College football Freshman All-America team: Jeremiah Smith, Sam Leavitt and more

Once again it is time to spotlight some of the best young talent in college football.

Our Freshman All-America teams recognize the true freshmen and redshirt freshmen who made the biggest impact for their teams in 2024. We prioritized production and consistency in the process of selecting players.

Check out our All-America team here.

QB Sam Leavitt, Arizona State: The Michigan State transfer played a huge role in the Sun Devils’ surprising run to the Big 12 championship, a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff and a date with Texas at the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. He has started 12 games (and counting) and ranks the ninth nationally in passing efficiency, completing 63.2 percent of his attempts for 2,663 yards, 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Oregon native and former four-star recruit has shown off his ability to run as well, accumulating 383 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

RB Isaac Brown, Louisville: The ACC Rookie of the Year has rushed for 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns on 147 carries heading into the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31. The former four-star recruit from South Florida is averaging 7.3 yards per carry, which ranks fourth nationally among all ball carriers with at least 100 attempts. Brown has five 100-yard rushing performances, including a season-high 178 yards and two touchdowns in the win over rival Kentucky.

RB Ahmad Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe: The Sun Belt Freshman of the Year rushed for 1,351 yards (12th nationally) and averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his first season of college football. The 5-10, 205-pound unranked recruit from Mississippi had eight 100-yard rushing performances, including a season-high 206 yards against eventual Sun Belt champion Marshall. Hardy has transferred to Missouri.

WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: The South Florida native lived up to the hype. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year and No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle leads all freshman receivers with 1,037 yards on 63 receptions. And he was terrific in the Buckeyes’ dominating win over Tennessee on Saturday, catching six passes for 103 years and two TDs.

WR Ryan Williams, Alabama: No one will soon forget Williams’ game-winning, spinning 75-yard touchdown catch against Georgia in September. His 857 yards (on 45 catches) are second among freshmen and sixth among all SEC receivers. Williams, a five-star recruit from Saraland, Ala., has eight touchdown catches and two 100-yard receiving performances (including a season-high 177 yards against Georgia) heading into the Reliaquest Bowl.

TE Patrick Overmyer, UTSA: The 6-5, 235-pound former high school quarterback from Kingwood (Texas) High School leads all freshmen tight ends with 31 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He caught four passes and scored one touchdown in the Roadrunners’ 44-15 win over Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday.

OT Caleb Lomu, Utah: A redshirt freshman from Arizona, Lomu started all 12 games at left tackle and was one of the bright spots for the Utes in a down season. He allowed only two sacks and 17 pressures on 425 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

OT Jordan Seaton, Colorado: The 6-5, 285-pound true freshman and former five-star recruit from Washington, D.C., has allowed only two sacks and 23 pressures in 578 pass-blocking snaps and helps protect future first-round pick Shedeur Sanders in a pass-happy offense.

G Alexander Doost, Arizona: The 6-7, 332-pound redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit from Phoenix transferred in from Northwestern and started nine games at right guard. He allowed three sacks and 15 pressures during his first season in Tucson.

G Delano Townsend, UAB: A former three-star recruit from Michigan, Townsend started 11 games at left guard for the Blazers and allowed only one sack and 12 pressures in 464 pass-blocking snaps. He transferred to Ole Miss after the season.

C Aaron Fenimore, Liberty: The 6-1, 295-pound redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit from Georgia has started 11 games (and counting) for the Flames, who will end their season on Jan. 4 in the Bahamas Bowl against Buffalo. He has allowed zero sacks and nine pressures on 334 pass-blocking snaps.

DL Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma: The 6-2, 312-pound true freshman and former four-star recruit became the first true freshman to start on Oklahoma’s defensive line since Tommie Harris in 2001. He has compiled 28 tackles, three for loss and two sacks heading into the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday.

DL Colin Simmons, Texas: A true freshman and former five-star recruit from Duncanville (Texas) High School has not started a game but still leads all freshmen nationally in tackles for loss (13), sacks (eight) and forced fumbles (three). Simmons had 31 QB pressures, according to PFF, and two multi-sack games in SEC play, versus Mississippi State and Arkansas.

DL Dylan Stewart, South Carolina: The former five-star recruit from Washington, D.C., has started 10 games and plays a key role on one of the nation’s top defensive lines. He ranks third among freshmen with 6.5 sacks and 48 quarterback pressures.

DL Maraad Watson, Syracuse: The 6-3, 313-pound true freshman and former three-star recruit from New Jersey has started 10 games at defensive tackle and played 447 snaps. He has produced 26 tackles, one sack and nine quarterback pressures and had a season-high six tackles in Syracuse’s upset over Miami to end the regular season.

LB Sammy Brown, Clemson: The ACC’s Defensive Freshman of the Year, a former five-star recruit from Georgia, started only five games for the league champions but still ranks second nationally among freshmen with 11.5 tackles for loss.

LB Isaiah Chisom, Oregon State: The 6-1, 220-pound redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit from California started 11 starts games and recorded 75 tackles, including five for loss. He entered the transfer portal last week.

LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia: The Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and son of former Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter led all freshmen nationally with 92 tackles while starting 11 games. The 6-2, 242-pound former three-star recruit from Philadelphia also recorded four tackles for loss and had one interception. He transferred to Missouri after the season.

CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame: The true freshman from Texas helped the Irish make up for the loss of injured star cornerback Benjamin Morrison. Moore, a former four-star recruit, has started seven games — including the College Playoff win over Indiana — and ranks fifth among freshmen nationally with 10 passes defended. He also has two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

CB Ethan O’Connor, Washington State: The redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit from Southern California started 12 games for the Cougars and led all freshmen with 12 passes defended this season. His four interceptions are tied for second among freshmen, and he also recorded 32 tackles. O’Connor entered the transfer portal and has visited Oklahoma, Miami and Georgia.

S Koi Perich, Minnesota: No freshman had more interceptions (five) than Perich this season, a 6-1, 200-pound former four-star recruit from Esko, Minn., who started only one game in the secondary. He still finished sixth on the team with 42 tackles and also starred as a return man. He had two interceptions against UCLA.

S Adon Shuler, Notre Dame: The redshirt freshman and former four-star recruit from New Jersey has started all 13 games and is tied for fourth among all freshmen with three interceptions. Shuler returned one of those interceptions 36 yards for a touchdown in the win over Georgia Tech.

K Brock Taylor, Vanderbilt: The Knoxville, Tenn., native, connected on 18-of-21 field goals, including 5-of-6 from 50 yards and beyond. He made a school-record 57-yarder against Missouri and ended the year by making his final 13 attempts.

P Rhys Dakin, Iowa: Half of Dakin’s 60 punts were downed inside the 20-yard line and only eight of the 60 were returned at all. Dakin’s 44.2-yard average ranks second among freshmen, and his 40-yard net average is fourth.

RS Kam Shanks, UAB: The 5-8, 180-pound redshirt freshman from Prattville, Ala., is the only player nationally with two punt returns for a touchdown. He also posted outstanding receiving numbers as well (62 catches for 656 receiving yards and six touchdowns). He recently signed with Arkansas out of the transfer portal.

Second team

(Photos of Jeremiah Smith, Sam Leavitt: Adam Cairns, Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)