It's been a month since the beginning of the college football season and fans have already been exposed to some of the brightest young stars in the sport.
This story will take a quick look at a handful of true freshmen that have already taken the sport by storm.
USC wide reveiver Zachariah Branch
Stats: 13 receptions, 178 yards, two touchdowns; seven punt returns, 22.6 yards per return, one touchdown
While Branch came in as a consensus five-star recruit, he was also blessed with the added bonus of a future No. 1 overall pick throwing him the rock. He may still be listed as a third-string receiver on the Trojans' official depth chart, Branch leads the team in receptions and has found numerous other ways to leave his mark for the program.
The Clemson freshmen
Stats: Way too many to list
We first wrote about the Tigers' star freshmen a little over a week ago and the emergence of new blood continues as Clemson looks to find their footing. Defensive end T.J. Parker and defensive tackle Peter Woods continue to wreak havoc as they earn more and more playing time, while athletic defensive back Khalil Barnes has shown a nose for the football by making play after play. On the offensive side of the ball, local wide receiver Tyler Brown has burst onto the scene for a Tiger offense that struggled out of the gates. Despite starting the season as a backup, he is second on the roster in receiving yards and one of just three Tigers with multiple receiving touchdowns. Add in offensive lineman Harris Sewell, wide receiver Ronan Hanafin and a handful of others, this class will be one to remember for the program.
Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
Stats: 16 total tackles (two for loss), two sacks
Hill's stats may not pop off the screen, but he showed his five-star talent showed in the Longhorn's matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The talented defender logged six of his tackles — including two for a loss — and both of his sacks to help lead his team to the stunning upset victory.
Alabama safety Caleb Downs
Stats: 27 total tackles (one for loss), one pass defended, one forced fumble
There have not been many bright spots on the Alabama roster through four games, but the former consensus five-star safety has been one of them. As he continues to adapt to the college game, things should only get easier for Downs.
Minnesota running back Darius Taylor
Stats: 87 carries, 532 yards, four touchdowns
After a quiet start to his season, Taylor has absolutely exploded in the Golden Gophers' last three games. He followed his three-yard outing with three consecutive games with more than 130 rushing yards, including two 190-yard outinngs. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound back should be in line for another monster performance against a struggling Louisiana team before Minnesota's road toughens up in Big Ten play.
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