DALLAS (FWAA) – This is the the Week 14 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
Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee (6-6, 215, Long Beach, Calif.): 18/26, 257 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT; 6 rushes, 42 yards
Iamaleava’s first four-touchdown game against SEC competition led the Volunteers to a 36-23 win at Vanderbilt, possibly clinching the program’s first College Football Playoff berth. The redshirt freshman led the Tennessee offense as it roared back from an 17-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter. The Volunteers scored 29 unanswered points from there, Iamaleava being a part of every touchdown scored. Tennessee will get the next few weeks to rest and await its postseason fate.
Koi Perich, S, Minnesota (6-1, 200, Esko, Minn.): 8 tackles, 1 pass defended
Perich’s eight tackles led Minnesota as it stifled Wisconsin’s offense in a 24-7 win. The true freshman helped the Golden Gophers allow just 167 total yards and three third-down conversions on 14 attempts. Minnesota also stopped Wisconsin from earning bowl eligibility for the first time in 22 years. Perich aims to finish his freshman season with an impressive performance in Minnesota’s bowl game.
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina (6-3, 242, Florence, S.C.): 13/21, 164 yards, 1 INT; 16 rushes, 166 yards, 2 TD
Sellers was electric, effective and explosive as South Carolina silenced Clemson’s Death Valley with a 17-14 win. The redshirt freshman affected the game as a passer but dominated with his legs, scoring both Gamecock touchdowns on long runs. Sellers has been excellent throughout South Carolina’s six-game winning streak, scoring 17 total touchdowns with three interceptions. The Gamecocks appear to have an outside shot at the College Football Playoff but can only sit back and watch as teams in front of them compete for conference championships.
Bryson Washington, RB, Baylor (6-0, 203, Franklin, Texas): 28 rushes, 192 yards, 2 TD; 1 reception, 14 yards
A November of domination continued on Saturday for Washington, who powered Baylor to a 45-17 win over Kansas. The redshirt freshman’s fifth-straight game with over 100 yards was just enough to earn 1,000 rushing yards on the season, breaking Baylor’s freshman rushing record. Washington’s recent excellence helped the Bears finish the regular season with six straight wins, a massive improvement from last season’s 3-9 finish. Washington aims to impress in Baylor’s bowl game.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Fran Brown, Syracuse: Brown’s Orange were nothing if not resilient in a Playoff picture-shaking 42-38 upset of Miami on Saturday. Syracuse went down 21-0 before outscoring the Hurricanes 35-7 going into the fourth quarter. Brown led Syracuse to a 9-3 regular season finish, the program’s best since 2018. The Orange could finish ranked, looking to parlay a strong bowl win into some momentum for Brown’s second offseason.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana: Cignetti’s Hoosiers rebounded from a tough first loss of the season to drub Purdue 66-0. Indiana outgained the Boilermakers 586-67 with quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s six-touchdown performance leading the way. Indiana has all but officially clinched a Playoff spot, which would make Cignetti the second first-year head coach to make the CFP. Indiana will await its result, as it narrowly missed the Big Ten Championship due to a tiebreaker with Penn State.
Manny Diaz, Duke: It wasn’t the top story from Saturday, but Duke’s 23-17 win over Wake Forest might have been the most shocking. Quarterback Maalik Murphy’s last-ditch effort to avoid overtime found Jordan Moore for a 39-yard, buzzer-beating touchdown. The Blue Devils finished the regular season at 9-3, their best finish in 10 years. Diaz can earn his first 10-win season as a head coach in Duke’s bowl game.
Sherrone Moore, Michigan: Moore’s Wolverines delivered the upset of the weekend – and arguably the season – toppling Ohio State 13-10 on the road. Moore’s defense held the uber-talented Buckeye offense to 252 total yards and forced two turnovers. Running back Kalel Mullings led the Michigan attack with 116 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. Moore has certainly earned his signature win in Year One, but looks to add win number eight in bowl season.
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.