True Freshman Standouts from Week 8 of College Football

Week eight of college featured a many exciting games that were accentuated by big showings from true freshmen. Two Florida true freshmen led the Gators to a big home win. An first-year running back at LSU continued his big season. A true freshman starting quarterback delivered a tight win in the ACC and a trio of linemen had big showings.

With that said, let’s highlight some true freshmen who stood out on week seven of college football.

True Freshman of the Week: RB Jadan Baugh – Florida

Any time a player ties a record held by college football legend Tim Tebow, you know it was a big performance. True freshman Jadan Baugh rushed for five touchdowns in Florida’s 48-20 win over Kentucky, tying the Florida single-game record held by Tebow and Trey Burton. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound back finished the game with 106 yards on 22 carries. Baugh picked up tough yards and provided a spark to Florida’s red zone offense. He showed good vision, reading his blocks and finished runs with physicality. On more than one occasion, Baugh fought through contact and drove the pile forward.

The Decatur (Ga.) Columbia product was a big senior riser in the 2024 cycle after moving to running back a few games into his senior season. Baugh finished as one of the most productive backs in the 2024 cycle, rushing for 1,583 yards and 19 touchdowns at a remarkable 14.0 yards per carry, en route to finishing as a four-star prospect for On3.

2. RB Caden Durham – LSU

Caden Durham became the first true freshman in LSU history to eclipse 100 yards and three touchdowns against an SEC foe. The Duncanville (Texas) High product finished with 103 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries in LSU’s 34-10 road win over Arkansas. Durham continues to look like a long-term answer at running back for the Tigers. A well-known big play threat who doubled as a star sprinter in high school, he’s shown a new dimension to his game as a true freshman. Durham has proven to be more than a big play back, showing the ability to pick up tough yards between the tackles. At 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, he runs with an excellent base and contact balance, while looking to finish runs with physicality. One of Durham’s best plays came in the first quarter, as he got to the edge on an impressive touchdown run to put LSU on the board. The former On300 prospect leads LSU with 382 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

3. QB DJ Lagway – Florida

DJ Lagway made his highly anticipated first start for Florida and delivered a big SEC win inside The Swamp. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect’s true dual threat skill set added a different dimension to Florida’s offense. Lagway’s considerable downfield arm strength and willingness to push the ball vertically stressed Kentucky’s defense. The true freshman connected on multiple deep shots throughout the game, completing 7 of 14 passes for 259 yards – an absurd 37 yards per completion. Lagway’s athleticism and rushing ability also opened up the Gators’ run game. The Willis (Texas) native picked up 46 yards on the ground and forced the Kentucky defense to account for his legs, taking some attention away from Jadan Baugh and the Florida running backs.

Lagway finished as On3’s No. 2 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle on the heels of a massive senior season that saw him account for 5,561 yards and 74 touchdowns. With Graham Mertz out for the season, the true freshman signal caller has the runway to continue developing and providing a spark for the Florida offense.

4. QB CJ Bailey – NC State

CJ Bailey came up huge in NC State’s come-from-behind 24-23 win against a pesky Cal team. The true freshman completed 25 of 36 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. When NC State found itself down two scores in the fourth quarter, Bailey was able to engineer some late game heroics. Despite being under duress for much of the game, the Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna product was able to keep his composure and make plays when it counted most. His ability to evade pressure was evident in the fourth quarter, as he spun out of a would-be sack on 3rd and goal before hitting a receiver at the one-yard line. Throughout the game, Bailey was able to deliver accurately and into some tight windows while targeting NC State’s talented receiver group. The true freshman looks to be gaining confidence each week and has provided some optimism as the Wolfpack looks to have an exciting nucleus of young skill talent.

5. WR Nick Marsh – Michigan State

Nick Marsh came up big for Michigan State in a Big 10 win for the second time this season. The true freshman caught eight passes for 113 yards against the annually stingy Iowa defense as the Spartans were able to take down the Hawkeyes, 32-20. Marsh was the top target for sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles, showing his patented ball skills in coming down with every pass thrown his way. The true freshman made a key play late in the game, taking a quick pass, spinning out of a tackle attempt and diving down to the one-yard line to set up Iowa’s game-sealing touchdown. Marsh, who turned 18 years-old on October 1, is on pace to break Michigan State’s true freshman receiving yards record and ranked as the No. 174 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.

6. DL Jayden Jackson – Oklahoma

While Oklahoma’s season isn’t going as the Sooners hoped, the play true freshman defensive lineman Jayden Jackson continues to be a bright spot. Jackson, who was tabbed as a Midseason True Freshman All-American by On3, had perhaps his best game of the season on Saturday against South Carolina. The Indianapolis native tallied his first career sack, two pressures and three stops, according to Pro Football Focus. Defensive tackle is a tough position to make a real impact as a true freshman, but Jackson is continuing to emerge as a key player on Oklahoma’s defense.

7. EDGE Dylan Stewart – South Carolina

On the other side of the ball in the South Carolina-Oklahoma game, the Gamecock defensive front had its way with the Sooners’ offensive line in the 35-9 win. True freshman EDGE Dylan Stewart was in the backfield often, tallying a sack and generating four pressures on 25 pass rush attempts according to PFF. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder continues to show a freakish combination of size and movement skills. On the sack, he was able to easily dip around Oklahoma’s right tackle and close quickly on Jackson Arnold in the backfield. South Carolina touts one of the top pass rushing units in the nation and the former Five-Star Plus+ prospect plays a key role in that success.

8. OT Anthonie Knapp – Notre Dame

Anthonie Knapp delivered his best game in pass protection of the season in Notre Dame’s 31-13 win over Georgia Tech. The Roswell (Ga.) High product returned to the Atlanta area and was able to shut down the Yellow Jacket pass rush from his left tackle spot, surrendering zero sacks, hits or pressures according to Pro Football Focus. Knapp has performed admirably while playing out of position at left tackle as a true freshman. The former On3 Outlier is continuing to settle in and showing improvement midway through his true freshman season.