DALLAS (FWAA) – Two of the true freshman starters in Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game and eight players who were members of this year’s playoff field are among the 32-man list on the 2024 Freshman All-America Team presented by Chris Doering Mortgage and awarded by the Football Writers Association of America. Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, an electric wide receiver and big-play producer who has helped the Buckeyes’ surge into the national title game, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, one of the FBS’s top pass defenders and a national stats leader among freshmen, highlight the team of this year’s top first-year players.
The FWAA Freshman All-America Team, named since 2001, is an annual postseason list of the top players competing in their first seasons with their programs as true freshmen or redshirt freshmen. The FWAA will name its Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Freshman Players of the Year tomorrow along with its First-Year Coach of the Year Award to a head coach finishing his first season with his new program.
Moore, a 6-2, 190-pound true freshman cornerback from Round Rock, Texas, helped the Irish make up for the loss of injured star cornerback Benjamin Morrison. Moore has nine starts this season, including all three Irish playoff wins, and leads Notre Dame and is fifth among FBS freshmen with 10 passes defended. He also has two forced fumbles, two interceptions, two tackles for loss and is seventh on team with 43 tackles. Moore is Notre Dame’s fifth Freshman All-American in the last six seasons.
Moore is one of three finalists for the Defensive Freshman Player of the Year along with Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons and West Virginia linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Smith entered Ohio State with plenty of notice as the nation’s top recruit heading into the 2024 season. He has fulfilled the expectations and more by leading the Buckeyes with 1,224 receiving yards (currently seventh in the FBS) with 14 touchdowns (tied for third) in 14 games. The 6-3, 215-pound true freshman from Miami Gardens, Fla., had a knack for the big play averaging 17.5 yards per catch.
Smith is one of three finalists for the Offensive Freshman Player of the Year along with South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and Baylor running back Bryson Washington.
Clemson led the Freshman All-America Team with four players represented, followed by three at South Carolina. All others had one each among the 27 total programs from all 10 FBS conferences and one independent program. The Southeastern Conference led the way with nine players with the Atlantic Coast Conference just behind with eight. Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser is one three finalists for Special Teams Freshman of the Year along with Iowa punter Rhys Dakin and UAB punt returner Kam Shanks.
The SEC owns both quarterbacks in Sellers and Florida’s DJ Lagway. Sellers was named to the third-team All-SEC squad and was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes (172-for-265) for 2,274 yards and 17 touchdowns and added 155 carries for 655 yards and seven scores. Lagway was the fourth Gators true freshman quarterback to start a bowl game and improved to 6-1 as a starter in Florida 33-8 win over Tulane. He threw for 300-plus yards twice while leading Florida to a four-game win streak to end the season.
Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown leads the four Tigers players on the team. Brown, a true freshman, logged eight or more tackles in five games this season and is the first Clemson rookie to log 50 or more tackles and 10.0 or more tackles-for-loss in a season since Dexter Lawrence in 2016. He was named the 2024 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Also from Clemson was wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., cornerback Ashton Hampton and kicker Nolan Hauser, who will stay in Clemson lore after kicking a 56-yard field goal as time expired to win the ACC Championship Game over SMU, 34-31.
Washington, the Baylor running back, had a breakout season with 1,004 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the Bears’ first freshman running back to top the 1,000-yard mark bolstered by six games over the 100-yard mark. ULM’s Ahmad Hardy was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year after rushing for 1,351 yards (12th in the FBS) and averaging 5.7 yards per carry. His season-high of 206 yards came against SBC champion Marshall. He was ULM’s first FWAA Freshman All-American but has since transferred to Missouri.
Other freshman standouts at the skill positions include Issac Brown as the All-Purpose player. The ACC’s Rookie of the Year led the nation among freshmen in yards per rush (7.31) in the regular season and was second in all-purpose yards per game (119.00) and rushing yards (1,074). He’s Louisville’s first freshman to top 1,000 rushing yards and 10 or more rushing touchdowns in a season. He is Louisville’s first member of this team since 2019 – it’s last on special teams came in 2002. Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams gives the Crimson Tide a member of this team for a seventh consecutive season. His 75-yard spinning catch that beat Georgia back in September was the highlight of an 857-yard season. Ohio tight end Mason Williams is the Bobcats’ first Freshman All-American in five seasons and its first-ever on offense.
Along the offensive line was Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton. The 6-5, 285-pound true freshman was a key force protecting electric quarterback Shedeur Sanders allowing only two sacks and 23 pressures in 578 pass-blocking snaps. He is only Colorado’s fifth FWAA Freshman All-American and the Buffaloes’ first on offense. South Carolina offensive tackle Josiah Thompson was a key in protecting Sellers in one of FBS’ top offenses. Tyler Mercer of North Texas is the Mean Green’s first mention on this team in 20 seasons and its third all-time. Aidan Banfield is North Carolina’s first offensive lineman to make this list, Elijah Paige is USC’s first offensive lineman on this list since 2014 and Tyson Ruffins of Nevada is the Mountain West Conference’s lone member and Nevada’s third-ever.
The SEC dominated the defensive line with all four selections. South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart bolstered one of college football’s elite pass rushes. Stewart, a true freshman, posted 48 QB pressures to more than double the second-best total among freshmen, according to PFF. Playing opposite of Kyle Kennard, the FWAA’s Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as the nation’s best defensive player, Stewart posted 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Simmons, Texas' edge rusher, was a beast in the SEC as well. The true freshman led all freshmen with 13.0 TFL’s, 8.0 sacks and 31 QB pressures. Oklahoma’s Jayden Jackson was the first true freshman to start on Oklahoma’s defensive line since Tommie Harris in 2001. Jamarious Brown from Ole Miss is the Rebels’ fourth player to make this team.
Joining Brown in the linebacking corps is Oregon State linebacker Isaiah Chisom, who started 11 games for the Beavers and represents the Pac-12. He recorded 75 tackles and gives the Beavers their first member of this team since 2019. West Virginia’s Trotter was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year after leading all FBS freshmen with 92 tackles in 11 starts. Trotter has since transferred to Missouri.
Minnesota safety Koi Perich is Minnesota’s first member on this team since 2013 and its first in the secondary. Perich led FBS freshmen in interceptions (five) and was sixth on the team with 42 tackles despite starting only one game. Georgia has now had a member on this team in nine consecutive seasons with safety KJ Bolden and its sixth Freshman All-American of the last three seasons. Safety Zechariah Poyser is Jax State’s first-ever member to this team and gives JSU two members on the FWAA All-America teams, joining second-team All-American Clay Webb off the second-year FBS program. Cornerback OJ Frederick of Miami, its third member in the last two seasons, rounds out the defense.
Dakin, Iowa's punter, is the Hawkeyes’ first member of this team since 2021. Half of Dakin’s 60 punts were downed inside the 20-yard line and only eight were returned at all. Another Australian at Iowa, Tory Taylor, earned a place on this team in 2020. Shanks, UAB's dynamic momentum-swinging punt returner, is UAB’s second all-time member. Florida State kick returner Samuel Singleton is the Seminoles’ first Freshman All-American since 2016 and its first on special teams since 2009.
Texas led the list of hometown states where the awardees were recruited from with six honorees, followed by Florida with five. Together they make up just over one-third of the team. Georgia and South Carolina had three each among the hometown states’ leaders.
Following is the complete 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team:
OFFENSE (14)
QB DJ Lagway, Florida (6-3, 239, Fr., Willis, Texas)
QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (6-3, 242, R-Fr., Florence, S.C.)
RB Ahmad Hardy, ULM (5-10, 205, Fr., Monticello, Miss.)
RB Bryson Washington, Baylor (6-0, 203, R-Fr., Franklin, Texas)
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (6-3, 215, Fr., Miami Gardens, Fla.)
WR Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (6-2, 180, Fr., Midlothian, Texas)
WR Ryan Williams, Alabama (6-0, 175, Fr., Mobile, Ala.)
TE Mason Williams, Ohio (6-5, 257, R-Fr., Mogadore, Ohio)
OL Aidan Banfield, North Carolina (6-3, 300, Fr., Buford, Ga.)
OL Tyler Mercer, North Texas (6-4, 290, Fr., Prosper, Texas)
OL Elijah Paige, USC (6-7, 320, R-Fr., Phoenix, Ariz.)
OL Tyson Ruffins, Nevada (6-2, 291, R-Fr., Carson, Calif.)
OL Jordan Seaton, Colorado (6-5, 285, Fr., Washington, D.C.)
OL Josiah Thompson, South Carolina (6-7, 300, Fr., Dillon, S.C.)
DEFENSE (13)
DL Jamarioius Brown, Ole Miss (6-1, 315, R-Fr., Moss Point, Miss.)
DL Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma (6-2, 312, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
DL Colin Simmons, Texas (6-3, 245, Fr., Duncanville, Texas)
DL Dylan Stewart, South Carolina (6-6, 248, Fr., Washington, D.C.)
LB Sammy Brown, Clemson (6-2, 235, Fr., Commerce, Ga.)
LB Isaiah Chisom, Oregon State (6-0, 218, R-Fr., Santa Clarita, Calif.)
LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia (6-2, 242, R-Fr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
CB OJ Frederique Jr., Miami (6-0, 180, Fr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson (6-2, 200, Fr., Tallahassee, Fla.)
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame (6-2, 191, Fr., Round Rock, Texas)
S KJ Bolden, Georgia (6-0, 185, Fr., Buford, Ga.)
S Koi Perich, Minnesota (6-1, 200, Fr., Esko, Minn.)
S Zechariah Poyser, Jax State (6-2, 190, R-Fr., Wildwood, Fla.)
SPECIALISTS (5)
K Nolan Hauser, Clemson (6-1, 190, Fr., Cornelius, N.C.)
P Rhys Dakin, Iowa (6-0, 222, Fr., Melbourne, Australia)
KR Samuel Singleton Jr., Florida State (5-11, 195, R-Fr., Charleston, S.C.)
PR Kam Shanks, UAB (5-8, 180, R-Fr., Prattville, Ala.)
AP Isaac Brown, Louisville (5-9, 190, Fr., Homestead, Fla.)
By conference: SEC 9, ACC 8, Big Ten 4, Big 12 3, American Athletic 2, Conference USA 1, Independents 1, Mid-American 1, Mountain West 1, Pac-12 1, Sun Belt 1.
Chris Doering Mortgage, based in Gainesville, Fla., was established in April 2007 as a residential lending company providing mortgage products including conventional, FHA, USDA, and VA loans. The branch is a division of MortgageAdvisors.com – 3940 NW 16th Blvd., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32605 – NMLS 70168/1937321. FHA Lender ID 2631500094. For more information, visit ChrisDoeringMortgage.com. College football analyst Chris Doering, a former wide receiver for Coach Spurrier both in college and the NFL, serves as the branch manager.
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.
Related link:
All-Time FWAA Freshman All-America Teams