On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American Team

We’ve officially hit the midway point of the college football season and it’s time to take stock of one of the most intriguing groups of players in the country: the freshmen. More precisely, it’s time to hand out awards to the midseason true freshman All-Americans.

There have been plenty that have made a huge impact on their respective teams, much like LSU star Harold Perkins did a year ago.

Who are this year’s bona fide stars as true freshmen? Let’s take a peak inside of the evaluations handed out by On3’s Charles Power.

OFFENSE

QB Dante Moore, UCLA

Charles Power: Even though he was not the opening-day starter, it did not take Dante Moore long to secure the job and play at a high level as a true freshman for Chip Kelly and UCLA. Dante Moore, especially among Power Five true freshman quarterbacks, has looked the best to this point, leading UCLA to a 4-1 start, most recently helping the Bruins to a close win over No. 13 Washington State. Moore has completed 69-of-130 passes for nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

There certainly have been some ups and downs, as to be expected for a true freshman quarterback starting in the Power Five, but he has shown the high-end arm talent and just his pure passing ability from the pocket that made him a five-star-plus prospect and a five-star prospect for On3. When he was a recruit he was a guy we viewed with a very high floor and I think that has show itself to be true early on in his freshman season as he was the first high-profile, blue-chip quarterback to really earn a starting job in their respective college careers, and it was a really strong quarterback cycle in 2023. I think it’s possible, if not likely, we’ll see Dante Moore continue to settle in. He has some big games upcoming. A road tilt at Oregon State is going to be a tough one next week, but I think we’ll see him continue to settle in and play at a high level, and he has to be the leader in the clubhouse to finish as the quarterback in the postseason true freshman All-American team.

RB Darius Taylor, Minnesota

Charles Power: Darius Taylor is the leading rusher among true freshmen by a considerable margin and has put up some mind-boggling numbers early on despite really getting significant carries in only three games. Taylor has rushed for 532 yards and four touchdowns on just 87 carries, and he was the Golden Gophers’ primary ball-carrier in games against Eastern Michigan, at North Carolina and at Northwestern. He’s averaging 133 yards per game that he plays in, and that includes his first game against Nebraska where he only got one carry. So Darius Taylor is really having a phenomenal start to his true freshman year despite missing the last two games with an injury that he sustained toward the end of the game versus Northwestern.

Darius Taylor is a guy who was a senior riser late in his recruitment, a guy who moved up the rankings. He finished No. 275 in the On300 as a four-star prospect. An early commit to Minnesota and they were able to hold onto him despite interest from other Big Ten programs and some offers after his big senior season that saw him rush for 2,450 yards and 36 touchdowns at 9.1 yards per carry. So he’s transferred that ability seamlessly over to the field as a true freshman, just showing very good toughness, ability to break tackles. He’s able to carry the load with a high volume of carries and has some just natural, innate running ability. So I think when you’re projecting Darius Taylor forward he looks to be a multi-year starter, bell-cow back for Minnesota, who’s looking to replace Mohamed Ibrahim in PJ Fleck‘s downhill, run-first offense. So I think based on the early returns of his freshman season Darius Taylor looks to be a significant piece to Minnesota’s offense for the next several seasons and I think projects as one of the best running backs in the Big Ten for the next couple seasons as well.

WR Zachariah Branch, USC

Charles Power: It did not take long for Zachariah Branch to show the nation why he was considered the most electric playmaker in the 2023 recruiting cycle. He made his presence felt immediately in Week 0, having a monster game against San Jose State on national television with a kick return touchdown and just several other impressive plays in that game, and he continued to do that throughout the first month of the season despite missing the last two games with injury. Branch is averaging 134 total yards per game, both as a receiver and a return man.

I think when you look at college football this year there is not a more dangerous return man to this point in the season, and Branch has also shown the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands as a receiver and a rusher. He’s part of a very deep receiver room at USC, but assuming he comes back healthy we could see his role continue to expand in Lincoln Riley‘s offense. But there’s no question he’s one of the more dynamite playmakers in the nation regardless of year, regardless of age. He’s just shown some exceptional ability with the ball in his hands, and this is what we saw from Zachariah Branch as a recruit. He was a top-five prospect for On3 and a guy who brings elite track speed to the field but in a very functional way. He can toggle and change speeds and has dynamic open-field ability with his vision, top-end speed and elite burst. So the five-star-plus prospect has looked the part early on, and this is only the beginning of what should be an outstanding college career.

WR Eric Singleton, Georgia Tech

Charles Power: Eric Singleton is the most productive receiver among true freshmen to this point in the season with 355 yards and five touchdowns on just 20 catches for Georgia Tech. He already looks like Georgia Tech’s top receiver and is their leading receiver to this point in the season, and Singleton is one who looks to be a steal for the Yellow Jackets and Brent Key.

He was a guy who really made some strides physically over the course of his high school career and saw his speed in track really jump from his junior to senior year. The guy posted some phenomenal track times as a senior after rankings were finished and after he was signed with Georgia Tech, running a personal best of a 10.2-second mark in the 100 meters and winning the state championship in Georgia’s Class 6A with a 10.35 in the 100 meters. So this is a guy who can really run. He’s doing well separating, he’s dynamic with the ball in his hands and looks to be a reliable, really, the top target for Haynes King in Brent Key’s first full season as the head coach in Atlanta.

WR Kevin Concepcion, NC State

Charles Power: Kevin Concepcion has emerged as the clear No. 1 receiver for NC State through six games. He has triple the receptions of any other player for the Wolfpack, and he currently has 31 catches for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Concepcion has really continued to increase his productivity over the course of the past couple of weeks. He had a big two-touchdown game in a close win at Virginia two weeks ago and was a key difference-maker in NC State’s win, a close win, over Marshall on Saturday with 102 yards and two touchdowns. So he’s had two two-touchdown games in really big spots, helping NC State to tight victories. Has really shown a high skill level thus far.

Concepcion is a very good route-runner, has shown natural hands, he can pick up yards after the catch. A guy who who came in with a level of polish that lends itself well to making an early impact. So receiver was an area where Dave Doering and his staff have really been looking to upgrade the talent through recruiting the last couple of cycles. Concepcion looks to be a big hit for the Wolfpack. He was an in-state prospect from Charlotte, played at a very talented high school program, Julius Chambers, and has taken off really quickly in his freshman year and looks to be a top target for the Wolfpack moving forward for probably the next several seasons, but for sure this season.

TE Luke Hasz, Arkansas

Charles Power: Luke Hasz emerged as perhaps KJ Jefferson’s most reliable target early on in his freshman season, culminating with a six-catch, 116-yard, two-touchdown game in a tight loss at LSU. Hasz unfortunately went down with a broken clavicle the following week against Texas A&M, but up until this point in the season, he has been by far the most productive true freshman tight end.

He showed the ability to line up in multiple spots, playing in-line, attached. This is a guy who came into college with a really high level of polish both in the passing and blocking game and a guy who can move around and do a lot of different things for Sam Pittman and the Arkansas staff. It seems unlikely we’ll see him the rest of the year, so I think it remains up in the air whether or not Luke Hasz would be the tight end on the postseason true freshman All-American team, but to this point, he has been clearly the top true freshman tight end before unfortunately going down with an injury.

OL Spencer Fano, Utah

Charles Power: Spencer Fano has manned the left tackle spot for Utah to this point in the season, playing 298 snaps and has really played as well if not the best of any true freshman offensive lineman this season. Fano has given up 12 pressures and one sack, which registers on the low end for offensive linemen who have played that much, especially within the Power 5. Fano was one who was a top-100 prospect for On3, checking in at No. 77 overall. He was a continual mover in the rankings, a continual riser, I should say, but one who moved up with a strong week at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio. Showed the ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line, a guy who could play tackle or slide inside and play guard or even center, and I think he’s shown his ability to play on the edge, pairing his length and play strength early in his career in Salt Lake City.

Spencer Fano was part of a very strong offensive line class that Kyle Whittingham signed in the 2023 cycle, along with Caleb Lomu and Roger Alderman being blue-chip signees at the position. He’s the first one to get on the field, but I think it’s highly likely that all three of those guys will be starters if not multi-year starters for the Utes moving forward, and Fano looks to be a big hit as an in-state prospect, a guy that Utah was able to keep home. He looks to be a multi-year starter and potentially a star offensive lineman as he continues to develop for Utah.

OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Charles Power: Francis Mauigoa was a Day 1 starter for Mario Cristobal on the offensive line at Miami, manning the right tackle spot. We viewed Mauigoa as perhaps the highest floor offensive lineman in the 2023 cycle and that’s borne out to this point in the season. He is advanced physically, a guy who is very stoutly built, has outstanding play strength, a plus athlete, and he’s been able to hold up for the most part while playing right tackle really early on in his career.

Mauigoa has played 304 snaps for Miami, surrendering two sacks and 10 pressures to this point, and I think he’s a key piece to what Mario Cristobal is trying to build in Coral Gables. Offensive line was an area of need and one that was really a priority position for Cristobal when he took over the program, and Mauigoa is a foundational piece moving forward as a guy who looks to be a three- to four-year starter in Coral Gables. Francis Mauigoa was a five-star-plus prospect and finished No. 19 overall for On3, as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the cycle.

OL Ethan Mackenny, Georgia Tech

Charles Power: Ethan Mackenny joins Georgia Tech teammate Eric Singleton on this midseason true freshman All-American list, and like Singleton is one who has seen continued development since his days as a recruit. Mackenny has manned the left tackle spot for the Yellow Jackets, playing 360 snaps to this point, giving up just one sack and 11 pressures to this point in the season. Ethan Mackenny was always viewed as a top athlete as an offensive lineman, a guy who has really good feet, had great film as just a hellacious run blocker and an O-lineman who could really move to the second level with ease.

The biggest improvement we see with Ethan Mackenny is really just his size. In 2021 he tipped the scales at 235 pounds. He is now listed at over 290 pounds on Georgia Tech’s roster. So this is a guy who has really put in work at the training table in the weight room, and he’s one who, I’m going to be honest, I’m a little surprised he got on the field this early. So it’s a testament to his work ethic. The ability was always there, but he was considered one, at least by us as a recruit, as a prospect who might need to redshirt. But he has shown that he has the physical ability and wherewithal to come in and play early and looks to be a key piece moving forward for Brent Key’s offensive line at Georgia Tech. He’s played at a high level and certainly deserving of being on this true freshman All-American team.

OL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M

Charles Power: Chase Bisontis has manned the right tackle spot for Texas A&M for the majority of games and snaps this season, playing 301 snaps for the Aggies. Bisontis has surrendered two sacks and 21 pressures in that time. There certainly have been some ups and downs for Bisontis, as A&M has played some high-level competition. He was one that was ranked as an interior offensive lineman by On3, and he’s probably playing a little bit out of position as a right tackle in the SEC. I think ideally when you look at Bisontis long-term he’s probably an interior player in the NFL.

But he came in and really created a buzz in camp early on at Texas A&M, just with his play strength, his movement skills and just advanced physical ability. And that’s something we saw from Bisontis as a prospect. He was right outside of the five-star range for On3, finishing at No. 35 overall and as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the cycle. A guy who had exceptional senior film, has the ability to play multiple spots on the offensive line despite probably projecting on the interior. Is just a violent run-blocker, a guy who is very strong for his age and shows good functional movement skills as well.

OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Charles Power: He’s had some ups and downs after being thrown into the fire early, but Kadyn Proctor has played a lot and shown some encouraging signs while manning the left tackle spot for Alabama. Proctor has played 335 snaps for the Crimson Tide, all at left tackle, surrendering four sacks and 13 pressures. While I think he is still getting up to speed playing college football, Proctor is a guy who has a lot of physical ability. He is huge, and I think he’s continuing to settle in for the Crimson Tide as he gets more and more experience.

But I think when you look at the true freshmen who are actually starting in Power Five, there are not many linemen because it is a difficult task, so I think it’s important to understand the circumstances at which these true freshmen are playing. It’s really a developmental position and one where you see a lot of strides made from Year 1 to Year 2, so even getting on the field and playing that degree of snaps is certainly commendable. I think that has to be something that’s considered here. I think, too, when you’re projecting Kadyn Proctor moving forward, the fact that he is on the field at a program like Alabama has to bode really well for his future. He is continuing to settle in and should only get better and better the more he plays for the Crimson Tide. Proctor was a five-star-plus prospect, finishing as the No. 27 overall prospect in the final On300 for the 2023 cycle.

DEFENSE

EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson

Charles Power: TJ Parker is part of a very strong group of true freshmen at Clemson, and among the group that has made a very significant impact for the Tigers early on to this point in the season. Parker is among the most productive pass-rushers from the 2023 cycle already, registering 18 pressures and four sacks to this point in the season. He’s a guy who has really seen his role continue to grow over the past couple weeks. He had a two-sack game against Syracuse and also registered a sack on Saturday against Wake Forest. He’s one who is earning more snaps as the weeks go by for Clemson and looks to be a key cog in what is really a salty defensive unit and is kind of carrying Clemson to wins at this point in the season.

TJ Parker is a very polished, aggressive, high-energy pass-rusher. One who was ranked as the No. 54 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. A four-star prospect across the board in the industry and has come in ready to play. Similar to many others on this true freshman All-American team, TJ Parker is one that we viewed as a high-floor prospect given his technical skills, his get-off and his high effort level. We’ve seen him make some really impressive plays to this point in the season, and he looks to kind of be the next up among pass-rushers for Clemson. It seems like they just tend to reload at that position, and TJ Parker is off to a fantastic start to his college career.

EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami

Charles Power: Rueben Bain is second only to TJ Parker among true freshman pass-rushers with 13 pressures on the season. He’s also registered two sacks while lining up all over the front for Miami. Bain is a very versatile prospect, a guy at 6-3, 275 who can line up inside, line up on the edge and create disruption. He’s a guy who was extremely productive at the high school level playing against top competition at Miami Central, and one who just always found ways to make plays at a high level. He finished his high school career at Miami Central with 58 sacks and 94 tackles for a loss, so this is a very productive player and a guy who has not had to make a major adjustment going from high school to college.

He’s already playing at a really high level for Miami. I think we’ll see his role continue to expand. He was one I think we had high expectations for as a true freshman, and he’s living up to them so far, joining his teammate Francis Mauigoa on this midseason true freshman All-American team. Bain ranked as the No. 57 overall prospect in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking.

DL Peter Woods, Clemson

Charles Power: Defensive line is a position where we don’t see a ton of true freshmen play high snap counts given the rotational nature and the fact that it’s a very developmental position from a physical perspective. With that said we’ve seen Peter Woods make an instant impact at Clemson, getting on the field early for the Tigers and logging 138 snaps to this point. He has notched eight pressures and is creating disruption at an encouraging rate, especially for a true freshman.

Similar to his teammate TJ Parker, Peter Woods was a phenomenal high school player, one who looked very strong in all-star settings — at the Under Armour All-America Game and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. He is already making an impact at Clemson. Drew really high praise from Dabo Swinney and the Clemson staff in fall camp and has parlayed that into a good start to his college career, making impact plays as a true freshman.

DL John Walker, UCF

Charles Power: John Walker was a huge in-state recruiting win for Gus Malzahn and UCF, landing him over several other Power Five programs, and Walker has paid immediate dividends for the Knights. He has played 179 snaps to this point in the season, logging a lot of time for UCF as they make the transition into the Big 12. He’s also logged five pressures early on this season.

Walker was a highly recruited, blue-chip prospect, a guy who was an On300 prospect for the entirety of the cycle and one who finished No. 165 overall in the final On300. He’s a guy who plays with excellent pad level, he’s explosive, quick off the ball. Has length that belies his stature and he can really create some disruption. So it’s not surprising that John Walker got on the field this early for UCF. He was a huge get for them and he’s really played a lot of meaningful football early on and been a key cog on their defensive line to this point.

LB Taurean York, Texas A&M

Charles Power: Taurean York was among the least heralded signees for Texas A&M in their 2023 cycle. The one-time Baylor commit was a late addition to A&M’s signing class, committing on Dec. 19, just days before the early signing period.

Taurean York is currently the Aggies’ second-leading tackler with 32 stops on the season. He has played 232 snaps for the Aggies already. In addition to his tackle numbers he’s registered two sacks as well. York is a guy who is always around the football. He’s not going to blow you away from a physical attributes perspective, but is just a pure football player, a guy who was really productive and kind of all over the field at the high school level, and that has transferred over early on in his career at Texas A&M.

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Charles Power: Anthony Hill Jr. has made an early impact at Texas, making some key plays in big games early on, most notably the Alabama game where he really created a lot of issues for Alabama’s front as a pass-rusher. Hill has played off the edge, in space, has spied the quarterback, and has showed some high-level athleticism and just play speed along with physicality early on in his time with the Longhorns. He’s played 179 snaps and has registered three sacks thus far, and has shown some impressive sideline-to-sideline ability in pursuit.

Linebacker’s a position where it can be a little hard to settle in and play true every-down linebacker early on in your career, but I think Texas has done a really good job of finding a role for Anthony Hill, similar to what we saw from Harold Perkins last year at LSU, just allowing his speed and athleticism to make an impact on their defense while playing a certain role. Anthony Hill was a highly decorated, touted prospect in the 2023 cycle. It was a big recruiting win for Steve Sarkisian, landing an in-state top prospect at a position where you don’t always see a ton of top, true linebackers come out of Texas. Texas was able to land him and he’s paying early dividends for the Longhorns. Anthony Hill ranked as a five-star prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings.

LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss

Charles Power: Suntarine Perkins has made an early impact at Ole Miss as a disruptive presence, particularly as a pass-rusher early on in his career. I think when you look at the way Pete Golding is using Perkins, it’s similar to what Texas has done with Anthony Hill and what LSU did with Harold Perkins last year. Suntarine Perkins has logged 194 snaps for the Rebels and already tallied four sacks. He’s really lined up often on the edge, and off-ball a little bit, but primarily has been used as a pass-rusher. I think it’s likely we’ll see him play in a more traditional linebacker role as he continues to get more comfortable in the defense. That might be next season, but there’s no question Suntarine Perkins is a top athlete, a guy who was a dynamic, elite, two-way high school player.

Ran for over 2,000 yards as a senior in high school and was really exceptional in the all-star settings where we saw him as a recruit late in his career. Led his high school team to a state title, is a guy who has just shined in every setting. Finished as a five-star prospect for On3 and I think is viewed as a high-upside type, so the fact that he is getting on the field making plays early on I think has to be very encouraging considering he’s got a lot of developmental upside. I think he’s a guy who’s going to continue to get better and better as he’s in Ole Miss’ strength program and continues to learn the defense. But there’s no doubt he’s a top talent and a guy who’s making plays early on in his career in Oxford. He finished as a five-star for On3 at No. 21 overall and was the No. 2 linebacker in the cycle. He was also a five-star-plus prospect, so Suntarine Perkins is certainly living up to his lofty expectations as an in-state, five-star, huge recruiting win for the Ole Miss Rebels.

DB Caleb Downs, Alabama

Charles Power: Caleb Downs came to Alabama with huge expectations as a five-star-plus prospect and one who was expected to be a key contributor if not an instant starter in Nick Saban‘s secondary. I think it’s safe to say Downs has met those lofty expectations to this point in the season. He has played 400 snaps in the Crimson Tide secondary and leads Alabama in tackles with 47. I think when you watch Alabama play, Downs is already among the best players on the Crimson Tide defense, which is among the best in the country. He is a very strong open-field tackler. He can line up all over the field. He has two interceptions already, including a pivotal interception in the Crimson Tide’s win at Texas A&M last week.

A guy who can play in every phase and line up all over the secondary. He has split time in the box, he has played free safety, he’s covered in the slot. I think you look at how Caleb Downs has played early on in his career at Alabama and he has the potential to be in the pantheon of Nick Saban’s best defensive backs in his time in Tuscaloosa. Kind of in that mold of like a Minkah Fitzpatrick, a guy who got on the field really early as a freshman and played at a really high level. It would not be surprising at all to look up and see Caleb Downs as one of the best safeties in the country by the time his freshman season’s over, and I think he’ll be considered one of the top defensive backs in college football entering next season. He’s continuing to get better on a weekly basis and has really lived up to those expectations. Caleb Downs finished as a top-10 prospect for On3, checking in at No. 8 overall and as the top safety and the No. 1 prospect in Georgia in the final On300.

DB Dillon Thieneman, Purdue

Charles Power: Dillon Thieneman has been a breakout true freshman in Ryan Walters’ first year at Purdue. He has played a ton of snaps for the Boilermakers, 408 to be exact. And has really played at a high level manning the safety spot for the Boilermakers. He has 40 tackles, three interceptions. Had made some key plays in coverage and has really just been among the best players for Purdue to this point in the season.

Has really primarily lined up deep as a free safety, but has also played a little bit of the slot, has rolled into the box as a run defender and is one who I think looks to be a significant steal early in his career at West Lafayette. Thieneman was an in-state product and was a consensus three-star prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings.

DB Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma

Charles Power: Peyton Bowen has proven to be an impact player in his first season at Oklahoma. I think he came into college with those expectations. Bowen has played fewer snaps than some of the other defensive backs on this midseason true freshman All-American team, but has made a significant impact in his opportunities to this point. He’s played 190 snaps for Brent Venables‘ defense, tallying 15 tackles and four pass breakups. We’ve seen Bowen look really strong in coverage. He’s been able to stick with receiver and make some key plays. Had a huge play in the Red River Rivalry this week with a big hit on Quinn Ewers jarring the ball loose and a fumble that was recovered by the Sooners, a key play. He’s also made plays on special teams.

He was arguably the best special teams player in the 2023 cycle as a dynamic return man, but he’s made some plays on kick block as well early on as a freshman. Bowen is a guy with extremely high potential and one that has the upside to be a star for Brent Venables in Norman. He was the No. 2 safety in the On300, checking in at No. 15 overall as a five-star. He was also a five-star in the On3 Industry Rankings. So Peyton Bowen joins fellow five-star Caleb Downs in certainly living up to those lofty expectations early on in his college career.

DB Jordan Castell, Florida

Charles Power: Jordan Castell is part of a very promising true freshman class at Florid and is one who has found his way onto the field very early. Castell is a physically developed defensive back, a guy who has the size of some linebackers but has the fluidity and athleticism and cover skills to play safety at a high level.

He has played 270 snaps for the Gators already, registering 23 tackles. He’s shown to be a solid tackler and good in coverage with two pass breakups and I think is a guy who is just a fluid, reliable player in the secondary for the Gators and one who has a high floor but also has a physical ceiling just as a big, jumbo safety. I think basically what we’ve seen from Castell early on has really encouraged, and he’s one of several Florida true freshmen that we could find on the postseason true freshman All-American team as they continue to see their roles expand for the Gators.

There you have it, a pretty exhaustive and comprehensive breakdown of the midseason true freshman All-American team from On3’s Charles Power. Be sure to follow these names and several other prominent true freshmen through the second half of the season to see who can hold onto — or earn for the first time — true freshman All-American honors when the year ends.