True freshmen standouts from Week Ten of college football
Week ten of college football saw a shakeup in the top ten with two highly-ranked blue bloods going down. Additionally, several true freshmen made huge impacts in big matchups across the nation. A number of first-year players spurred wins against ranked teams.
With that said, here’s five true freshmen skill players who caught our eye in marquee matchups over the weekend.
QB MJ Morris – NC State
MJ Morris became the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for NC State since Philip Rivers a week after leading NC State to a big comeback win over Virginia Tech. The true freshman continued his strong play, completing 18 of 28 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Wolfpack to a 30-21 win over No. 20 Wake Forest. Morris played well beyond his years, showing poise while delivering some accurate passes into tight windows. The Carrollton (Ga.) High product also used his mobility in picking up some key first downs, while rushing for 43 yards.
Morris has helped stabilize the offense for now 7-2 NC State after losing veteran quarterback Devin Leary for the season. It’s obviously still early, but the true freshman has played well enough to look like the quarterback of the present and future in Raleigh. Morris ranked as a three-star prospect and as the No. 28 quarterback in the 2022 cycle according to the On3 Consensus.
TE Mason Taylor – LSU
A number of true freshmen helped LSU knock of Alabama in overtime on Saturday night, led by tight end Mason Taylor. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor made two of the game’s biggest plays in the fourth quarter. Taylor came down with a go-ahead touchdown on a leaping grab late in the fourth quarter. After Alabama forced overtime, Taylor hauled in the game-winning two-point conversion in one of the biggest plays of the season to date.
Taylor caught all three of his targets for 36 yards, the touchdown and the two point conversion. The 6-foot-4.5, 245-pounder has 22 receptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. He ranked as a three-star prospect in the 2022 On3 Consensus.
LB Harold Perkins – LSU
Harold Perkins continued to look like one of the SEC’s more disruptive defenders on Saturday against Alabama. The former five-star prospect played a season-high 67 snaps and generated pressure off the edge. Perkins finished with five solo tackles and two assists along with seven pressures, three hurries and a sack, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is an elite athlete who creates constant disruption when he’s on the field. Perkins’ presence is a game-changer for LSU’s defense and is forcing opposing SEC offenses to attempt to adjust.
The New Orleans native was named a Midseason True Freshman All-American by On3 and looks well on his way to earning True Freshman All-American status. He ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 1 linebacker in the 2022 On3 Consensus.
CB Ben Morrison – Notre Dame
Benjamin Morrison was the standout player for a Notre Dame defense that keyed a huge 35-14 win over then No. 4 Clemson. The true freshman from Phoenix got the nod at corner and came up big for the Irish, snaring two huge interceptions, both which led to touchdowns. Morrison’s first pick came in the third quarter. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney replaced starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei with true freshman Cade Klubnik, looking to spark the stagnant Tiger offense. Morrison picked off Klubnik’s lone pass attempt, setting up a short touchdown drive to put Notre Dame up 21-0. The second interception came later in the third quarter. Morrison took advantage of an apparent miscommunication between Uiagalelei and a Clemson wide receiver, jumping a back shoulder pass and racing 96 yards for the pick-six to essentially ice the game at 28-0.
Morrison finished the game with eight tackles. He was targeted 13 times and surrendered seven completions for 56 yards. The Phoenix Brophy College product was a four-star prospect in the 2023 On3 Consensus.
S Malaki Starks – Georgia
Saturday’s biggest game was a showdown between No. 1 Tennessee and No. 3 Georgia. Kirby Smart’s Bulldog defense was the story of the game, shutting down Tennessee’s high-flying offense en route to a 27-13 win. True freshman safety Malaki Starks played a key role in the huge SEC East win. The Jefferson (Ga.) native played a team-high 80 snaps, tallying nine tackles and a pass breakup. He also surrendered just 12 yards after the catch on five targets according to Pro Football Focus. Fellow true freshman and former five-star, defensive end Mykel Williams also had a big game for the Georgia defense with three hurries and a sack of Hendon Hooker.
Starks has the look of the next superstar defender for Kirby Smart and Georgia. The Midseason True Freshman All-American is among the better defensive backs in the SEC in his first season after spending much of his high school career as a quarterback. Starks ranked as the No. 10 overall prospect and No. 1 safety in the 2022 On3 Consensus.