DALLAS (FWAA) – This is the the Week 12 installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.
The Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award, presented by Chris Doering Mortgage, goes to the best first-year coach (at his school) in FBS football at the conclusion of the season.
The recipient of the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach, the FWAA Freshman of the Year and the Steve Spurrier Legends Coach will be honored at a special reception on Feb. 24, 2025 in Gainesville, Fla.
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State (6-2, 200, West Linn, Ore.): 21/34, 275 yards, 3 TD; 5 rushes, 42 yards
Saturday wasn’t the first time Leavitt led the Sun Devils to a ranked win this season, but he clearly left his mark in a 24-14 upset of Kansas State. The redshirt freshman set the tone early, throwing all three of his touchdowns en route to a 21-0 halftime lead. Arizona State has won five straight games, during which Leavitt has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,051 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Sun Devils can earn the inside track to the Big 12 title game when it hosts BYU this Saturday.
Emmett Mosley V, WR, Stanford (6-2, 205, Chicago, Ill.): 13 receptions, 168 yards, 3 TD; 2 rushes, 7 yards
Mosley V’s breakout game could not have been more clutch in Stanford’s 38-35 walk-off upset of Louisville. The true freshman’s touchdowns with 6:37 and 45 seconds remaining in the game set up a 52-yard field goal as time expired. Mosley V’s combination of speed and physicality bullied Louisville’s secondary through all four quarters. The Cardinal snapped a six-game losing streak and can help spoil the bowl eligibility hopes of bitter rival California this weekend.
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina (6-3, 242, Florence, S.C.): 353 yards, 5 TD; 14 rushes, 45 yards
Sellers’ emergence as one of the best freshman quarterbacks in the country continued in a last-second 34-30 win over Missouri. The redshirt freshman completed touchdown passes of 26 and 38 yards, but perhaps his most memorable touchdown pass came on a 15-yard toss to win the game. Sellers flipped a short shovel pass to Raheim Sanders, who bounced off several Tiger defenders and into the end zone. Sellers will look for another explosive game against Wofford this weekend before a massive road challenge at Clemson to close the regular season.
Bryson Washington, RB, Baylor (6-0, 203, Franklin, Texas): 18 rushes, 123 yards, 3 TD; 5 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
Washington’s balance, power and speed helped Baylor win its fourth straight game, topping West Virginia 49-35. The redshirt freshman displayed prowess in the pass game, as well, putting the Bears on the board with a 22-yard touchdown catch. Washington also ripped off a 51-yard touchdown sprint, effortlessly stiff-arming a Mountaineer defender in stride on the way to the goal line. With bowl eligibility clinched, Washington and the Bears will look for another dominant week at Houston.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Major Applewhite, South Alabama: Applewhite earned one of his biggest wins of the season with a 24-22 upset of Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. Freshman duo Gio Lopex and Fluff Bothwell led the Jaguar offense to 353 yards of offense. South Alabama set the tone in the first half, outscoring the Ragin’ Cajuns 24-3 by halftime. Applewhite can reach bowl eligibility in his first season with a win at Southern Miss on Saturday.
Fran Brown, Syracuse: Brown’s Orange went coast-to-coast and immediately took over in a 33-25 win over California. Syracuse outscored the Bears 27-7 at halftime and coasted to its fourth ACC win from there. Quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 323 yards and a touchdown while LeQuint Allen added another couple of scores and 109 yards on the ground. The Orangemen hope to dominate UConn this weekend with a rivalry matchup with Miami looming.
Bronco Mendenhall, New Mexico: Mendenhall’s most iconic win is also the program’s biggest in over two decades, as New Mexico’s 38-35 upset of Washington State was its first ranked win since 2003. The Lobos were resilient, overcoming a 28-14 halftime deficit and a late go-ahead score by the Cougars to regain the lead with 21 seconds left. Quarterback Devon Dampier scored the final touchdown as a part of a 367-yard, four-touchdown performance. Mendenhall has the week off to prepare for a trip to Hawaii on November 30 with bowl eligibility in the balance.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane: Sumrall’s Green Wave washed out Navy 35-0 to improve to 7-0 in the AAC. Tulane out-gained the Midshipmen 358-113 and won the turnover battle 2-0. Sumrall’s defense was disciplined enough against Navy’s attack to allow just 100 rush yards, limiting the Midshipmen’s run-heavy attack to 2.9 yards per carry. The Green Wave can earn its 10th win and stay perfect in the conference when Memphis visits New Orleans on November 28.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.