NCAA Scouting
Impact Freshmen for 2010
by CJ Merchant
May 7th 2010
 
Every year we see true or redshirt freshmen explode on to the college scene and become stars for their respective teams. In 2009 we saw the likes of Ryan Williams (RB, Virginia Tech), Alshon Jeffery (WR, South Carolina), Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford), Aldon Smith (DE, Missouri), Luke Kuechly (LB, Boston College) and Rashard Hall (S, Clemson) burst to prominence with stellar freshman years.
 
With this in mind the Diner has decided to pick out a selection of players who they think will make a difference as true or redshirt freshmen:
 
QB – Aaron Murray – Georgia – Murray was essentially handed the keys to the offence after fellow redshirt freshman QB Zach Mettenberger was kicked off the team. Murray (6ft 1", 206lbs) came to Georgia as the no.3 ranked Pro-Style QB of the 2009 recruiting class. He has beaten out returning junior Logan Gray, who will most likely look to transfer. Aaron has a massive weapon in junior WR AJ Green, and a fairly solid running game to lean on. The transition to starter - especially in the SEC - is never easy, but Murray should be solid, and will end up being a 3 or 4 year starter for the Bulldogs.
 
QB – Jake Heaps – BYU – Heaps is a highly polished true freshman, who is expected to step right into the hole left by the graduation of Max Hall. Heaps will drop into Bronco Mendenhall's perennially productive offence, so expect fairly decent numbers from the start. The big test for Heaps will be the top level games against Washington, Florida State, TCU and Utah. Whether he is a success in those games or not he should still lead BYU to a winning record in 2010. Heaps was the no.1 ranked Pro-Style QB of the 2010 recruiting class.
 
RB – Marcus Lattimore – South Carolina – Lattimore, a true freshman, is a potential game-changer from the RB position. South Carolina is not loaded in the backfield, and Lattimore (6ft, 210lbs) has the size to be physical, but the speed to get away from defences too. He could be a very nice fit in the Gamecocks' new zone blocking system. He should put up fairly decent numbers, but don't expect him to notch over 1000 yards unless he takes the majority of snaps away from sophomore back Kenny Miles. Lattimore was the no.1 ranked RB of the 2010 recruiting class.
 
WR – Andre DeBose – Florida – DeBose (5ft 11", 183lbs) is a Percy Harvin clone. He is a redshirt freshman after having season ending surgery on his hamstring last fall. Had he not needed surgery, DeBose would have seen significant time as a true freshman. The Gators are expected to use him in much the same way as Harvin, moving him all over the field to create mismatches with the opposing defences. With John Brantley being under centre for Florida, the passing game will open up even more than it did under Tebow, and DeBose could be a beneficiary of this. I would not be shocked to see DeBose reach 1000 yards of combined offence in 2010. DeBose was the no.2 ranked WR of the 2009 recruiting class.
 
DE – Ryne Giddins – South Florida – Giddins is a freshman who saw time last year, compiling 4 sacks in 2 games, before a knee injury ended his season, and he was given a redshirt. South Florida have lost both of their top pass rushers, Jason Pierre Paul and George Selvie, to the NFL Draft, this leaves Giddins (6ft 4", 240lbs) as the top option to replace one of them. Giddins is fast off the ball and will cause a lot of problems for offensive tackles in the Big East. He must hope to return with the same explosion as before the injury; if he does he will be the next top pass rusher to be entertaining the South Florida crowds. Giddins was the no.6 ranked DE of the 2009 recruiting class.
 
LB – Jelani Jenkins – Florida – Jenkins has been playing all 3 linebacker spots this spring for the Gators, but is expected to take Brandon Spikes' vacant MLB spot. Jenkins (6ft, 220lbs) will not bring as much physicality to the Mike position as Spikes did, but he will bring the sideline-to-sideline speed that Spikes did not possess. Teaming up with fellow linebackers Brandon Hicks and AJ Jones, Jenkins is expected to have a top notch breakout season in the SEC. Jenkins was the no.2 ranked LB of the 2009 recruiting class.
 
LB – Tom Wort – Oklahoma – Wort, who was born in Britain, is expected to take the Sooners' MLB spot this fall. He was extremely close to seeing time as a true freshman in 2009, but an ACL tear saw him sidelined and handed a redshirt. Wort (6ft, 220lbs) is expected to be a big playmaker alongside two-time All Big 12 LB Travis Lewis. Lewis has been talking Wort up, and many believe he will be an upgrade at the MLB spot despite never having played a down in college football. Wort was the no.7 ranked ILB of the 2009 recruiting class.
 
Of course, we've only named seven people as potential breakout players, and there are usually enough to fill two teams of freshman All-Americans. Other names to make a note of and keep an eye out for during the 2010 season include: Lache Seastrunk (RB, Oregon), Chris Whaley (RB, Texas), Chris Martin (LB, California), Keenan Allen (WR, California), Matt Elam (S, Florida), CJ Fiedorowicz (TE, Iowa), Alex Neutz (WR, Buffalo), Dillon Baxter (RB, USC), Kyle Prater (WR, USC), Robert Powell (DE, Florida) and Owamagbe Odighizuwa (DE, UCLA).