True Freshman Standouts from Week 1 of College Football

College football’s Week One saw remarkably high number of true freshmen earn significant playing time and make big plays across the national landscape. Many of the top prospects from the 2024 cycle made key contributions and thoroughly impressed in their team’s opener.

All five of this week’s true freshman standouts were featured in On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-American Team. With that said, let’s highlight the top true freshmen who stood out on college football’s opening weekend. (This will be a weekly feature, released on Mondays; we pushed it back this week due to the games on Sunday and Monday.)

True Freshman of the Week: Dylan Stewart – South Carolina

Dylan Stewart was dominant as a pass rusher in his collegiate debut and played a massive role in South Carolina squeaking out a 23-19 win over Old Dominion. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect tallied two sacks and forced two fumbles in addition to four stops. He made a huge play midway through the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble that lead to the game-winning score. Throughout the game, Stewart flashed a startling pass rush skill set with outstanding bend, first-step quickness and finishing ability. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder finished with a 97.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest of any player in the nation from week one.

A product of Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy, Stewart ranked as the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2024 On300. Stewart was the highest-rated prospect to sign with the Gamecocks in the internet recruiting era and was considered by On3 to be the most physically-developed 2024 EDGE prospect upon enrolling in college.

QB Dylan Raiola – Nebraska

Dylan Raiola handled his first college start like a seasoned veteran. The Nebraska legacy entered his career in Lincoln with massive expectations and got off to a strong start, engineering a 40-7 win over UTEP. Raiola completed 19 of 27 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The first touchdown came on a beautiful deep ball to Isaiah Neyor, with Raiola dropping it in a bucket from about 45 yards out. The second score was on a well-placed jump ball. Raiola also showed his ability to change arm slots, completing a tough pass into a small window early on in the contest. His understanding of Nebraska’s offense appears to be advanced for a true freshman.

Raiola, who ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, is set for a big early season matchup with Colorado traveling to Lincoln on Saturday.

WR Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State

After one game, Jeremiah Smith already looks like the alpha in Ohio State’s perennially talented wide receiver room. On3’s No. 1 prospect from the 2024 cycle lived up to the lofty billing in his college debut, making several impressive catches, totaling 92 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win over Akron. Both of Smith’s scores were the Ohio State’s first two touchdowns of the season. On the first touchdown, Smith made an impressive adjustment to locate and come down with a back shoulder pass. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect showed off his advanced physicality on the second touchdown, boxing out the cornerback on a slant route. Smith also came down with an outstanding one-handed grab within inside the five yard-line. The Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna product was highest-rated wide receiver to sign with the Buckeyes during this recent prolific run of pass catchers and certainly looked the part on Saturday.

WR Ryan Williams – Alabama

Ryan Williams wasted little time making his presence felt in Alabama’s 63-0 win over Western Kentucky. The Saraland (Ala.) High product showed why he was billed as the top deep threat in the 2024 cycle, getting behind the Hilltopper defense for a 84-yard score in the first quarter. Williams’ second touchdown came right before halftime, when he came down with a pass from Jalen Milroe over the middle, slipped out of a tackle and outraced the secondary to the end zone from 55 yards out. To make his two catch, 139 yard, two touchdown stat line even more impressive – Williams is still just 17 years-old. A one-time member of the 2025 recruiting cycle, he reclassified to join Alabama’s 2024 class. Like Dylan Stewart and Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams was also a Five-Star Plus+ prospect, finishing as the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2024 On300.

OT Anthonie Knapp – Notre Dame

There may not be a true freshmen who drew a tougher week one assignment than Anthonie Knapp – starting at left tackle on the road against a very tough Texas A&M defensive front. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder held up well in baptism by fire scenario, helping the Fighting Irish to a big 23-13 win. Knapp surrendered one pressure in 36 pass block attempts, per Pro Football Focus. While there were some expected ups and downs throughout the game, Knapp showed why the Notre Dame staff felt confident in giving him the starting nod in such a big spot. The true freshman earned the starting role during fall camp after Charles Jagusah went down with a season-ending injury. The former On300 blue-chip outlier should have time to continue settling in as Notre Dame faces Northern Illinois on Saturday.