While most freshman will spend much of 2012 on the sideline waiting for their big chance, a rare few will have the talent, skill set and opportunity to make an impact right away.
Take South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney. He made eight sacks in his debut year.
Or, how about Clemson's Sammy Watkins? He took most seasoned WRs to school with 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Just because you're new on the scene doesn't mean you can't be a star.
These are the ten players who, judging by their high school performances, natural ability and the immediate needs of their new teams, are ready to make a splash.
Who are they? Read on.
I know, I'm going out on a limb with another impact freshman going to a South Carolina school. What is it with the Palmetto State and freshman coming ready to play?
Regardless, Alshon Jeffery is gone to the NFL and Connor Shaw needs a new target.
Shaq Roland seems poised to perform.
However, South Carolina's primary offensive weapon is Marcus Lattimore, as long as he can stay healthy.
The Prediction: 55 receptions, 700 yards receiving, 9 touchdowns.
Paul Chryst hasn't been at Pitt long, but he already has a terrific RB to complement Ray Graham in Russel Shell. Good thing, since Graham went out early last season with a knee injury.
And knowing Chryst's run-happy style, Shell will get plenty of carries.
Which, if Shell's 9,078 yards over his career is any indication, will be a good thing for the Panthers.
The Prediction: 175 carries, 1,000 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.
The Aggies are starting almost from scratch. They have a new coaching staff, a new starting quarterback and a new conference.
They'll also have a new top running back since Cyrus Gray is gone.
Trey Williams will be splitting carries with Christine Michael, who is still recovering from tearing his ACL last season. Nonetheless, he should still get some significant yards and scores in 2012.
The Prediction: 200 carries, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns
USC's monopoly of football in LA isn't likely to end even now that Rick Neuheisal is gone. But Ellis McCarthy will be in position to at least make a mark for the Bruins.
The 6'5", 310 lbs. defensive tackle should be an ideal weapon for stopping the run and getting to the quarterback.
And since UCLA only managed 14.0 sacks all year, they'll certainly welcome the help.
The Prediction: 50 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Duke Johnson should be competing for the top RB position with Lamar Miller heading off early for the NFL. And like Miller, Johnson will likely get the lion's share of the carries.
If that's the case, Johnson has the speed and talent to rack up the yards and touchdowns.
The Prediction: 200 carries, 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns.
After a dismal season (and postseason) in almost every respect, Randy Edsall and Maryland need a game-changer and they need it now.
And the Terrapins are hoping that Stefon Diggs can be that player.
Now that Danny O'Brien is transferring, C.J. Brown will be the man throwing the ball to Diggs. Unfortunately, Brown still has a ways to go to become a top-notch QB. Therefore, I don't expect Diggs to have a Sammy Watkins-like year as he doesn't have a quarterback like Tajh Boyd passing the ball to him.
Still, I do expect him to have an instant impact.
The Prediction: 900 yards receiving, 10 touchdowns
We saw in the Alamo Bowl that Washington is in desperate need of some defense. They certainly have the offensive firepower to run with anyone, but they finished at No. 108 in scoring defense.
Which is why Shaq Thompson will be a more than welcome edition.
At 6'2, 210 lbs., he'll make an instant contribution to the Washington secondary.
The Prediction: 60 tackles, 4 interceptions.
It wouldn't be surprising to see Johnathan Gray get some significant playing time from day one. The Longhorns had to depend on freshman Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron with Foswhitt Whittaker out with injury.
Gray will have to split time with Brown and Bergeron, but it seems that the Longhorns will be rushing by committee.
However, Gray's talent is finding his way into the endzone. He scored a mind-melting 65 touchdowns last season, becoming the all-time leading scorer at the high school level.
The Prediction: 100 Carries for 850 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Noah Spence is the kind of defensive end that gives quarterbacks nightmares. He picked up 108 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 13 sacks his senior year.
Ohio State could definitely use Spence's talents as the Buckeyes finished 2011 with only 23 sacks.
At 6'4, 245 lbs. Spence has the size and speed give any offensive line headaches.
The Prediction: 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks.
You expect great things from the No. 1 recruit in 2012 according to Rivals.com.
WR Dorial Green-Beckham set opposing teams on fire at Springfield High with 119 catches, 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns. Most quarterbacks would be thrilled with those kinds of stats passing, but more than 2,000 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns?
That's just unheard of.
What's more, Missouri will need Green-Beckham's talents right from the first snap. TE Michael Egnew and WR Wes Kemp are both gone, leaving a 892-yard-and-eight-touchdown hole. And while James Franklin isn't a Tyler Wilson or an Aaron Murray just yet, he still made an impact as a sophomore last season. And he's going to need someone other than T.J. Moe to throw to.
Enter Green-Beckham.
Now, I don't expect Green-Beckham to put up the same numbers as he did in high school. After all, he's going to have to deal with SEC defenses now. Still, he has the right size (6'6", 220 lbs.) and speed (4.43 40 time) to put up big numbers right away.
The Prediction: Green-Beckham will have about 80 receptions, break 1,100 yards receiving and score 11 touchdowns.
LINK: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1112171-predicting-the-stats-for-college-footballs-10-biggest-impact-freshmen-for-2012/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1112171-predicting-the-stats-for-college-footballs-10-biggest-impact-freshmen-for-2012
Take South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney. He made eight sacks in his debut year.
Or, how about Clemson's Sammy Watkins? He took most seasoned WRs to school with 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Just because you're new on the scene doesn't mean you can't be a star.
These are the ten players who, judging by their high school performances, natural ability and the immediate needs of their new teams, are ready to make a splash.
Who are they? Read on.
I know, I'm going out on a limb with another impact freshman going to a South Carolina school. What is it with the Palmetto State and freshman coming ready to play?
Regardless, Alshon Jeffery is gone to the NFL and Connor Shaw needs a new target.
Shaq Roland seems poised to perform.
However, South Carolina's primary offensive weapon is Marcus Lattimore, as long as he can stay healthy.
The Prediction: 55 receptions, 700 yards receiving, 9 touchdowns.
Paul Chryst hasn't been at Pitt long, but he already has a terrific RB to complement Ray Graham in Russel Shell. Good thing, since Graham went out early last season with a knee injury.
And knowing Chryst's run-happy style, Shell will get plenty of carries.
Which, if Shell's 9,078 yards over his career is any indication, will be a good thing for the Panthers.
The Prediction: 175 carries, 1,000 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.
The Aggies are starting almost from scratch. They have a new coaching staff, a new starting quarterback and a new conference.
They'll also have a new top running back since Cyrus Gray is gone.
Trey Williams will be splitting carries with Christine Michael, who is still recovering from tearing his ACL last season. Nonetheless, he should still get some significant yards and scores in 2012.
The Prediction: 200 carries, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns
USC's monopoly of football in LA isn't likely to end even now that Rick Neuheisal is gone. But Ellis McCarthy will be in position to at least make a mark for the Bruins.
The 6'5", 310 lbs. defensive tackle should be an ideal weapon for stopping the run and getting to the quarterback.
And since UCLA only managed 14.0 sacks all year, they'll certainly welcome the help.
The Prediction: 50 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Duke Johnson should be competing for the top RB position with Lamar Miller heading off early for the NFL. And like Miller, Johnson will likely get the lion's share of the carries.
If that's the case, Johnson has the speed and talent to rack up the yards and touchdowns.
The Prediction: 200 carries, 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns.
After a dismal season (and postseason) in almost every respect, Randy Edsall and Maryland need a game-changer and they need it now.
And the Terrapins are hoping that Stefon Diggs can be that player.
Now that Danny O'Brien is transferring, C.J. Brown will be the man throwing the ball to Diggs. Unfortunately, Brown still has a ways to go to become a top-notch QB. Therefore, I don't expect Diggs to have a Sammy Watkins-like year as he doesn't have a quarterback like Tajh Boyd passing the ball to him.
Still, I do expect him to have an instant impact.
The Prediction: 900 yards receiving, 10 touchdowns
We saw in the Alamo Bowl that Washington is in desperate need of some defense. They certainly have the offensive firepower to run with anyone, but they finished at No. 108 in scoring defense.
Which is why Shaq Thompson will be a more than welcome edition.
At 6'2, 210 lbs., he'll make an instant contribution to the Washington secondary.
The Prediction: 60 tackles, 4 interceptions.
It wouldn't be surprising to see Johnathan Gray get some significant playing time from day one. The Longhorns had to depend on freshman Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron with Foswhitt Whittaker out with injury.
Gray will have to split time with Brown and Bergeron, but it seems that the Longhorns will be rushing by committee.
However, Gray's talent is finding his way into the endzone. He scored a mind-melting 65 touchdowns last season, becoming the all-time leading scorer at the high school level.
The Prediction: 100 Carries for 850 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Noah Spence is the kind of defensive end that gives quarterbacks nightmares. He picked up 108 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 13 sacks his senior year.
Ohio State could definitely use Spence's talents as the Buckeyes finished 2011 with only 23 sacks.
At 6'4, 245 lbs. Spence has the size and speed give any offensive line headaches.
The Prediction: 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks.
You expect great things from the No. 1 recruit in 2012 according to Rivals.com.
WR Dorial Green-Beckham set opposing teams on fire at Springfield High with 119 catches, 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns. Most quarterbacks would be thrilled with those kinds of stats passing, but more than 2,000 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns?
That's just unheard of.
What's more, Missouri will need Green-Beckham's talents right from the first snap. TE Michael Egnew and WR Wes Kemp are both gone, leaving a 892-yard-and-eight-touchdown hole. And while James Franklin isn't a Tyler Wilson or an Aaron Murray just yet, he still made an impact as a sophomore last season. And he's going to need someone other than T.J. Moe to throw to.
Enter Green-Beckham.
Now, I don't expect Green-Beckham to put up the same numbers as he did in high school. After all, he's going to have to deal with SEC defenses now. Still, he has the right size (6'6", 220 lbs.) and speed (4.43 40 time) to put up big numbers right away.
The Prediction: Green-Beckham will have about 80 receptions, break 1,100 yards receiving and score 11 touchdowns.
LINK: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1112171-predicting-the-stats-for-college-footballs-10-biggest-impact-freshmen-for-2012/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1112171-predicting-the-stats-for-college-footballs-10-biggest-impact-freshmen-for-2012