CBS Sports took a look back at the top 25 true freshmen over the first 25 seasons of the 21st century.
Former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence claimed the top spot on the list thanks to his historic 2018 true freshman campaign.
Lawrence is ranked ahead of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (2024) at No. 2 and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson (2004) at No. 3. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly (2009) and LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (2019) round out the top five.
Here’s what CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer wrote regarding Lawrence’s 2018 season, when he became the first true freshman quarterback to lead his team to a national title since 1985:
“One of only two true freshman starting quarterbacks to lead their team to a national championship — Oklahoma’s Jamelle Holieway being the other in 1985 — Lawrence immediately lived up to the recruiting hype.