On3 has assembled the comprehensive Preseason True Freshman All-American Team for 2025.
Led by On3’s Clark Brooks, Rivals National Scout Cody Bellaire and Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power, the newcomers you should know for the 2025 season and beyond have been chosen. These talented players will have a chance to make an immediate impact this upcoming season.
Last year, players like Jeremiah Smith, Dylan Stewart, Ryan Williams and DJ Lagway made names for themselves in their first crack at college football. Heading into 2025, there are several players with a shot at following in their footsteps.
Here is On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-American Team for the 2025 campaign. Check out the team below:
Courtesy: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bryce Underwood was our wire-to-wire No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle and is the most gifted quarterback prospect to come through high school football in the past few years. Underwood became the heavy favorite to become Michigan’s starter the second he flipped from LSU to the Wolverines last November. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has a huge arm and plus athleticism. He’ll need to continue refining his mechanics, but the potential is sky high and should make for appointment viewing.
(Courtesy: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Gideon Davidson was one of the more productive running backs in the 2025 cycle, accounting for 5,057 yards and 80 touchdowns in his final two high school seasons. He’s an instinctive runner with vision, tackle-breaking ability, and quality hands out of the backfield. The Lynchburg (Va.) Liberty Christian Academy product enters a favorable situation in Clemson’s backfield and could be in line for carries early.
(Courtesy: Linkon Cure / linkonc1 on Instagram)
Linkon Cure was a huge recruiting win for Kansas State, with the Wildcats keeping the elite athlete in-state. Cure showed the makings of a future NFL Draft pick as a high school prospect. He was an elite three-sport athlete who excelled on the gridiron, hardwood, and track. We rarely see true freshman tight ends make a huge impact, due to the position’s complexity. With that said, Cure has the talent to develop into one of Avery Johnson’s favorite targets as the season progresses.
(Courtesy: Gene Williams / Warchant)
As the most productive wide receiver in the 2025 cycle, Jayvan Boggs came to Florida State with an extremely high level of development. Boggs accounted for an absurd 2,133 receiving yards as a senior, leading his Cocoa (Fla.) High team to a state title. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that his skill level has quickly translated to the college level. Boggs is in heavy contention for a starting spot in the Seminoles’ offense. A shifty route-runner with strong hands and the ability to generate yardage after the catch, we’d be surprised if Boggs isn’t very productive at Florida State.
(Courtesy: Max Unkrich / ScoopDuck)
If any wide receiver could make an impact similar to what we saw from Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams last fall, it’s Dakorien Moore. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect was the clear top wide receiver prospect in the 2025 cycle, pairing elite speed and playmaking ability with outstanding ball skills. Moore has done nothing to slow down the hype since arriving in Eugene. He made big plays in the Ducks’ spring game and should be in line for significant targets this fall.
Dallas Wilson has generated a ton of hype since arriving on campus in Gainesville. At 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, the Tampa native has the look of an NFL wide receiver, right now. He pairs the readymade build with suddenness as a route-runner, allowing for the ability to create separation at all levels. Wilson had a monster spring game, catching 10 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He’s expected to miss some time after sustaining an injury in fall camp, but should figure into the Gators’ passing game once healthy.
(Courtesy: Carey Murdock / SoonerScoop)
Michael Fasusi is one of the more touted offensive line prospects to sign with Oklahoma in recent memory. A former Five-Star Plus+ prospect, Fasusi is an extremely powerful, physical lineman who showed steady improvement throughout his high school career. Fasusi has drawn rave reviews from veteran offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and has seen time with the first team in camp. It seems to be a question of when, not if, he earns a starting job in Norman.
A mountain of an offensive lineman, Juan Gaston sticks out, even on Georgia’s offensive line. The 6-foot-7, 360-pounder is in a three-man competition for the job at right guard along the Bulldogs’ front. Gaston pairs his immense size with fluid movement skills and lower-body flexibility. The Atlanta native has the makings of Georgia’s next people mover.
(Courtesy: John Mills / @johnmi11s on Instagram)
John Mills was a big recruiting win for Washington, with Jedd Fisch and staff flipping the San Francisco native from Texas. A wide-bodied, physical run blocker, Mills could start at left guard for the Huskies as early as week one. The true freshman has cut 30 pounds since arriving on campus and gives Washington some punch in the run game.
A former Five-Star Plus+ prospect who was the jewel of Tennessee’s recruiting class, David Sanders is on pace to pay immediate dividends. Sanders is set to start at right tackle for the Volunteers. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder was the twitchiest pass blocker in a 2025 cycle that was loaded with elite offensive tackles. Sanders has earned praise throughout fall camp and could be primed to make a splash in the SEC as a true freshman.
(Courtesy: Isaac Sowells Jr.’s Instagram)
Isaac Sowells was a huge rankings riser towards the end of the 2025 cycle and looked like one of the nation’s top true center prospects. An NFL legacy with plus length, outstanding play strength, and loose movement skills, Sowells was dominant against top competition at the Navy All-American Bowl before enrolling at NC State. Given that context, we aren’t surprised to hear Sowells is pushing for a starting spot in Raleigh.
(Courtesy: Marco Jones / @the_halfrican10 on Instagram)
A former linebacker who blossomed into a top edge rusher prospect as a senior, Marco Jones has generated considerable buzz during fall camp. With Texas A&M losing both starting defensive ends, Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, as early-round picks in the NFL Draft, Jones could be a key piece in replacing that top-end talent. At 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, Jones brings an advanced level of technical polish, speed, power, and effort to the Aggie defense.
(Courtesy: UAA Communications)
Jayden Woods has made a huge impression on the field and in the weight room since enrolling at Florida. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder who was a late flip from Penn State has amazed everyone at Florida with his level of physical development and professional mindset. Woods, who was a state champion in the shot put and discus in high school, has already set positional records in the weight room – as a freshman. That strength and explosiveness have carried over to the practice field, as he’s proved very difficult to block.
We viewed Elijah Griffin as the best defensive line prospect to come out in several cycles. The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder has the potential to be a star in Athens and is the headliner of a true freshman class that could see several key contributors for the Bulldogs. An elite athlete and dominant player on Friday nights, we expect Griffin to figure heavily into Georgia’s typically deep defensive line rotation, especially as the season rolls on.
Last season saw Miami develop an underrated local prospect into a True Freshman All-American, in cornerback OJ Frederique. The Hurricanes could do the same this year with defensive lineman Donta Simpson. The South Florida native turned in a strong senior season at local powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna and could factor into Miami’s defensive line rotation this fall.
(Courtesy: Bradley Gompers / @bradley_gompers on Instagram)
A big rankings riser over the course of his senior season, Bradley Gompers was the highest-rated signee for Duke and is in line to crack the rotation as a true freshman. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder is a gifted athlete who is a hyper-physical striker. Duke was able to hold on to his commitment despite late pushes from Michigan and Penn State.
(Courtesy: Riley Pettijohn/Ohio State FB)
Riley Pettijohn appears primed to make an impact as a true freshman, despite Ohio State’s deep linebacker room. An intelligent, athletic player, Pettijohn has impressed with his development since enrolling in January. The Dallas area product was a tackle machine at the high school level, racking up 261 stops in his final two years at McKinney High. Pettijohn’s emergence as a true freshman is even more impressive considering he’s one of the younger top prospects from the 2025 cycle, turning 18 years old in July.
Tae Harris was one of the more explosive athletes in the 2025 cycle, regardless of position. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder was a star in the combine setting and track and field. He carried that speed over to the field as a two-way playmaker. A one-time Clemson commit, Harris should bring an infusion of top-notch athleticism to the Georgia Tech secondary.
(Courtesy: Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)
Graceson Littleton has made an early splash at Texas and is tracking to start at nickel for the Longhorns as a true freshman. The 6-foot, 180-pounder was one of the more refined cornerback prospects in the 2025 cycle. The advanced level of technical polish, along with his ability to effortlessly change gears in coverage, has allowed for a smooth transition to the college level. Littleton’s skill set may remind Texas fans of what we saw from former Longhorn great, Jahdae Barron.
(Courtesy: @DJPICKETT5 on X)
DJ Pickett was viewed as a near instant starter upon signing with LSU. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect has lived up to those lofty expectations and appears set to play a major role in the Tigers’ secondary as a true freshman. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder is a massive corner with athleticism and movement skills that belie his size. LSU and secondary coach Corey Raymond hope they have the next Patrick Peterson or Derek Stingley on their hands.
(Courtesy: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Demetres Samuel Jr. could be one of the more unique true freshmen in college football this fall. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder could contribute on both sides of the ball, lining up as a cornerback and wide receiver. Even more, Samuel is doing that as a 17-year-old freshman, after reclassifying from the 2026 to 2025 cycle. Samuel’s combination of size, athleticism, and ball skills and advanced polish at his young age could make for one of the bigger stories among true freshmen.
(Courtesy: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Devin Sanchez touted the most refined coverage skill set among top defensive backs in the 2025 cycle. At 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, he pairs plus size with top-end speed and high-level coverage polish. Unsurprisingly, Sanchez has put himself in a position to play early on for Ohio State, despite the Buckeyes’ strong depth at corner. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect will have the opportunity to work in the rotation early on as a true freshman and could carve out a bigger role as the season progresses.