Stars on the rise: On3’s 2021 True Freshman All-America Team

The story of the 2021 college football season can’t be told in full without the inclusion of true freshmen. We saw dozens of members of the 2021 recruiting cycle make big impacts.

Now that the regular season and conference championship games are behind us, this is a good time to assemble our True Freshman All-America Team. Degree of impact and consistency of contribution were key criteria we considered in selecting the team.

The team has a number of well-known players. Nearly two-thirds of this team appeared on our Midseason True Freshman All-America Team. And more than one-third were on the Preseason True Freshman All-America Team.

Unsurprisingly, this team features several players who were highly touted prospects. Seven were rated as five-star prospects by On3, and 13 more were in the On300 as four-star prospects.

Here is the team.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Any doubt about the top true freshman was erased Saturday during the SEC Championship Game. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was not just the best true freshman on the field, he was one of the best players in a game that was littered with future first-round picks. Bowers was the go-to guy for the Bulldogs, catching 10 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Brock Bowers is a playmaker pic.twitter.com/Z7MyJmHJ3K

— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) December 5, 2021

The SEC title game was far from a blip on the radar. Bowers has been a key player all season and already is among the best tight ends in the nation. He has 791 yards and 11 touchdowns on 47 catches, and also has a rushing touchdown. Among tight ends, the yardage is third nationally and the touchdown total is first. Bowers’s top-end speed manifests itself in some big plays, and his 16.83 yards per catch is the most among top tight ends.

We were high on Bowers as a prospect and were the lone major recruiting media company to rate him as a five-star prospect. Bowers didn’t play as a senior at Napa (Calif.) High in 2020 because the fall season was postponed by COVID-19. Still, we felt his unique athleticism (4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical) and versatile playmaking ability made him the top tight end in the cycle. He has surpassed even those expectations as a freshman and looks primed for a huge career in Athens.

FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE

THE BACKFIELD
QB Caleb Williams, Oklahoma
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
AP: Alton McCaskill, Houston

The buzz: Caleb Williams took the reins of Oklahoma’s offense a few weeks into the season and led a historic comeback in the win over rival Texas. On3’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2021 cycle had some incredibly big moments as a true freshman, including a record-breaking first start against TCU. While his performance certainly oscillated over the course of the season, Williams was still the no-doubt choice as the top true freshman quarterback. He is eighth nationally in passer rating, throwing for 1,670 yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions; he also has rushed for 401 yards and six more scores.

TreVeyon Henderson and Braelon Allen are two of the best true freshmen running backs of the past few years. Henderson was the top-ranked running back in the 2021 cycle for both On3 and the On3 Consensus. He has lived up to the considerable billing, rushing for 1,172 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 7.02 yards per carry. Henderson’s yardage ranks 21st nationally. He consistently has shown big-play ability with a top-notch burst and breakaway speed. He looks like a future first-round pick.

Allen was a midseason revelation for Wisconsin. He became the feature back in the Badgers’ fifth game and ripped off seven consecutive 100-yard games, all wins. Allen, 17, is a big, bruising power runner that embodies what we think a quintessential Wisconsin running back should look like. Allen has 1,109 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, while averaging 7.06 yards per carry. He was the No. 119 prospect in the On300.

Running back was the deepest position among freshmen, so we’re using our all-purpose spot at the position. Houston’s Alton McCaskill was the top rusher on an 11-2 team as a true freshman.The former track star rushed for 883 yards and 16 touchdowns – tied for ninth-most nationally.

THE RECEIVERS
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
WR Jack Bech, LSU
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

The buzz: Xavier Worthy was the clear top true freshman receiver this season and is arguably the best true freshman receiver in program history. He ended up on the 40 Acres after originally signing with Michigan, then being released from his letter of intent. That was certainly good fortune for Steve Sarkisian. Worthy was a five-star recruit and the No. 18 overall prospect in the On300. He pairs elite long speed with strong ball skills and burgeoning ability as a route-runner. Worthy finished with 981 yards and 12 touchdowns on 62 catches. He is tied for the sixth-most receiving touchdowns nationally.

Jack Bech was one of several true freshman receivers to make a splash for LSU this season. He has 489 yards and three touchdowns on 43 catches. He is a physical, reliable receiver and provided a consistent target for quarterback Max Johnson. Bech saw his stock rise as a high school prospect after turning in a big senior season. He finished as a four-star prospect and member of the On300.

THE LINE
T Joe Alt, Notre Dame
G Connor Colby, Iowa
C Bryce Foster, Texas A&M
T Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
T Reuben Fatheree, Texas A&M

The buzz: There was considerable buzz about some Notre Dame true freshmen offensive linemen entering the season, but the buzz wasn’t about Joe Alt. He was viewed as more of a high-upside, long-term developmental prospect, but he was thrust into action at left tackle for the Irish and ended up playing well. The On300 member has played nearly all of his 500-plus snaps at left tackle and has surrendered just seven pressures and two sacks, Pro Football Focus data shows.

It’s not every day you see a true freshman start along the offensive line at Iowa. Connor Colby is an exception. The in-state product locked down the right guard position for the Hawkeyes and played well for a team that made the Big Ten Championship Game, surrendering just one sack. Colby was the No. 63 overall prospect in the On300 and a Preseason True Freshman All-American.

Texas A&M has started two true freshmen from the Houston area along its line, with Bryce Foster at center and Reuben Fatheree at right tackle. Foster made the tough adjustment to center after dabbling at the position some during high school. He showed marked progress over the course of the season. Fatheree looked like the Aggies’ best offensive lineman at times. The 6-foot-8, 320-pounder is a long, nimble mover who looks like a surefire pro. Both Foster and Fatheree were ranked in the top 100 of the On300.

Wyatt Milum was a huge in-state recruiting win for Neal Brown and the Mountaineers. West Virginia saw an instant return this season, with Milum manning the right tackle spot as a true freshman. Per Pro Football Focus, Milum has given up just two sacks on 561 snaps.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Oklahoma State’s Collin Oliver is one of the best players on one of the nation’s best defenses as a true freshman. The athletic edge defender has 10.5 sacks, which ties for 12th nationally. Oliver’s production isn’t empty calories, either. He has been constantly disruptive, registering 39 pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Maybe most important, Oliver has made some huge plays in key spots for Oklahoma State. One such play was a game-sealing sack against Oklahoma, which sent the Cowboys to the Big 12 Championship Game.

As called on Oklahoma State radio: pic.twitter.com/ucJdGDZQG0

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 28, 2021

Oliver followed up a week later with two more sacks in the Big 12 title game against Baylor. He should pair with Trace Ford (who missed most of the season with a torn ACL) to give Oklahoma State one of nation’s top pass-rushing duos in 2022.

FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE

THE LINE
EDGE Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
DL Leonard Taylor, Miami
DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

The buzz: Josaiah Stewart was Coastal Carolina’s top-ranked signee as per the On3 Consensus. He has lived up to that billing. The Chanticleers were looking to replace NFL draft pick Tarron Jackson at end and turned to Jackson, who leads all true freshmen with 12.5 sacks, good for fourth nationally.

Miami had a number of true freshmen make plays on defense, including five-star recruit Leonard Taylor. He leads the Hurricanes in tackles for loss with 9.5 and saw his snaps increase over the course of the season. Taylor is a cat-quick, athletic presence capable of creating constant disruption along the interior. He was the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2021 cycle in the On3 Consensus.

Tyleik Williams is among the more productive true freshmen defensive linemen, despite playing fewer snaps than some of his peers. He also is among the more disruptive players for Ohio State. His five sacks are second-most on the team, and it’s logical to think the On300 member’s role should increase as a sophomore.

THE LINEBACKERS
LB Dallas Turner, Alabama
LB Junior Colson, Michigan

The buzz: Two true freshmen are starting at linebacker for College Football Playoff teams. Dallas Turner assumed a starting role as an outside linebacker for Alabama in the middle of season. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect from powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale is third on the Tide with 5.5 sacks. He also has 20 pressures, per Pro Football Focus.

Junior Colson entered the season as an expected contributor on Michigan’s new-look defense, and that’s turned out to be the case. Colson has played 479 snaps for the Wolverines, per Pro Football Focus. He’s fourth on the team with 56 tackles. Colson was a top-100 prospect, ranking No. 78 overall according to On3.

THE SECONDARY
CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
CB Duce Chestnut, Syracuse
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
NB Tyreek Chappell, Texas A&M
S Andrew Mukuba, Clemson

The buzz: Denzel Burke has been a constant presence in Ohio State’s secondary dating to the season opener. He has played 663 snaps for the Buckeyes – second-most on the team. Burke has one interception and eight pass breakups, and opposing quarterbacks have completed just 48.8% of their passes when throwing his way, as per Pro Football Focus. The true freshman looks to be the next top corner for Ryan Day’s program.

Duce Chestnut created enough buzz to be named to our Preseason All-America Team. The buzz turned out to be true. Chestnut was among Syracuse’s best players as a true freshman. He finished with three interruptions and eight pass breakups while starting every game.

Kool-Aid McKinstry has seen his snaps increase as the season went along. The former five-star prospect is a key contributor in the Tide secondary, primarily working as an outside corner. McKinstry has one pick on the season and has given up a catch on 50% of his targets, as per Pro Football Focus. He was the No. 14 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus.

Tyreek Chappell was among Texas A&M’s best defensive backs, working at nickel for the Aggies. He rarely leaves the field, playing 701 snaps for Mike Elko’s defense. Chappell has one interception and five pass breakups while also being an active tackler. We were high on the former On300 member’s ability to stay attached in coverage as a high school prospect – a skill that has transferred to the college level.

Andrew Mukuba made waves by starting his first college game as a safety in Clemson’s talented secondary. The former top-100 prospect has been a steady presence all season long on the back end of the Tigers’ defense, playing at free safety, covering the slot and rolling into the box. Mukuba is one of the higher usage players on Clemson’s defense and has proved to be reliable with 46 tackles. He was named third-team All-ACC.