True Freshman Standouts from Week 11 of College Football

Week 11 of college football saw several freshmen turn in notable showings over the course of the weekend. A true freshman linebacker drew the start in Georgia’s dominant win over a top-ten Ole Miss team. An ACC quarterback accounted for four touchdowns in an overtime loss. A Big 12 running back showed big-play ability. Two regular top performers at safety continued their exceptional seasons.

Let’s highlight this week’s true freshman standouts.

LB CJ Allen, Georgia – True Freshman of the Week

With veteran linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson out with injury, Georgia turned to CJ Allen to fill the void in a top ten matchup against Ole Miss. The true freshman delivered in the first start of his collegiate career, registering eight solo tackles and two assists along with a sack in 52 snaps. Georgia slowed Ole Miss’ run game in the 52-17 victory with Allen playing a big role. The Barnesville (Ga.) Lamar County product was credited with 8 stops per Pro Football Focus. Allen’s combination of straight-line speed and physicality are readily apparent. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder was part of a star-studded linebacker haul for the Bulldogs in the 2023 cycle. If this first start was any indication, he could be a future star in Kirby Smart’s defense.

Allen ranked as the No. 76 overall prospect in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking. A two-way star at the high school level, he rushed for 1,628 yards and 25 touchdowns and registered 84 tackles as a senior.

QB Grayson Loftis, Duke

Grayson Loftis found himself in a shootout with presumptive top-five pick Drake Maye and more than held his own. The true freshman signal caller completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns along with another rushing touchdown in Duke’s 47-45 double overtime loss at North Carolina. Loftis showed a strong arm, hitting downfield passes and delivering darts over the middle of teh field. The Gaffney (S.C.) High product also showed more mobility than we saw from him in high school and consistently delivered in high leverage moments. Loftis, who was filling in for Riley Leonard, looks to have made nice progress from his first to second collegiate start. He ranked as a three-star prospect according to the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking.

RB Abu Sama, Iowa State

Abu Sama turned in the best game of his young collegiate career on Saturday, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries in Iowa State’s 45-13 win at BYU. The true freshman showed big-play ability on the evening, using his high-end speed and athleticism to rip off chunk runs. Sama’s first score came in the second quarter, with the Iowa native showing exceptional vision and agility to cut back across the field and juke a defender within a phone booth before scoring from 13 yards out. He showed outstanding vision on a run earlier in the drive as well. The top end speed showed up in the fourth quarter, when Sama got to the edge and outran the BYU secondary for a score from 59 yards out.

As a high school prospect, Sama had a breakout senior season, helping his team to a state title. He was a top track athlete who posted strong marks in the sprints and jumps. Sama ranked asa three-star prospect in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking and as a high three-star prospect according to On3.

S Caleb Downs, Alabama

At this point, Caleb Downs could argue for inclusion in this feature on a weekly basis. The Alabama true freshman is already one of the better safeties in the nation. Downs rarely leads the field for Nick Saban’s unit – he leads the Crimson Tide’s defense in snaps played (660) and turned in another strong game in their 49-21 win at Kentucky. Downs tallied six tackles and surrendered just 15 yards on four targets in coverage. He also recovered and returned a fumble down to the one-yard line to set up a score midway through the first quarter. The hustle was apparent in the fourth quarter, when Downs ran down Kentucky running back Ramon Jefferson, making a touchdown-saving tackle at the one-yard line.

Downs was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect and finished No. 8 overall in the 2023 On300.

S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue

Dillon Thieneman continued to post gaudy production in Purdue’s 49-30 win over Minnesota. The true freshman safety was credited with 9 tackles, leading the Boilermakers’ defense. He also pitched a clean sheet in coverage, giving up zero yards on one target. Similar to Caleb Downs, Thieneman rarely leaves the field for Purdue. This week was no exception, as he played a game high 73 snaps for the Boilermaker defense, per Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot, 205-pounder was a consensus three-star prospect according to the On3 Industry Ranking.