True Freshman Standouts from Week 10 of College Football

Many true freshmen made game-changing plays throughout week ten of college football. A dynamic pass rusher in the SEC created chaos off the edge, a budding signal caller continued to show impressive progress, a quick running back led his team to a big win in the ACC and a corner from Miami locked down his side of the field – among several others.

Let’s highlight some true freshmen who stood out in week ten of college football.

True Freshman of the Week: EDGE Dylan Stewart – South Carolina

Dylan Stewart lived in the backfield in South Carolina’s 44-20 win over No. 10 Texas A&M. The true freshman was credited with a remarkable nine pressures according to Pro Football Focus, good for a 34% win rate on pass rush attempts. Stewart had an electric sack of elusive Texas A&M signal caller Marcel Reed at a key moment in the fourth quarter, with the true freshman showing outstanding curvilinear movement in running the hoop to finish the play behind the line of scrimmage. The sack, which was South Carolina’s first of the game, seemingly opened the floodgates, as the Gamecock front got home several more times in the game’s final minutes. The Washington D.C. native was highly disruptive over all four quarters, with his first step quickness, bend and power giving the Texas A&M front fits throughout the night.

The big game on a national stage against a top ten team is the latest achievement in what has been a dominant true freshman season for Stewart, who now has the third-highest pass rush grade among all EDGE defenders nationally, per PFF. The Five-Star Plus+ prospect finished at No. 12 overall in the 2024 On300.

2. QB CJ Bailey – NC State

CJ Bailey was near perfect in NC State’s 59-28 win over Stanford and made a very strong case for True Freshman of the Week Honors. The 6-foot-6 signal caller completed 18 of 20 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Bailey also showed his athleticism setting up the Wolfpack’s first score with a gain on the ground. The true freshman was cool in the pocket and was unbothered by pressure as he picked apart the Stanford defense. Bailey showed his improvisational skills, as he evaded pressure and found his tight end in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, delivering an impressive throw on the run. He later hit a great throw down the seam to fellow true freshman Keenan Jackson, before linking with Jackson on a fade pass for a score later in the drive. The game has continued to slow down for Bailey as he’s received more critical in game reps. The Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna product has now led NC State to consecutive ACC wins and looks to be poised to make a strong run for the True Freshman All-American team.

3. RB Isaac Brown – Louisville

Isaac Brown has been a regular True Freshman Standout over the past month. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder came up big yet again on Saturday night in Louisville’s 32-21 upset at No. 11 Clemson, rushing for 151 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Brown continued to show his impressive pace and tempo as a runner as he was able to pick his way through the line of scrimmage and explode to the second level for chunk gains. The vision and feet are outstanding for a true freshman back. Brown was slippery and tough for the Clemson defenders to corral. He put the game on ice with six minutes left, getting to the edge and outrunning the Tigers’ secondary for a 45-yard score. The Homestead (Fla.) High product is now up to 800 rushing yards (7.55 YPC) and seven touchdowns on the season.

4. CB OJ Frederique – Miami

OJ Frederique locked down his side of the field in Miami’s come-from-behind victory over Duke. The true freshman from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas surrendered zero catches on five targets, had his first career interception and broke up another pass in the 53-31 win. The interception came at a key moment in the game and marked a shift in the momentum. Duke was up 28-25 and driving midway through the third quarter when Frederique tracked and came down with a deep ball from Blue Devil quarterback Maalik Murphy. Miami scored a the go-ahead touchdown seven plays later and would outscore Duke 28-3 from that point forward. Frederique has been one of the top true freshman corners to this point in the season and continues to play at a high level for the undefeated Hurricanes.

5. S KJ Bolden – Georgia

KJ Bolden made his first career start and came up big in Georgia’s 34-20 rivalry game win over Florida in Jacksonville. Earning the nod due to Dan Jackson‘s first-half suspension due to a targeting penalty from the Texas game, Bolden answered the bell. The true freshman finished with five tackles and a pass breakup. He was strong in coverage, allowing zero catches on two targets, according to Pro Football Focus, who graded Bolden as Georgia’s top defender on the day. A Five-Star Plus+ prospect, Bolden finished No. 14 overall and as the No. 1 safety in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking.

6. RB Nate Frazier – Georgia

Another Georgia true freshman, running back Nate Frazier, also had a big game in the Bulldogs’ win. The back from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei had one of his best games of the season to date rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, finishing as Georgia’s leading rusher. Frazier scored Georgia’s first touchdown of the game, using his speed to get to the edge on a quick pitch to tie the game up midway through the third quarter. In addition to his well-known burst, Frazier ran hard, with over half of his yardage coming after initial contact according to Pro Football Focus. He ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect and No. 2 running back in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking.

7. LB Demarcus Riddick – Auburn

Demarcus Riddick is the latest true freshman defender to have a breakout game for Auburn. Though the season isn’t going how Tigers fans or Hugh Freeze had hoped, there have been some very encouraging moments from Auburn’s true freshman class. Riddick turned in a strong outing against Vanderbilt, finishing with four pressures and five stops in run defense, according to Pro Football Focus. The true freshman played a large role in slowing down Vanderbilt’s rush attack, led by quarterback Diego Pavia, who was held to a season-low of 26 yards. Riddick’s speed and ability to close quickly were apparent throughout the game. The in-state product ranked as the No. 69 overall prospect in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking

8. WR Nick Marsh – Michigan State

Nick Marsh provided one of the few highlights in Michigan State’s 47-10 loss at the hands of No. 13 Indiana. The 18 year-old true freshman scored the first touchdown of the game, extending to come down with an impressive toe-dragging grab on the side of the end zone. Marsh finished the game with five catches for 78 yards and the touchdown. The performance is one of several notable games for the former four-star, who has the third most receiving yards (553) of any true freshman so far this season after Alabama’s Ryan Williams (702) and Jeremiah Smith (674).