Enrolling early can give true incoming freshmen a significant edge when it comes to establishing themselves on the depth charts of college football programs but there is a lot of work they need to do in order to prove they belong. An elite group of incoming talent has made strong early impressions for their respective programs and they will be talked about a lot in the months leading up to the season. Whether it has to do with filling a position of need or being the best available option on the roster a number of first-year players will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. Here is a look at the four incoming freshmen with the best chance to start in Week One.
DT: Rashan Gary
Michigan Wolverines
All eyes will be on Michigan to see what’s in store for Year Two under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Gary is the top recruit in this year’s freshman class and he will be expected to make an immediate impact on their defensive line. The 6’4’’, 287-pound tackle racked up 27.5 sacks in 2014 and 2015 combined to solidify his position as the No. 1 prospect in college football and he will be given every opportunity to put up big numbers as the anchor of the Wolverines defensive line. New defensive coordinator Don Brown is expected to move Gary around depending on situation but his elite ability against both the run and pass will help the transition to the college level as Gary makes an immediate impact at Michigan this season. The Big Ten is all about play on the lines of scrimmage and Gary could already be among the league’s elite. Teams looking to run the ball on the Maize and Blue will have to go through him, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to be an easy process.
CB: Levonta Taylor
Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles’ secondary is absolutely loaded once again but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Taylor forced his way in to the equation. It’s unlikely he will start on the outside immediately but Taylor could force Florida State to give him an opportunity at the “Star” position lined up in the slot. Taylor isn’t the biggest cornerback at 5’11’’ and 183 pounds but he has incredible speed, quickness, instincts and ball skills with the perfect attitude for the position. The coaches have raved about Taylor’s progress on the practice field and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he one of the incoming freshmen that gets locked into a starting role at the start of the season.
DE: Nick Bosa
Ohio State Buckeyes
No team was hit harder this offseason than Ohio State, which lost a ton of talent to the NFL Draft including nine underclassmen. Patching those holes won’t be easy, but the Buckeyes have a unique replacement for the third-overall pick in the NFL Draft Joey Bosa with his brother slated to step in immediately at defensive end. The five-star prospect is expected to move all over the defensive line and the impact he and Sam Hubbard have up front will be among the biggest keys to the success of the defense this season. The Buckeyes always seem to reload, so expect Bosa to be part of that. By all accounts, they should still have one of the top defenses in the Big Ten and this year’s Bosa will be the centerpiece of the unit.
OLB: Caleb Kelly
Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners have a void to fill at the outside linebacker position after losing Eric Striker and Devante Bond to the NFL. It only makes sense that Kelly will slide in as an immediate starter this season. The 25th-ranked prospect in the 2016 class will start immediately for Oklahoma with a good chance he steps in as an every-down linebacker. Rick DeBerry and Obo Okoronkwo are excellent edge rushers that will get their snaps but Kelly is arguably already their most complete player at the position and the expectation is that he will one of the incoming freshmen to start in Week One.
