PFF: Top 10 true freshman in CFB

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Bowers has earned an 89.4 PFF grade and generated 3.50 yards per route run so far in his true freshman campaign. That’s not just an unprecedented level of production for a true freshman, it’s at a level rarely obtained by any player at the position. Bowers leads all Power Five tight ends in both of those metrics after Week 7. With his speed, explosiveness and ball skills, Bowers fits the modern-day tight end mold. He’s destined to be a household name and is already a college football star.

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Williams wasn't expected to play as a true freshman this season outside of garbage time, but after Spencer Rattler’s undisciplined playstyle remained to start the 2021 season, Lincoln Riley opted to give Williams the keys to the offense, which has paid off since the freshman had one of the best starting debuts of the PFF College era. Williams earned an elite PFF grade above 90.0 in Saturday’s win over TCU, as he orchestrated Lincoln Riley’s offense as a passer while making plays in the ground game. Williams completed 10 of his 14 passes over 10 yards downfield for 202 yards and four scores while taking two of his six designed runs for a gain of 20-plus yards. He has special arm talent and athleticism paired with poise beyond his years. It’s early, but Williams looks like one of the rare underclassmen quarterbacks who can produce at a top-five level nationally.

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Worthy is a slender speedster at 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. He’s earned a 76.1 receiving grade in seven games to start his collegiate career, and his speed isn’t his only quality trait, as Worthy looks more polished than most of his counterparts due to his route-running chops and ball skills. Worthy has broken nine tackles after the catch and averaged 9.3 yards after the catch reception in 2021 while gathering more deep receiving yards than any other true freshman in the country (175).

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Hunter’s hot start has cooled down the last couple of weeks, but he still holds a spot inside PFF’s top-10 graded Power Five running backs for 2021 (87.3). Hunter is tied for 11th in the Power Five in 20-plus yard runs this season (seven) despite only ranking 70th in total carries (70). He’s done a good job of taking advantage of the holes Auburn’s line has created for him, but he also has kept his feet churning after contact. He’s the only back in the Power Five who is averaging four or more yards before and after contact this season.

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Williams has yet to start for the Sooners, but he has been a featured piece when on the field. The 2021 top-50 recruit has been targeted on 29.6% of his routes this season (29 of 98)— the highest among true freshmen and 10th-highest among all Power Five wide receivers. He’s been a quarterback’s best friend with zero drops on the year while generating a 121.1 passer rating on his targets. Williams, who owns a 79.9 receiving grade in 2021, is destined to become a featured piece alongside Caleb Williams in the next couple of years to come.

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