Five redshirt freshmen to track for the 2018 college football season
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
True freshmen get a lot of attention this time of year but what about the redshirts? Here are five redshirt freshmen who could make a big impact this season.
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The skinny: Wilson took official visits to Georgia, Florida State, Michigan and Alabama before committing to the Bulldogs in December. This was thought to be a battle between the Tide and Wolverines before Wilson’s final official visit to Athens. The buzz followed Wilson throughout the last year, so with Isaiah Wynn moving to the NFL, he has seamlessly slid into the starting right tackle spot for the Bulldogs. There will likely be a maturation process for Wilson, but he has all the necessary tools to succeed and prosper as an offensive tackle in the SEC.
Farrell’s take: Wilson was a monster coming out of high school, a surefire five-star with his combination of size, strength and agility. I expect him to hold his own from the start and eventually become a dominant blocker. He’ll be better at run blocking than pass protection at first but that’s to be expected but if he continues to progress the way he did through high school, watch out.
The skinny: Tufele took official visits to USC, Utah, BYU, Ohio State and Michigan before committing to the Trojans on National Signing Day. USC was seen as the firm leader for Tufele after he took his official visit to Los Angeles. Tufele spent the last year getting stronger, quicker and adjusting to college life. That has transitioned to an impressive offseason where he has earned himself significant playing time this fall for the Trojans.
Farrell’s take: Tufele is a rare prospect, a guy who could play inside or outside and can get after the passer with good size. His agility and athleticism stand out and he’s now ready to show off the skillset we loved so much out of high school.
The skinny: Armstrong, who was recruited as a wide receiver by most schools, initially committed to Missouri during the summer leading up to his senior season. However, he then took official visits to Notre Dame and Minnesota, which eventually led to his flip to the Irish in late January. With question marks at the running back position in South Bend, Armstrong has provided much needed playmaking abilities at the position. He has actually flipped from running back to wide receiver and back again, but now he seems to have found a home in the backfield where he should see plenty of action from day one.
Farrell’s take: Armstrong was a high three-star out of high school who did everything well but nothing outstanding but has really progressed after a redshirt season. He has excellent ball skills and could be that reliable wide receiver in the intermediate passing game Notre Dame covets.
The skinny: Despite being a late bloomer in the recruiting world, Terry still picked up offers from Florida State, Georgia and Florida after a huge senior season. The offer from the Seminoles proved to be special for Terry, as he committed to Florida State soon after receiving the news in January. The Seminoles entered the off-season with depth issues at wide receiver, but after Terry’s big spring game performance, some of those concerns were lessened. With Deondre Francois healthy and looking ready for a big season at quarterback, the same could happen for Terry this fall.
Farrell’s take: Terry was a late bloomer and a mid-level three-star that many felt should be ranked higher and right now it’s looking like he was under-valued. His size and speed combination will be key for the Seminoles' offense this season and he could be the leading receiver if he has a breakout season.
The skinny: Maryland’s proximity to home made the Terrapins the front-runner for Hill. While he did take several other visits, including Northwestern and Penn State, he did commit to Maryland in April. Unlike the other players on this list, Hill had a taste of college football action last fall before he tore his ACL during the Terps' third game. His performance up until his injury is what had Maryland fans excited, so now back and healthy, everyone expects more of the same in 2018.
Farrell’s take: I always liked Hill and thought he was a great pickup for Maryland because he progressed nicely as a passer through high school but could also extend the play and run. His injury last year was a tough break but now that he’s a redshirt freshman, look for him to make a big impact.
