SEC College Football 2024: 8 Instant Impact Freshmen

That is why the addition of Texas and Oklahoma in 2024 makes the conference even stronger and deeper.

That strength is evident in rosters that boasts of having future first round draft picks, highly sought after transfer students, and some of the most talented high school graduates in the country.

The league’s 16 programs all have the pieces of the future on campus, but this eight-man class of SEC true freshmen will be impact performers and the superstars for the next three or four years.

8. PJ Woodland, CB LSU

Woodland came to LSU as a strong development type player that had the potential to pack on more pounds. However he looked so good and so mature in the spring that he was able to bypass almost all the players and tore right up the depth chart. He certainly is coming off the bench a lot fitter during the off season and will be shouldering a very big need on the team.

7. LJ McCray, DE Florida

There are high flying expectations for McCray who was physically developed and ready to play as soon as he enrolled from Daytona, Florida, The freshman is a long, strong and athletic 6-6, 280 pounder with the potential to become a havoc wrecking machine whether in the passing game or in run defense.

6. Williams Nwaneri, DE Missouri

Minnesota was blessed to have Nwaneri choose the Tigers as his college home. He was a crystal ball five star treasure and Mizzou’s highest rated recruit in the history of recruiting service. Nwaneri didn’t enroll until summer, but he’ll make up for it with his athletic ability and frame as a 6-6, 260 pound lineman.

5. Colin Simmons, EDGE Texas

Simmons is the kind attacking edge rusher this one program has been lacking or missing in the last few years. He’s a drop-in, instant at least second-team pass rusher with the get-off, motor and closing speed. Situational roles do not imply that a player cannot record six or more sacks in a particular season, this season inclusive.

4. Ryan Williams, WR Alabama

Kalen DeBoer has an idea or two about elite wide receivers from his time at Washington. He has another star playmaker in Williams who is the first two-time Alabama Mr. Football winner in the history of the award. He’s the sort of slippery weapon whom Milroe might prefer to target in the blink of an eye.

3. Cam Coleman, WR Auburn

Hugh Freeze’s offense is in major need of playmakers following a tight end who was the team’s leading receiver with 394 yards the previous year. Coleman is waiting to become that man for the Tigers. Still 17, the spring game MVP has the build, burst, and jump to cause nightmares for defenders.

2. Crimestoppers needs a chairman: Ellis Robinson IV Claims, CB Georgia

Malaki Starks joined the Bulldog secondary two years ago, or so makes it seem. Robinson is also capable of doing the same thing in his Dawg bow. The advantages are good size and the coverage instincts to play in the game immediately. The same can also be said for KJ Bolden who is settling in for reps at the safety spot.

1. Boo Carter, S Tennessee

If Carter is already getting the Eric Berry treatment after only one spring, he patterns his game after Tyrann Mathieu. The rookie drafted by the Tennessee Titans’ Chattanooga is a true ‘utility player’ – he will contribute on defense and on special teams. If the capabilities of Carter are taken into consideration, he is a field-flipper who could start in the secondary on the first day of training.