A Baker’s Dozen of Instant Impact Freshmen

The role of the freshman on a college football roster is much different from its college basketball counterpart. While a first-year player can immediate elevate a basketball program from mediocrity to Final Four contention, a football freshman’s role is generally that of student. Yet every season, there are noted and celebrated exceptions to that rule.

Below aren’t necessarily all the best of the Class of 2011 — though some certainly are. There are incoming freshmen who will have profound impacts on the college football landscape for years to come, but have to wait a season. Alabama running back Dee Hart is a notable example, playing in a loaded backfield of Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy. James Wilder, Jr. is in a similar position at Florida State, joining the Seminoles two veteran rushers who led last season’s squad with a combined 1382 yards, Chris Thompson and Ty Jones.

Some of those highlighted below are no-brainers like Jadeveon Clowney and Isaiah Crowell. Others, like Ka’Deem Carey and Justice Hayes are less so. Check out all 13 after the jump.

Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson

Graduation hits the Tiger defense hard, but opens an immediate spot for Stephone Anthony. He made over 120 tackles his senior season and in film I have seen of him, plays a style akin to former South Carolina standout Eric Norwood.

Mike Bellamy, RB, Clemson

Opening with consecutive Clemson recruits is fitting, given the importance youth will have on the Tigers’ season. The crown jewel of Dabo Swinney’s potentially job saving class is Mike Bellamy, a talent very reminiscent of Heisman Trophy finalist CJ Spiller in terms of size. Bellamy rushed for 41 touchdowns last season. Forty-one! He gives an immediate boost to a Tiger ground game that in its first season without Spiller was lacking.

Ka’Deem Carey, RB, Arizona

Local product Ka’Deem Carey should have an immediate impact on a stacked Arizona offense. The Canyon Del Oro High product joins All Pac-10 selection Keola Antolin in the Wildcat backfield, replacing a four-year starter who himself had a tremendous freshman season, Nic Grigsby. Carey’s the same type rusher as Grigsby, and his more through-the-tackles style will be important if bruiser Greg Nwoko is unable to return from an ACL tear.

Carey’s impact will go behind carries. Arizona’s struggled to build local recruiting clout after years of mediocrity. Should UA excel with Carey playing an integral role, it becomes an instant sales pitch for other upper echelon talents in the Grand Canyon State.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

A freshman buoyed Steve Spurrier’s first SEC title game run as South Carolina head coach. Marcus Lattimore led the Gamecocks on the offensive end, and will do so again. A year later, the defense gets its freshman phenom in the much-celebrated signee, Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney has never played a snap of college football, yet his name is as recognizable as anyone who will don pads and a helmet this autumn. Clowney’s a 6-foot-6, pass rushing dynamo with tremendous speed and a ball-hawking ability that allowed him to overcome double-and-triple teams to lead South Carolina preps in sacks with 30.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia

A first-year running back helped power Georgia’s last trip to a BCS bowl, as Knowshon Moreno burst onto the scene in the Bulldogs’ 2007 Sugar Bowl campaign. Isaiah Crowell won’t have the benefit of a redshirt season like Moreno, but he’ll need to be equally explosive if the Dawgs are to win the SEC East. Washaun Ealey’s suspension and subsequent transfer opened the door for Crowell, a top flight recruit and star of Signing Day 2011 with his unveiling of a baby Uga. Even before Ealey’s departure, Mark Richt told the Athens Banner-Herald Crowell would play a significant role. The combination of he and returning Caleb King could prove to be the new Moreno-Thomas Brown.

Jeff Driskel, QB, Florida

New Gator offensive coordinator Charlie Weis had many failings as a head coach that are well-documented. The play of his quarterbacks, however, cannot be questioned. With that in mind, John Brantley should rebound from an underwhelming debut season under then-OC Steve Addazzio, but if he doesn’t, the most ballyhooed offensive recruit of 2011 is waiting. Jeff Driskel’s dual threat abilities are reminiscent of a certain Heisman Trophy winning snap-taker who called Gainesville home recently, but comparing Driskel to Tim Tebow as though their styles are one in the same wouldn’t be accurate*. He’s less reliant on the shotgun, in fact garnering Tom Lemming’s stamp of approval as a Pro Style quarterback.

(*shoutout to Patrick Johnston [@TheRealPSJ] for a much-needed edit here.)

George Farmer, WR, USC

Hallmarks of the

great, chamionship caliber

NCAA sanctioned USC teams were their receivers. Stars like Mike Williams, Dewayne Jarrett and Steve Smith shone bright. Going further back, USC produced Keyshawn Johnson George Farmer is a throwback to that era. He’s a big (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), steady target who was just as effective at safety as wide receiver in Southern California’s Serra High School.

Justice Hayes, RB, Michigan

Rich Rodriguez’s Michigan team of last season relied too heavily on Denard Robinson to create plays and struggled late as a result. Conversely, Brady Hoke’s San Diego State squad excelled because of offensive balance, of which a true freshman was key. Ronnie Hillman took to Hoke’s system immediately, and Justice Hayes is capable of the same. He’s an interesting combination of the talents returners Michael Shaw and Vince Smith bring — quicker than Shaw, but bigger and less of a third down style back than Smith. With Robinson sure to have his number called, and the Shaw/Smith combination, Hayes’ total amount of carries could be limited but he adds an important option.

Savon Huggins, RB, Rutgers

Since Ray Rice left Rutgers for the NFL, the Scarlet Knights’ best rushers have been a fullback (Joe Martinek), quarterback (transferred Tom Savage) and wide receiver (Mohammed Sanu). OK, Martinek was in fact a tailback when he rushed for over 900 yards in 2009, but in new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s scheme the returning-from-injury Martinek will play fullback. That means a vacancy at tailback for Savon Huggins. The St. Peters Prep (NJ) standout has been called RU’s best signing ever. When a program’s just a few years removed from producing a talent like Rice at the very same position, that’s lofty praise. Rice didn’t enter with this same fanfare however, as Greg Schiano told ESPN.com Big East reporter Andrea Adelson. Perhaps that makes the pressure on Huggins even greater to contribute out of the gate.

Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State

Terrelle Pryor’s cloud-covered departure creates a quarterback conundrum. Joe Bauserman is tabbed as the likely Week 1 starter, but he’s ability to contribute in a meaningful way is questionable. Should he struggle, Braxton Miller should take over by the beginning of Big Ten play. A postseason ban instated this season is the only scenario I can envision Miller redshirted, otherwise he should garner significant snaps even if not as a starter.

De’Anthony Thomas, WR, Oregon

The silent star of Oregon’s two Pac-10 winning teams was wideout Jeff Maehl, and in recruit De’Anthony Thomas Chip Kelly has a talent capable of replacing that contribution. Thomas is small, speedy target much like Maehl, and also like Maehl should fit in perfectly to the quick-strike style at UO.

Kasen Williams, WR, Washington

Few freshmen boast the pure athleticism Kasen Williams brings. He won Washington’s state prep championship in high jump with a ridiculous 6-foot-10 mark. Williams should slot in well as a No. 2 option in the passing game behind 1000-yard receiver Jermaine Kearse and diversify the Husky offense.

BONUS: Bubba Starling, QB, Nebraska

A Twitter conversation with HuskerLocker.com writer Brian Towle (@btbowling) centered around Nebraka’s pursuit of the Big Ten championship, and how quarterback play could impact that. Taylor Martinez started 2010 a house-of-fire, but his flame was quickly doused. The Cornhusker offense struggled and rumors of in-fighting between Bo Pelini and Taylor Martinez vexed the latter stretch of Nebraska’s season.

Should Martinez’s struggles carry over, Bubba Starling could be the remedy. He’s the most talked-about option style quarterback in recent recruiting classes and unlike a Terrelle Pryor embraced that. The question with Starling is if he’ll even play football. A $20 million-plus offer from the Kansas City Royals will be on the table and spread Starling’s commitments thin.