It’s not too common to see freshmen on the field in college football, particularly at the higher levels of the sport. Those reps usually go to guys who’ve had more time to physically acclimate to the environment, have seen enough previous snaps or have been biding their time.
But there’s ways for a freshman to show they belong on the field in one way or another. D’Angelo Ponds didn’t just see the field as a freshman at James Madison, he started. His relentless, 24/7 work ethic made enough of an impact on the coaching staff to give him that opportunity.