2024 On3 True Freshman All-American Team

With the 2024 college football regular season coming to a close, On3 has released its True Freshman All-American Team. There were plenty of highly touted freshmen with chances to make an impact this season, but a few stood out among the rest.

Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith took home the Offensive True Freshman of the Year award, while South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart took home the Defensive True Freshman of the Year honors.

Several others joined them on the True Freshman All-American team with remarkable campaigns.

The On3 True Freshman All-American Team was picked by expert Charles Power, who provides complete commentary on each of his picks below.

Offensive True Freshman of the Year

WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

On3 tabbed Jeremiah Smith as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle and as the top wide receiver to come through high school football in the last 15 years. Smith lived up to those lofty expectations as a true freshman and was not only the best receiver in a loaded group of freshman pass-catchers, but was also the top overall offensive player this season.

Smith led all true freshmen in both receiving yards and touchdowns and was instantly the top wide receiver talent on Ohio State’s campus the second he enrolled, which knowing the history and how Ohio State recruits the position is just a massive indicator of his overall talent. At 6 foot 3, 220 pounds with high-end athleticism, elite route-running ability and high end ball skills, Jeremiah Smith is already one of the top receivers in college football and there’s a feeling that if he was eligible for the NFL Draft he would be a top-10 pick next April after just one year of college football. That’s certainly deserving of All-American status.

OFFENSE

QB DJ Lagway, Florida

No true freshman quarterback had more of an effect on winning at their respective program than DJ Lagway. Lagway took over for Florida following the season-ending injury for Graham Mertz and led the Gators to wins in four of their last five games, providing a bunch of positive momentum heading into the offseason in Gainesville.

We saw the top-notch physical skill set that made DJ Lagway the No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 quarterback for On3 in the 2024 cycle. He has a top-shelf arm with the ability to make some eye-popping throws, and on top of that he is very tough to bring down in the pocket and also provides a run threat. It’s also worth noting DJ Lagway was playing much of the last half of his season coming off of a serious hamstring injury, so it’s very possible we have not seen him at full strength despite the success that Florida’s had with him behind center. Lagway looks to be one of the top quarterback talents in all of college football entering next season and is a franchise piece for Florida and Billy Napier to build around.

RB Isaac Brown, Louisville

Louisville looks to have found a gem in the All-American Isaac Brown, who was the top true freshman running back in the Power Four conferences this season. Brown emerged as the primary ball-carrier for Louisville midway through the season and really took off, finishing with over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground while averaging over seven yards per carry.

His ability to tempo his runs, to run with advanced vision and pace stands out. Brown had a ton of chunk plays in the back half of the season and really was a key driver in Louisville’s offensive success. He enters next season as one of the top running backs in the ACC, if not the country, and looks to be part of a really promising one-two punch of young running backs alongside fellow true freshman Duke Watson.

RB Ahmad Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe

Ahmad Hardy was the most productive running back among true freshmen, with 1,346 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Not only is Hardy a standout among true freshmen, he finished among the top 10 nationally.

Hardy was a big piece of Louisiana-Monroe’s offense as a true freshman, rushing for over 1,000 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus. He was able to maximize his yardage and looks to be a budding star in the Group of Five. Hardy came into college on the heels of a big senior season in high school, where he rushed for 2,200 yards.

WR Ryan Williams, Alabama

Ryan Williams looked like one of the most electric playmakers in college football as a 17-year-old true freshman. He had one of the top single-game performances and individual plays of the college football season against Georgia, leading the Crimson Tide to a win that could have serious implications in the College Football Playoff seeding.

Williams entered Alabama following a reclassification from the 2025 to 2024 cycles and was one of the most productive high school prospects in a loaded year at wide receiver. We saw his elite athleticism transfer over seamlessly to college football. He is a top deep threat, lethal with the ball in his hands and showed the ability to make some eye-popping adjustments with the ball in the air.

WR Cam Coleman, Auburn

We considered Cam Coleman as the top physical talent in a historically deep wide receiver cycle coming out of high school, and he showed that type of elite potential late in his true freshman season at Auburn as he earned All-American honors. Coleman really took off over the past few weeks, playing much of his best football down the stretch for the Tigers. We saw him make several impressive plays as a deep threat and coming down with acrobatic grabs in contested-catch situations.

After getting off to an up-and-down start to the season, Coleman finished with six touchdowns in Auburn’s last three games and looks to be one of the more talented receivers in all of college football entering next season. Coleman’s eight receiving touchdowns tie with Ryan Williams for second most among true freshman receivers.

OL Jordan Seaton, Colorado

Jordan Seaton has been the top true freshman offensive lineman throughout the season. The former five-star-plus prospect manned the left tackle spot for Colorado, playing over 800 snaps and performed very well, particularly in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Seaton surrendered just three sacks and 16 hurries, which is among the best of the group of Power Four offensive tackles who started as true freshmen.

Seaton came into college with a high level of polish in addition to play strength. We felt that he would be the most ready to contribute as a true freshman among the top offensive tackles nationally, and that proved to be the case. Seaton looks to be a foundational building block along the offensive line as Deion Sanders continues to rebuild Colorado’s program.

OL Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame

A former blue-chip outlier for On3, Anthonie Knapp caught many by surprise when he won the starting job as a left tackle at Notre Dame following a preseason injury to Charles Jagusah. Despite likely being an interior offensive lineman long-term, Knapp has held down the left tackle spot admirably for Notre Dame, who is poised to make the College Football Playoff.

He came into college with an advanced level of technical skills in addition to physical play and good athleticism. According to Pro Football Focus, Knapp played close to 700 snaps for the Fighting Irish at left tackle and surrendered just 15 hurries on the season.

OL Josiah Thompson, South Carolina

A five-star prospect who ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2024 cycle for On3, Josiah Thompson was considered to be a high-upside, developmental talent at the position. Despite the belief that he could have benefited from a redshirt year and time to add weight, Thompson quickly added 30 to 35 pounds and was able to lock down the starting left tackle job at South Carolina.

While he’s had some baptism-by-fire moments while playing against elite competition in the SEC, Josiah Thompson has shown the type of high-end ability and potential that made him such a touted prospect. Thompson is on track to be a three- to four-year starter for the Gamecocks and is a big piece of Shane Beamer’s efforts to improve South Carolina’s line play heading into next season. Nice to have an All-American to build around.

OL Cash Cleveland, Colorado

Since taking over at center for Colorado midseason, Cash Cleveland has been one of the top true freshman offensive linemen in the nation. Similar to fellow Buff offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, Cleveland has been very good in pass protection, surrendering just one pressure and zero sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Based on how he’s played to this point in the season, Cleveland looks to be a lock starter at center for the Buffaloes next season, giving Deion Sanders a steady, proven center who has played at a high level in the Big 12.

OL Tyler Mercer, North Texas

Tyler Mercer was the top true freshman offensive lineman in the Group of Five this season, manning the center spot for the Mean Green. Mercer played 565 snaps and only surrendered three pressures. He was very clean in pass protection.

Mercer comes from a program at Prosper High School in Texas that is an offensive line factory. He entered college with an advanced skill level and understanding for the position and that showed up with how he played as a true freshman.

AP Caden Durham, LSU

Caden Durham looks to be the answer at running back for LSU. He was considered one of the most dynamic big-play running backs in the 2024 cycle and backed up that status with how he played as a true freshman, earning All-American honors. Durham led the Tigers with 693 rushing yards and six touchdowns and also made plays as a target in the passing game, with 257 receiving yards and two more scores.

In addition to his well-known long speed, Durham showed very impressive contact balance and tackle-breaking ability. He had a huge game on the road against South Carolina and several more big showings throughout the year. LSU had some struggles along the interior of their offensive line throughout the season, but Durham showed that he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in his time in Baton Rouge.

Defensive True Freshman of the Year

EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

Dylan Stewart is the top true freshman pass-rusher that we’ve seen come through college football in recent memory. At 6 foot 6, 250 pounds, Stewart has elite athleticism and a budding pass-rush skill set. He was dominant off the edge as a true freshman, pairing with Kyle Kennard to give South Carolina arguably the top pass-rush duo in all of college football.

Stewart was highly disruptive and lived in opponents’ backfields. He generated 48 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s 21 more pressures than the next true freshman pass-rusher. Stewart looks to be one of the top overall young talents in college football entering next season. The former five-star-plus prospect is tracking to be a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft should he continue to play at this level. And with improvement he could be perhaps the top non-quarterback prospect in all of college football.

DEFENSE

EDGE Colin Simmons, Texas

Colin Simmons is an impact player and arguably the top pass-rusher on the nation’s No. 1 defense as a true freshman. He has been phenomenal in his first season of college football coming off the edge, notching seven sacks.

And after Dylan Stewart is the clear No. 2 pass-rusher among true freshmen. Simmons’ first-step quickness and ability to create constant disruption in the backfield really stands out for such a young player, helping get him onto this year’s All-American list.

EDGE Kyran Duhon, UTEP

Kyran Duhon has emerged as an impact player at UTEP over the past several weeks, really hitting his stride late into the season. Duhon is one of the most productive true freshmen along the defensive front, registering seven sacks and an eye-catching 24 stops, according to Pro Football Focus.

At around 6-2, 250 he has a compact build and has been able to find his way into opponents’ backfields at a high rate over the second half of the season.

DL Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma

After making news by earning a starting role prior to the season, Jayden Jackson played well, played very well for Oklahoma along the defensive front as a true freshman.

Defensive line is a position where we typically don’t see a ton of true freshman impact, but Jayden Jackson was a key piece of Oklahoma’s front, playing 359 snaps and registering two sacks and 10 stops, according to Pro Football Focus.

LB Sammy Brown, Clemson

Sammy Brown made an instant All-American impact on Clemson’s defense as a true freshman. We saw the former five-star-plus prospect make a bunch of plays behind the line of scrimmage this fall.

He finished the regular season with 10.5 tackles for a loss and 5.0 sacks, good for second on Clemson’s defense in both categories. Brown was one of the most athletic prospects in the 2024 cycle. We saw his outstanding play speed, physicality and high effort level show up on the field as a true freshman. Clemson’s defense was clearly better when Brown was on the field, particularly at the end of the season.

LB Simeon Coleman, Cincinnati

Simeon Coleman emerged as an impact true freshman on Cincinnati’s defense, finishing the regular season with 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. Coleman particularly stood out as a run defender.

He was credited with 16 stops, according to Pro Football Focus. He comes from a top high school program at St. Frances and came into college with a high level of development and was able to make an early impact for the Bearcats.

CB OJ Frederique, Miami

OJ Frederique looks like a great find out of south Florida by the Miami staff. He played 554 snaps over his true freshman season and only gave up 14 completions, according to Pro Football Focus.

We saw Frederique’s ball skills and natural cover instincts on display. He came down with two interceptions and four pass breakups and made several impact plays in pass coverage, particularly in ACC play.

CB Jay Crawford, Auburn

Jay Crawford emerged as an All-American starter and key building block in Auburn’s young secondary as a true freshman. He was clearly one of the top true freshman corners, playing over 500 snaps and coming down with a key interception against Kentucky, leading Auburn to a win.

We also saw Crawford break up six passes. He only gave up 13 completions on the season, according to Pro Football Focus. The combination of ball skills and natural awareness in coverage is readily evident. Crawford is one who impressed us at the Under Armour All-American bowl after his senior season with his willingness to match up with top receivers, and we’ve seen that continue to show up in his true freshman season.

CB Eli Bowen, Oklahoma

Eli Bowen emerged as a key player in Oklahoma’s secondary as a true freshman. We saw him make a big impact against top competition throughout the season. He was stellar in Oklahoma’s game against Texas and came down with an interception in the Sooners’ big win over Alabama.

Bowen played over 400 snaps and was the highest-graded true freshman corner who saw significant action, according to Pro Football Focus. His high level of coverage polish, physicality as a tackler and just ability to be around the ball and make plays stood out in high school and continues to show up early in his college career.

S Koi Perich, Minnesota

Few true freshmen made a bigger impact than Koi Perich. Perich was a game-changer for Minnesota’s defense once he assumed a key role a month into the season. It’s not a surprise that we saw the Golden Gophers turn their season around once he got on the field.

Perich led the Big Ten and all true freshmen with five interceptions. He’s an instinctive player who completely changed the identity of Minnesota’s defense while on the field. Had Perich played the whole season he could have made a strong push as On3’s Defensive True Freshman of the Year. Regardless he looks to be a top talent for PJ Fleck and one the Golden Gophers will look to build their defense around in years to come.

S KJ Bolden, Georgia

KJ Bolden was a huge recruiting win for Georgia late in the 2024 cycle, and that paid dividends for the Bulldogs as Bolden was a key contributor in the Bulldogs’ secondary as a true freshman. He logged 482 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, and surrendered just 86 yards in coverage.

We saw Bolden earn his first career start against Florida and play at a very high level in that game. He’s continued to show his versatility with his range and physicality and looks to be the next top safety talent out of Athens.