By Mark Pszonak
Now that the college football season has begun, everyone can stop projecting and start actually seeing who the top true freshmen in the country are. While Week 0 only had a handful of games, a few already took the opportunity to shine on the big stage:
WR Zachariah Branch – USC
With the loss of Jordan Addison to the NFL, the Trojans spent the off-season hoping to find some new weapons for Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams. Branch answered the call on Saturday during the Trojans 56-28 victory over San Jose State by doing a bit of everything. He finished with four receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown, had one carry for 12 yards, returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and returned three punts for 66 yards. He did have a couple of drops during his debut, but overall it is already obvious that Branch will be a vital part of USC’s 2023 season.
WR Jaden Greathouse – Notre Dame
A lingering problem with the Irish offense in recent years has been inconsistent play from the wide receiver position. With the addition of transfer quarterback Sam Hartman in South Bend, remedying this issue became an even bigger priority during the spring and summer. During this time, Hartman and Greathouse were able to develop a chemistry that showed during Saturday’s 42-3 victory over Navy. The two connected three times for 68 yards and two touchdowns in Ireland, giving the Irish hope that the offense has a new weapon that can help them towards a big season.
WR London Humphreys – Vanderbilt
Humphreys only had one reception, but it went 32 yards for a touchdown, during a 35-28 victory over Hawaii. The touchdown came early in the fourth quarter, which was the final one for the Commodores and proved vital after Hawaii made a valiant comeback in the final minutes. Vanderbilt has weapons at wide receiver, with Jayden McGowden and Will Sheppard, so finding yet another reliable target for quarterback AJ Swann would go a long way in potentially surprising a few teams in the SEC this fall.
TE Duce Robinson – USC
As mentioned above with Branch, several new offensive weapons were brought in during the off-season in Los Angeles. And after Saturday’s victory over San Jose State, it is safe to say that Robinson will join Branch as a player that has the potential to be vital this season. His 6-foot-6 frame gives quarterback Caleb Williams an exciting new toy to play with, and after grabbing three receptions for 44 yards in the opener, it is a toy that will be used regularly.
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DB Jeremiah Vessel – New Mexico State
It wasn’t easy finding positives during the Aggies’ 41-30 loss at home to UMass, but Vessel’s performance was a highlight on an otherwise disappointing day. Playing aggressively, he finished with three tackles, two tackles for a loss and a pass breakup, while playing minimal snaps. With additional playmakers needed on this defense, look for Vessel to gradually become a regular part of the Aggies unit this season.
