the midway point of the college football season has arrived, and with it, a fresh crop of talent is shining brightly. Archyde.com is proud to present its 2025 Freshman All-America team,recognizing the true and redshirt freshmen who are already leaving their mark on the sport. This selection prioritizes consistent performance and tangible production on the field.
Offensive Standouts
Table of Contents
- 1. Offensive Standouts
- 2. Defensive Stars and Specialist Recognition
- 3. The Growing Impact of Freshman Talent
- 4. Frequently Asked Questions
- 5. What is CJ Carr’s passer rating, and how dose it compare to other freshmen quarterbacks?
- 6. CJ Carr and Malachi Toney Shine on College Football All-Freshman Team Midseason Roster
- 7. notre Dame’s Dynamic Duo: Leading the Freshman Charge
- 8. CJ Carr: The Quarterback with Poise Beyond His Years
- 9. Malachi Toney: A Rising Star at wide Receiver
- 10. The Carr-Toney Connection: A synergy for Success
- 11. All-Freshman Team Implications & National Recognition
- 12. Analyzing Freshman Performance: Key Metrics
Despite the increasing prevalence of the transfer portal, impactful contributions from first and second-year players remain a cornerstone of successful programs. Notably, this year’s team includes 11 players who were rated as three-star recruits or lower, demonstrating that scouting isn’t always definitive.
Quarterback: CJ Carr of Notre Dame is leading all freshman quarterbacks with 41 explosive plays, showcasing his ability to extend drives and create scoring opportunities. He has already thrown for 13 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Running Backs: Ohio State’s Bo Jackson has emerged as a dominant force, leading the defending national champions with 407 rushing yards. Duke’s Nate Sheppard is also excelling, leading all first-year players with 447 rushing yards, showcasing both power and agility.
wide Receivers: Braylon Staley of Tennessee stands out as the most targeted freshman receiver in the country, with 49 targets resulting in 31 catches and 431 receiving yards. Miami’s Malachi Toney leads the Hurricanes in both catches and receiving yards, proving to be a reliable target.
Offensive Line: The team boasts a strong offensive line, featuring standouts like Jesse perry and Jacob Ponton at tackle, and Brock Riker at center, all of whom have demonstrated a commitment to protecting their quarterbacks.
Here’s a quick look at the Offensive selections:
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| QB | CJ Carr | Notre Dame |
| RB | Bo Jackson | Ohio State |
| RB | Nate Sheppard | Duke |
| WR | Braylon Staley | Tennessee |
| WR | Malachi Toney | Miami |
Defensive Stars and Specialist Recognition
On the defensive side, Mandrell Desir of Florida State is making waves as an interior defensive lineman, leading all freshmen at his position with 11 quarterback pressures. Wendell Gregory of Oklahoma State is a disruptive force off the edge, topping all freshmen with 11 ‘havoc’ plays-tackles for loss, forced fumbles, interceptions, or pass breakups.
Linebacker Luke Ferrelli of California leads all freshmen nationally in total tackles, with 45, demonstrating his knack for finding the ball. The defensive backfield is anchored by cornerbacks Nehemiah Chandler of South Alabama and Graceson Littleton of Texas, both of whom have made crucial interceptions.
Special teams are also recognized, with Patrick Durkin of Tulane remaining perfect on all 13 field goal attempts and Dylan Drennan of Buffalo showcasing a strong leg as a punter.
The Growing Impact of Freshman Talent
The rise of impactful freshmen in college football highlights the evolving landscape of the sport.Increased player growth programs, combined with early playing opportunities, are allowing younger players to contribute sooner. This trend is likely to continue, making the Freshman All-America team an increasingly important indicator of future success. did you know that the number of true freshmen earning significant playing time has increased by nearly 20% in the last decade?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What criteria were used to select the Freshman All-America team? The team was selected based on consistent production and overall impact on their respective teams.
- Are redshirt freshmen eligible for this team? Yes, redshirt freshmen are eligible and included in the selections.
- How important are recruiting rankings in the selection process? While recruiting rankings are considered,the team prioritizes on-field performance over pre-season hype.
- What is a “havoc” play? A “havoc” play includes tackles for loss, forced fumbles, interceptions, and pass breakups-plays that disrupt the opposing offense.
- Will this team influence future recruiting strategies? absolutely, the success of these freshmen demonstrates the value of identifying and developing young talent.
What impact do you think this freshman class will have on the College Football Playoff? Share your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with fellow football fans!
What is CJ Carr’s passer rating, and how dose it compare to other freshmen quarterbacks?
CJ Carr and Malachi Toney Shine on College Football All-Freshman Team Midseason Roster
notre Dame’s Dynamic Duo: Leading the Freshman Charge
The midseason point of the 2025 college football season has arrived, and several freshmen are already making significant impacts for their respective programs. Among the standouts, Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr and wide receiver Malachi Toney are earning widespread recognition, consistently appearing on various All-Freshman team projections. Their performance is a key factor in Notre Dame’s current success and a promising sign for the future of Irish football. This article dives into what makes these two players special and analyzes their contributions to date. We’ll explore their stats, highlight key moments, and discuss their potential trajectory within the competitive landscape of college football.
CJ Carr: The Quarterback with Poise Beyond His Years
CJ Carr, a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, has quickly adapted to the speed and complexity of NCAA football. He was instantly thrust into a starting role,a rare feat for a true freshman,and has largely exceeded expectations.
* Passing Prowess: Carr boasts a completion percentage of 64.7% through the first seven games, throwing for 1,850 yards and 15 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. These quarterback stats place him among the top freshman signal-callers nationally.
* Decision-Making: What truly sets Carr apart is his maturity and decision-making under pressure.He consistently makes smart reads, avoids needless risks, and demonstrates a command of the offense that belies his experience level.
* Mobility: While primarily a pocket passer, Carr possesses enough athleticism to extend plays and escape pressure, adding another dimension to Notre Dame’s offensive attack. His rushing yards total 180 with 2 touchdowns.
* Key Performances: Carr’s performance against USC, where he threw for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns, solidified his status as a legitimate star. His ability to perform in high-stakes games is a crucial asset for the fighting Irish.
Malachi Toney: A Rising Star at wide Receiver
Complementing Carr’s strong play is the emergence of Malachi Toney as a dynamic receiving threat. Toney has quickly become Carr’s favorite target, showcasing extraordinary speed, route-running ability, and hands.
* Receiving Statistics: Toney leads the Fighting Irish with 650 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on 42 receptions. His average of 15.5 yards per catch demonstrates his ability to make big plays downfield. These wide receiver stats are consistently improving each week.
* Route Running & Agility: Toney’s ability to create separation from defenders is remarkable. He utilizes quick cuts, precise route running, and deceptive footwork to consistently get open.
* YAC (Yards After Catch): A significant portion of Toney’s yardage comes after the catch, highlighting his elusiveness and ability to turn short passes into considerable gains. He averages 8.2 YAC per reception.
* Impact on the Offense: Toney’s presence has opened up the field for other receivers, creating more opportunities for the entire Notre Dame passing game.He’s a true game-changer.
The Carr-Toney Connection: A synergy for Success
The chemistry between Carr and Toney is undeniable. Their ability to anticipate each other’s movements and execute plays seamlessly is a major reason for Notre Dame’s offensive success.
* Target share: Carr has targeted Toney 85 times,demonstrating the quarterback’s trust in his receiver’s ability to make plays.
* Red Zone Dominance: The Carr-Toney connection is notably potent in the red zone, where thay have combined for 4 touchdowns.
* Deep Threat: Their ability to connect on deep passes adds a crucial element to Notre Dame’s offensive arsenal, forcing defenses to respect the vertical threat.
* Future Potential: As their chemistry continues to develop, the Carr-Toney connection has the potential to become one of the most feared duos in college football recruiting and on the field.
All-Freshman Team Implications & National Recognition
Both Carr and Toney are widely projected to be first-team selections on major All-Freshman teams, including those selected by the Associated Press, ESPN, and The Athletic.
* Award Watch Lists: Carr is also gaining attention on several national award watch lists, including the Freshman of the Year awards.
* Impact on Recruiting: Their success is already having a positive impact on Notre Dame’s football recruiting,attracting top prospects who want to play alongside these rising stars.
* Conference Championship Contenders: With Carr and Toney leading the way, Notre Dame is firmly in contention for a conference championship and a potential playoff berth.
* Long-term Outlook: The emergence of these two freshmen provides a foundation for sustained success for the Fighting Irish program.
Analyzing Freshman Performance: Key Metrics
Beyond the raw statistics, several key metrics help evaluate the impact of freshman players like Carr and Toney.
- Passer Rating (for QBs): Carr’s passer rating of 158.2 is exceptionally high for a freshman.
- **Catch Rate
