In an ideal world, freshmen are given at least one year to develop before they're expected to play a major role in college football. But that's not always the case, especially in a modern era filled with open transfer rules and name, image and likeness deals that put an emphasis on early performance and standing out from the crowd.
As teams lose depth, younger players are becoming more important than ever. 247Sports released its 2024 Preseason True Freshman All-American team Tuesday, and almost every name included will play a major role on their respective teams.
Any first-year player expected to contribute immediately faces an immense amount of stress. The jump from worrying about senior prom to a fifth-year senior linebacker chasing you down is quite steep. But there are freshmen -- be it the position they play or the situation they're stepping into -- that have to deal with a lot more pressure than normal.
Pressure isn't necessarily bad; freshmen who play immediately often go on to have successful careers and have a chance to get a head start on both development and putting game tape out to land on NFL radars.
With that in mind, here are the true freshman facing the most pressure to perform during the 2024 season.
Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska
Though it's not been made official yet, it only seems like a matter of time before Raiola takes the opening snaps of Nebraska's 2024 season. The last (and first) time Nebraska opened the year with a freshman starting at quarterback, it worked out well enough -- for the player, at least. Adrian Martinez amassed 3,246 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2018, even if the on-field results were forgettable. Many expect Nebraska to take a huge leap in Year 2 under Matt Rhule and return to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Those hopes ride on Raiola's ability to command the offense.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
It's been a while since a freshman has generated this much buzz. Smith has already drawn comparisons to former Alabama great Julio Jones, who finished just below the 1,000-yard receiving line in his first year with the Crimson Tide. Some think Smith, who was the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2024, could be the greatest Buckeyes freshman receiver of all time. This is before he's even taken a snap. The expectations are sky-high, which means the pressure to perform will be there -- at least externally. Ohio State has some production to replace out wide, so he should have every opportunity to perform.
Jordan Seaton, OL, Colorado
Colorado's offensive line issues are well-publicized at this point. Deion Sanders wasn't shy in calling that unit out on multiple occasions last season as it allowed a power conference-worst 56 sacks. Seaton alone won't solve that issue, but he is a huge step up in talent for the Buffaloes. The No. 1 offensive tackle out of high school will likely anchor Colorado's left side. That's always a position of paramount importance; even more so when you're protecting the blindside of the coach's son and a likely future first-round NFL Draft pick at quarterback.
Cam Coleman, WR, Auburn
Coleman isn't too far behind Smith in the true freshman wide receiver buzz department. He didn't rank too far behind Smith, as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 wide receiver in the class of 2024, and his stock skyrocketed near the end of the cycle as he dominated at camps and the Under Armour All-America Game. Now he might just be the No. 1 receiver option for an Auburn team in desperate need of some playmakers on the outside. The Tigers finished dead last in the SEC in passing last year and they're likely running it back with quarterback Payton Thorne. Auburn will need Coleman to be every bit as good as advertised to make significant strides in the passing attack.
Josiah Thompson, OL, South Carolina
It's hard to miss the 6-foot-7, 300-pound Thompson. He's a first-off-the-bus type player. South Carolina is going to need him to be more, and quick. The Gamecocks are rolling out a first-year starter at quarterback in redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, who has attempted all of four passes in his career. Thompson is first in line to start at left tackle and, as with Seaton, locking down that side of the offensive line is arguably the most important non-quarterback role on offense -- especially with a signal caller who is so thin on experience.
Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
Alabama has to replace four starters from its 2023 secondary, an issue compounded when top returning cornerback Trey Amos transferred to Ole Miss. That leaves a sizable void in a conference that boasts a wealth of quarterback talent. While Alabama did well bringing in some talent via the transfer portal, Brown is going to be hard to keep off the field. One of two five-star cornerbacks to sign with Alabama in 2024, it's Brown who has made the biggest impression on the coaching staff through spring practice and fall camp. Don't be surprised if he's holding down one side of the field on Day 1, a huge responsibility given the talent that Alabama is going to face on a routine basis.
