College Football 2024: Ranking the Top Freshmen Performances of September

Freshmen are the great unknown when it comes to college football, as sometimes even the most hyped recruits simply aren't ready for the elevated level of competition that comes with making the jump from high school to a major college program.

On the flip side, more than a few freshmen break through to emerge as significant contributors, and the same is true of redshirt freshmen who have taken a year to hone their skills in practice.

Ahead, we've ranked the top seven freshman standouts of the 2024 season so far, focusing mostly on players who are suiting up for teams that are relevant on a national level.

Since there were far more than seven freshmen worth noting, let's kick things off with some honorable mentions.

These players all received some initial consideration for a spot on our list and are worthy of a quick mention:

QB Kirk Francis, Tulsa
QB Michael Hawkins Jr., Oklahoma
QB Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
QB Gio Lopez, South Alabama
QB Arch Manning, Texas
QB Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
RB DeSean Bishop, Tennessee
RB Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama
RB Jordan Lyle, Miami
RB Wayshawn Parker, Washington State
RB Durell Robinson, UConn
WR Nyziah Hunter, California
WR Nick Marsh, Michigan State
WR Ryan Wingo, Texas
DE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
LB Sammy Brown, Clemson
LB Isaiah Chisom, Oregon State
LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia
DB Kerry Brown, Minnesota
DB Ethan O'Connor, Washington State

Class: Freshman

Stats: 18 tackles (13 solo), 6 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 FF

The top recruit in a 2024 Texas Longhorns class that ranked fifth in the country, edge-rusher Colin Simmons has made his presence felt in the early going for one of the nation's top title contenders.

He had the best game of his young career on Saturday in the SEC opener against Mississippi State, finishing with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in a 35-13 rout.

Simmons had 22.5 sacks as a junior in high school and 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior when he was a major focal point for opposing coaches, so his ability to get after the quarterback should come as no surprise.

Class: Redshirt freshman

Stats: 4 G, 61-of-88, 892 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT; 117 rush yards, 1 TD

The Tennessee Volunteers got a glimpse of what Nico Iamaleava could do when he tallied four total touchdowns in a 35-0 victory over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl last year, and he has done a nice job steering the ship in his first season as the starter.

A 5-star recruit in the 2023 class and the No. 2 overall quarterback behind Arch Manning, Iamaleava came to Knoxville with plenty of hype, and he has Tennessee off to a 4-0 start and ranked No. 4 in the latest AP poll.

The Volunteers rank fourth in the nation in rushing (290.0 yards per game) and first in overall defense (176.0 yards per game), so he hasn't needed to be more than an efficient game manager, but he has filled that role successfully.

Class: Redshirt freshman

Stats: 5 G, 11 tackles (8 solo), 3.0 sacks, 5 TFL, 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 TD

A season-ending injury to senior defensive end Jordan Botelho was a blow for the Notre Dame defense, but one that was initially lessened by the emergence of Boubacar Traore.

The 6'4", 243-pound edge-rusher had a sack and an interception that he returned for a touchdown in Week 3 against Purdue, and the following week he made the first start of his career against Miami (OH) and tallied five tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.

Unfortunately, he left Saturday's game against Louisville in the first half with a knee injury and did not return, so his status going forward is up in the air.

However, there is no question Traore has been one of the most impactful freshmen of the season's first month.

Class: Freshman

Stats: 4 G, 19 catches, 364 yards, 5 TD; 19 rush yards, 1 TD

Another year, another wide receiver emerging as an elite pass-catching threat in the Ohio State offense.

Jeremiah Smith was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 recruiting cycle, and he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup alongside returning standout Emeka Egbuka in hopes that he could help ease the loss of Marvin Harrison Jr. in the passing game.

With a strong 6'3", 215-pound frame and great ball skills, he has scored a touchdown in each of the Buckeyes' first four games, hauling in five catches for 83 yards and a score while also adding a 19-yard rushing touchdown in Saturday's win on the road against Michigan State.

Class: Freshman

Stats: 5 G, 100-of-142, 1,224 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT

One of the biggest stories of the 2024 recruiting cycle was 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola flipping his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska on signing day, giving the Cornhuskers program a huge shot in the arm in the process.

With NFL size (6'3", 230 pounds) and arm strength, he was the 2024 starter the moment he stepped foot on campus, and he has vaulted the Nebraska program back to national relevance with a strong start to his college career.

Raiola completed 23 of 30 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown in a big Week 2 victory over Colorado, helping Nebraska climb into the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2019.

A loss to Illinois in Week 4 took some wind out of its sails, but there is legitimate buzz around a Nebraska program that has not had a winning season since 2016.

Class: Redshirt freshman

Stats: 4 G, 87-of-129, 1,186 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT; 189 rush yards, 2 TD

A 4-star recruit and the No. 8 quarterback in the 2023 class, Eli Holstein began his college career at Alabama but never saw the field in a redshirt season before entering the transfer portal and landing at Pitt.

The Panthers are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2000, and his play is a big reason for that early success, which included wins over Cincinnati and West Virginia along with a pair of cupcakes.

He has three passing touchdowns in each game this season, and he has thrown for at least 300 yards three times, only failing to reach that mark in a Week 4 blowout of Youngstown State where he did not play the full game.

After finishing 3-9 in 2023, the Panthers have already surpassed last year's win total, and Holstein has been the most effective freshman quarterback in the nation through September.

Class: Freshman

Stats: 4 G, 16 catches, 462 yards, 5 TD

The youngest player currently competing at the FBS level, Ryan Williams does not turn 18 years old until Feb. 9, yet he is already making a huge impact for an Alabama team eyeing a national championship.

The 5-star recruit leads the nation with 28.5 yards per reception, and he helped pad that number with a 75-yard touchdown catch with 2:18 remaining in Saturday's victory over Georgia that was the game-winning score in a 41-34 thriller.

He finished the game with six catches for 177 yards and a touchdown, and his 462 receiving yards are 16th in the nation, despite the fact that Alabama already had a bye in Week 4.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe has no shortage of weapons at his disposal, but he seems to have found a favorite target in the nation's most dynamic freshman.