a freshman under center.
Washington won't carry with him the massive expectations that Underwood does, but Terrapins fans will still expect to see signs of growth out of the No. 3-ranked dual-threat quarterback in this class.
While he still needs to work on his deep ball, his ability to connect on short throws and to escape pressure with his feet makes him an intriguing player to watch in 2025.
Antwann Hill - QB - Memphis
The only non-Power 4 guy on this list, Memphis quarterback Antwaan Hill, has a chance to be one of the biggest breakouts in the country, assuming he unseats Brendon Lewis at some point during the 2025 campaign.
Despite a number of power conference offers, including Florida and Texas A&M, Hill chose Memphis, where he can likely follow the Seth Henigan route of being a four-year starter.
Hill is a pocket passer and excels when throwing the ball deep, and he has ideal quarterback size at 6-foot-5. Playing against easier competition on a weekly basis than if he'd gone to an SEC school, Hill will have ample chances to showcase his big arm.
Gideon Davidson - RB - Clemson
It appears Dabo Swinney has found himself another running back gem.
Gideon Davidson looks to have pretty much everything working in his favor heading into his freshman year. He has the speed to break off huge plays. He has the physical build to absorb contact. He has the vision to find any hole and cut up the field.
He also doesn't have much competition for snaps. 2024 Leading rusher Phil Mafah is now in the NFL, and sophomore Jay Haynes had some good moments last year but is coming off a torn ACL in the ACC Championship Game.
Dakorien Moore - WR - Oregon
Oregon might be the biggest mystery among the top college football teams. The program seems to have figured out a cheat code to make any quarterback work in the system after the recent success of Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, but that will be tested as former UCLA quarterback Dante Moore takes over.
The addition of the top wide receiver from this recruiting class can go a long way toward helping the new Ducks quarterback succeed. Duncanville High School's Dakorien Moore has breakaway speed and already runs routes like a pro.
Dakorien Moore’s first catch as a Duck 🦆 pic.twitter.com/E4Ql0i95cr
— Oregon Updates (@oregon__updates) April 26, 2025
He'll also be the focal point of this offense because Evan Stewart suffered a knee injury earlier this summer that could sideline him for most of the season. Moore will have to immediately step up with Stewart out.
Dallas Wilson - WR - Florida
The biggest concern for Dallas Wilson will be getting on the field in a pretty crowded receiver room, but Wilson has the size and talent to get on the field for the Gators.
Since he arrived in Gainesville, he's been very impressive, including setting the school record for receptions and receiving yards during the team's spring game.
If you're looking for a player who is poised for an early breakout simply because he has the drive to will himself to an early breakout, Wilson is your guy. His recent injury is only expected to keep him out for a few weeks.
Kaliq Lockett - WR - Texas
Texas has to replace a lot of talent at wide receiver this offseason, as Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond have both moved on. Some of the replacement production will come from players like Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr., but don't be shocked to see freshman Kaliq Lockett make a big impact for the team.
The nature of this Texas offense is that Lockett won't need to even be on the field every play to make an impact. Last season, five different players caught at least five touchdowns for the Horns, and seven players had 300 or more receiving yards, and that was with a dominant force like Golden on the field.
Arch Manning made sure to give true freshman and former 5⭐️ WR Kaliq Lockett a shoutout at the Manning Passing Academy 🤘 pic.twitter.com/fDc3u15sxw
— OnTexasFootball (@ontexasfootball) June 28, 2025
Quarterback Arch Manning will likely spread the ball around this year. Lockett might not get consistent production, but his wingspan and hand size will make him a go-to option when the Longhorns just need to move the chains.
David Sanders Jr. - OT - Tennessee
Tennessee has to replace four-fifths of its offensive line, opening up a clear path for freshman David Sanders Jr. to start at right tackle for the Volunteers.
The biggest concern with Sanders out of high school was that he needed to add a bit of weight, but Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Sanders has put up 38 pounds in the weight room this offseason.
That added weight should give him more power when blocking. Coupled with his impressive speed for an offensive tackle, Sanders should be up for keeping quarterback Joey Aguilar clean in the pocket.
DJ Pickett - CB - LSU
DJ Pickett is long and fast, two things that should earn him immediate playing time in Baton Rouge. He'll need to quickly show he can avoid mistakes if he wants to be on the field for every play, but the talent is definitely there for Pickett, even if it might take a bit to pass Ashton Stamps and Mansoor Delane in the pecking order in the Tigers' secondary.
Even if Pickett isn't a "starter" for LSU right off the bat, expect head coach Brian Kelly to get him on the field plenty. You can't leave a talent like Pickett on the sidelines, no matter how many other good defensive secondary pieces you have.
Devin Sanchez - CB - Ohio State
Devin Sanchez is currently facing the toughest test he'll face all year: shutting down Jeremiah Smith in practice.
But seriously, Sanchez is getting a lot of very useful experience going against the Ohio State offense in practice. The Buckeyes are a wide receiver factory at this point, and going up against the best receiving room in the nation is going to help Sanchez grow.
Ohio State Freshman Devin Sanchez is a Future Superstar⭐️ pic.twitter.com/S2WteIdjX8
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 10, 2025
The freshman cornerback has the speed to keep up with any receiver, as well as the athleticism to get off the ground and battle for the ball. The only major concern here is just that the team already has Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Igbinosun at corner, so Sanchez's snaps could take a bit to materialize.
