10 Big 12 true freshmen positioned to be factors in 2023

Every year with true freshmen, there are highly-rated players who step in and make an instant impact as well as lower-rated recruits who exceed expectations and end up being immediate factors.

It will be no different this year.

On3 is taking a conference-by-conference look at true freshmen set to make noteworthy contributions this season. We’ve already identified some from the ACC and Big Ten. Today, we shift to the Big 12. 

Based on intel from team sources, here are 10 Big 12 true freshmen in position to be factors in 2023 (listed alphabetically by school).

Baylor DL Trey Wilson

Where he ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Three-star, No. 58 defensive lineman, No. 544 overall prospect

Based on what they saw from Wilson during the spring, at least some at Baylor already view him as a “high end” talent.

The current belief seems to be that he could be someone whose role progressively increases throughout the season.

Iowa State LB Jack Sadowsky, RB Abu Sama

Where they ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Sadowsky — Three-star, No. 126 linebacker, No. 1,321 overall prospect; Sama — Three-star, No. 56 running back, No. 775 overall prospect

Sadowsky is a potential starter at linebacker.

An Iowa State source described him to On3 as “tough, instinctive, smart and physically mature.”

Sama, meanwhile, is expected to provide a spark and some juice to an Iowa State running game that ranked last in the Big 12 last season in several categories, including rushing yards per game and yards per carry.

Sama ran for 372 yards and six touchdowns in his team’s state title game last year. Both are Iowa state championship game records. Sama was also a standout in track in high school and broke the Iowa state record for the long jump that had stood for almost 40 years.

Four-star quarterback JJ Kohl is another Cyclones freshman to keep an eye on. He’s competing for Iowa State’s starting quarterback job.

Kansas State DB Kanijal Thomas

Where he ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Three-star, No. 102 cornerback, No. 1,050 overall prospect

Thomas is among the Kansas State freshmen, along with others like QB Avery Johnson, who seem to be more college ready physically compared to some others in the Wildcats’ freshman class.

Thomas has also been described to On3 as “smart” and as somebody who “seems ready to find a role.”

Oklahoma DB Peyton Bowen

Where he ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Five-star, No. 2 safety, No. 15 overall prospect

Some of the feedback that continues to come up in conversations about Bowen is that “he’s a true football player,” that he “makes it look easy” and that he continues to stand out with “his understanding of the game and how fast he plays.”

He capped spring ball with an interception off of starting QB Dillon Gabriel in Oklahoma’s spring game.

TCU LB Jonathan Bax, WR Cordale Russell

Where they ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Bax — Three-star, No. 58 linebacker, No. 551 overall prospect; Russell — Four-star, No. 15 wide receiver, No. 81 overall prospect

Bax has gotten off to a good start with the transition to a new position after being more of an edge rusher in high school.

He seems to be a second-team player already and got some reps with the first-team defense during the spring.

He’s impressed the TCU staff with “his size, speed and instincts.”

Russell, meanwhile, was TCU’s highest-rated signee and could be part of helping the Horned Frogs replace players such as NFL first-round pick Quentin Johnston. In addition to Johnston, TCU also lost its other two top receivers from last year, Taye Barber and Derius Davis, as well as Class 2022 top recruit Jordan Hudson.

On3 ranked Russell as the fifth-best wide receiver and 42nd-best overall prospect in the 2023 class.

Four-star running back Cam Cook is among the other freshmen who could end up contributing for TCU this season.

Texas LB Anthony Hill, RB CJ Baxter

Where they ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Hill — Five-star, No. 2 linebacker, No. 16 overall prospect; Baxter — Five-star, No. 1 running back, No. 30 overall prospect

Hill has been described to On3 as both “off the charts explosive” and “extremely instinctive.”

That’s a good combination.

He also may already be one of Texas’ better pass rushers and sacked five-star freshman QB Arch Manning during the Longhorns’ spring game.

As for Baxter, he’ll have a chance to be an immediate factor at running back for a Texas offense that lost both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to the NFL.

He had a touchdown during the Longhorns’ spring game.

“Seems very natural (as a runner),” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Baxter during the spring. “He’s got good patience. He doesn’t get anxious, which sometimes young runners can and they want to hurry up and get to the line of scrimmage. And he trusts his vision. There’s a reason he was the player he was in high school and we’re seeing it now.”

Texas Tech LB Miquel Dingle

Where he ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Three-star, No. 117 linebacker, No. 1,244 overall prospect

Although Dingle wasn’t highly rated as a recruit, the Texas Tech staff is so high on him that at least some there already view Dingle as one of the highest upside players on the Red Raiders roster and as someone they could see being a three-and-out guy to the NFL.

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Dingle was a South Carolina state champion in the 110-meter hurdles in high school and posted the fifth-fastest 110-meter hurdle time in the country last year (13.56). He then placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles for Texas Tech at the Big 12 indoor championships in February.

The Red Raiders football staff has timed Dingle at 22 miles per hour with the team’s GPS monitoring system.

Heading into the season, they expect Dingle to be a big factor on special teams and also a contributor on defense.

“He’s one of the freakiest humans I’ve ever been around,” a Texas Tech source told On3.