True freshmen standouts from Week 1 of college football

Week one of college football saw a number of true freshmen earn significant playing time and make big plays. Some top prospects from the 2022 cycle made key contributions in critical situations in their team’s opener. Many of those included On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-America Team saw action and impressed in their collegiate debuts.

Let’s highlight some 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 because of the games Sunday and Monday nights.)

S Malaki Starks – Georgia

No true freshman flashed more on a bigger stage than Malaki Starks. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety was among the best players in a game Georgia-Oregon game that featured a bunch of future pros. Starks got his day rolling with a remarkable interception, turning to locate the football and fully extending for the grab. Starks’ afternoon was just getting started. He played 52 snaps – the most of any Georgia defender and registered 8 tackles. The Jefferson (Ga.) High product lined up at both free safety and in the slot. He was targeted in coverage five times and surrendered two incompletions according to Pro Football Focus.

This INT by Malaki Starks 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/xwO02oM61K

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 3, 2022

The 2022 On3 Consensus five-star entered the week having garnered steady buzz out of Georgia’s fall camp. Starks was a standout option quarterback and two-way athlete at Jefferson High with elite multi-sport athleticism, including a 10.55 second time in the 100 meters as a junior. With that said, he came to Athens relatively inexperienced as a defensive back. Given how quickly he’s taken to the position, it’s safe to say Starks is in line to make a big impact for the defending national champions.

RB Raleek Brown – USC

USC unveiled its new-look offense in Lincoln Riley’s debut – a 66-14 win over Rice. The Trojans’ overhauled skill group features several new names, including true freshman running back, Raleek Brown. The quick all-purpose back quickly made his presence felt, accounting for 76 yards from scrimmage (six rushes, 2 receptions) all in the first half. Brown showed his burst in getting to the corner for a 14-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, striking the Heisman pose in the end zone.

The diminutive back is a versatile weapon out of the backfield for Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams. He was a tough runner at California powerhouse Mater Dei as a senior and has plus pass-catching ability out of the backfield. Brown ranked No. 69 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus.

WR Barion Brown – Kentucky

Barion Brown was one of the more highly-touted receivers to ink with Kentucky in recent memory. The Nashville Pearl-Cohn product had a huge impact in his college debut against Miami-Ohio. With Kentucky leading 13-10, Brown opened the second half with a 100-yard kickoff return, sparking what ended as a 37-13 win for the Wildcats. The true freshman was a decorated sprinter at the high school level, winning multiple state championships over his prep career. The speed transfers over to the field, where Brown was among the more dynamic players with the ball in his hands in the 2022 cycle. The high-end play speed was certainly on display during the kickoff return, which earned Brown SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also caught three passes for 45 yards.

Along with fellow true freshman Dane Key, Brown is expected to a key role in the Kentucky offense this fall. The 6-foot-1, 166-pound speedster was ranked as the No. 88 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus.

OT Kelvin Banks – Texas

Texas signed the nation’s top offensive line class in the 2022 cycle. Kelvin Banks looks like the gem of the group early on. The true freshman started at left tackle in the Longhorns’ opening win over UL-Monroe. Banks was Texas’ best offensive lineman on the day, surrendering zero sacks, hits or pressures in 26 pass blocking attempts, according to Pro Football Focus. The Humble (Texas) Summer Creek product also opened a crease on a touchdown run in the second quarter.

It’s early, but Banks has shown the skill set that made him an On3 Consensus five-star in addition to the No. 6 overall prospect and top offensive tackle in the On300. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder is a flexible, coordinated presence on Quinn Ewers‘ blindside. He faces a trial by fire next week with Alabama’s daunting group of pass rushers that includes Will Anderson and Dallas Turner making their way to Austin.

S Nick Emmanwori – South Carolina

Nick Emmanwori was pressed into action early on in- South Carolina‘s 35-14 win over Georgia State. The true freshman was expected to play, but an injury to starting safety R.J. Roderick resulted in Emmanwori playing 65 snaps – tied for the most on the Gamecock defense. He more than answered the bell. Emmanwori lined up all over the field, seeing nearly an equal number of snaps at free safety, in the slot and in the box, per Pro Football Focus. The Columbia area native made a key stop on 4th and short early in the game. He also broke up passes both times he was targeted in coverage, while adding three tackles.

On3 was higher than the industry on Emmanwori out of high school, as he ranked as the No. 121 overall prospect in the On300. He showed to be a high level athlete in multiple settings, including South Carolina’s camp where he posted strong testing results at 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. The ascent carried over to his senior season, where Emmanwori was among the more productive defenders in the cycle, racking up 166 tackles and 17 tackles for a loss from his linebacker spot – in addition to showing the play speed to run with receivers downfield. Even with the bevy of positive indicators, Emmanwori looks to be ahead of schedule early on in his career at South Carolina.