Every team in the Football Bowl Subdivision relied on freshmen in one way or another, including College Football Playoff participants in Ohio State and Alabama.
The Buckeyes and Crimson Tide both placed two players on USA TODAY Sports' Freshman All-American team, a 25-player list featuring the best newcomers in the FBS.
Leading the list was Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who put together a Heisman Trophy-caliber rookie season before suffering a fractured ankle in the Buckeyes' win against Michigan on Nov. 29. He's joined by teammate Darron Lee, a linebacker. Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson and punter JK Scott were also recognized.
Scott, a first-team selection, and Nebraska return specialist, a second-team selection, were also named to USA TODAY Sports' All-America teams.
QB – J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
RB – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
RB – Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
WR – Artavis Scott, Clemson
WR – Mike Dudek, Illinois
TE – Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
OL – Cam Robinson, Alabama
OL – Toa Lobendahn, USC
OL – Jacob Alsadek, Arizona
OL – Reginald Bain, Florida Atlantic
OL – Roderick Johnson, Florida State
DEFENSE
DL – Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
DL – Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
DL – Derek Barnett, Tennessee
DL – KeShun Freeman, Georgia Tech
LB – Ja'Whaun Bentley, Purdue
LB – Taylor Young, Baylor
LB – Darron Lee, Ohio State
CB – Adoree' Jackson, USC
CB – Parry Nickerson, Tulane
S – Quin Blanding, Virginia
S – Budda Baker, Washington
SPECIALISTS
K – Matthew McCrane, Kansas State
P – JK Scott, Alabama
RET – De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska
The Buckeyes and Crimson Tide both placed two players on USA TODAY Sports' Freshman All-American team, a 25-player list featuring the best newcomers in the FBS.
Leading the list was Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who put together a Heisman Trophy-caliber rookie season before suffering a fractured ankle in the Buckeyes' win against Michigan on Nov. 29. He's joined by teammate Darron Lee, a linebacker. Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson and punter JK Scott were also recognized.
Scott, a first-team selection, and Nebraska return specialist, a second-team selection, were also named to USA TODAY Sports' All-America teams.
QB – J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
RB – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
RB – Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
WR – Artavis Scott, Clemson
WR – Mike Dudek, Illinois
TE – Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
OL – Cam Robinson, Alabama
OL – Toa Lobendahn, USC
OL – Jacob Alsadek, Arizona
OL – Reginald Bain, Florida Atlantic
OL – Roderick Johnson, Florida State
DEFENSE
DL – Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
DL – Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
DL – Derek Barnett, Tennessee
DL – KeShun Freeman, Georgia Tech
LB – Ja'Whaun Bentley, Purdue
LB – Taylor Young, Baylor
LB – Darron Lee, Ohio State
CB – Adoree' Jackson, USC
CB – Parry Nickerson, Tulane
S – Quin Blanding, Virginia
S – Budda Baker, Washington
SPECIALISTS
K – Matthew McCrane, Kansas State
P – JK Scott, Alabama
RET – De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska