True Freshmen Mountain 2020: October 28 Update
The True Freshmen Mountain is our way of tracking the impact college football’s newcomers are having. It’s like the game, King of the Mountain, the player on the top is King, and everyone else is doing their best to knock him off the peak. We will update the list every week adding in the performances from that week. The mountain is based on a players performance for the season. We are judging players based on their production, the level of competition they performed against and the eye test. To see last week’s true freshmen mountain click here.
King Of The Mountain
Myles Murphy – Clemson
Season Stats: 24 tackles 7.5 TFL 3.5 Sacks 2 fumble forced
Clemson pulled away from a feisty Syracuse team and Murphy made an impact again. While it wasn’t his best game the blossoming star made 3 tackles while being credited with 0.5 a tackle for loss on a sack. Murphy has had better games statistically but was still excellent up front for the Tigers. Holding his own at the point of attack against the run and contributing as a pass rusher.
Top Challengers
Deuce Vaughn – Kansas State
Stats: 61 car 309 yds 4 TD / 13 rec 360 yds 1 TD
The Wildcats crushed Kansas this weekend and Vaughn was an all purpose weapon on offense again. The star running back, who recently moved up in the running back rankings, got 11 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 4 passes for another 81 yards. Vaughn has been able to make big plays weekly as a runner, receiver or both. Kansas State will continue to lean on the young star as they enter a tough stretch of the schedule.
Stats: 74 car 432 yds 3 TD / 11 rec 84 yds / 13 KR 306 yds
Tank went over 100 yards rushing for the third game in a row against Mississippi. He carried the ball 24 times for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 35 – 28 win for the Tigers. Bigsby continues to serve as the teams primary kickoff returner and returned 3 kickoffs for another 75 yards. He continues to see his role in the offense grow as the season moves forward, the true freshman is quickly becoming a star at Auburn.
Closing In On The Top Group
Eli Ricks – LSU
Stats: 10 tak 2 PBU 3 Int 1 TD
LSU got a much needed win and played much better as a team against South Carolina. Ricks did his part making 3 tackles with 0.5 a tackle for loss and an interception. Ricks returned the interception 45 yards for a touchdown. He was sound in coverage like we have come to expect from him and continues to impress as a true freshman.
Jordan Addison – Pittsburgh
Stats: 41 rec 484 yds 3 TD / 5 Car 43 yds / 2 PR 15 yds / 2 KR 39 yds
The Panther’s were without their starting quarterback again against Notre Dame and Addison was not able to make the impact he normally does. He made 3 catches for 40 yards, but was not able to have a larger impact as the game got out of hand. Addison has been the go-to receiver for the Panthers as a true freshman.
Malachi Moore – Alabama
Stats: 20 Tak 2 TFL 4 PBU 2 Int 1 FF 1 FR 1 TD
Moore continued to make plays in the secondary in Alabama’s win over Tennesssee. He only made 2 tackles but one of them was tackle for a loss, he also accounted for a pass defended, fumble forced and a fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown. Moore has been a playmaker every week for Alabama and shows no sign of slowing down.
On The Slope
Stats: 69 car 308 yds 2 TD / 15 rec 206 yds 3 TD / 8 kr 205 yds
Gibbs struggled running the ball against Boston College. He only had 8 carries for 9 yards but did add in 4 catches for 37 yards and 3 kickoff returns for 68 yards. Even when Gibbs does not have his best game, he finds ways to make an impact for his team. Don’t expect the struggles to last too long for the young star.
Marvin Mims – Oklahoma
Stats: 19 catches 328 yds 6 TD / 8 pr 143 yds
Mims is back on his way up the list after a big game Saturday when he caught 4 passes for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was also effective as a punt returner gaining 42 yards and 2 returns. Mims leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns this season.
BJ Ojulari – LSU
Stats: 9 Tak 5 TFL 4 Sacks 1 FF
Ojulari is becoming a more prominent pass rusher for LSU as he gains experience. He has now recorded a tackle for loss in three straight games, with three sacks in the big win against South Carolina this weekend. Ojulari’s speed and quickness allow him to be a dangerous pass rusher, even as a true freshman in the SEC.
Near The Base
Offense
Chris Tyree (RB) – Notre Dame: 35 car 217 yds 2 TD / 2 rec 15 yds / 9 KR 197 yds
Shane Illingworth (QB) – Oklahoma State: 36/49 483 yds 3 TD 1 Int / 10 car -12 yds
Arik Gilbert (TE) – LSU: 16 catches 204 yards 2 TD
Seth McGowan (RB) – Oklahoma: 45 car 222 yds 2 TD / 5 rec 122 yds 1 TD
Lavell Davis Jr – Virginia: 9 rec 210 yds 3 TD
Michael Mayer (TE) – Notre Dame: 12 catches 153 yards 2 TD
Jaylan Knighton (RB) – Miami: 38 car 158 yds 1 TD / 11 rec 135 yds 1 TD
Quentin Johnson (WR) – TCU: 9 catches 160 yards 1 TD
Don Chaney (RB) – Miami: 38 carries 166 yards 3 TD / 2 rec 12 yards
Will Howard (QB) – Kansas State: 33/56 557 yards 3 TD 1 INT / 25 carries 116 yards 1 TD
Defense
Akheem Mesidor (DE) – West Virginia: 17 Tak 4.5 TFL 4 Sacks
Rob Hanna (S) – Syracuse: 29 Tak 1 TFL 1 Int
Jordan Burch (DT) – South Carolina: 15 Tak 2.5 TFL 1 FR
Bryan Bresee (DT) – Clemson: 9 Tak 2 TFL 2 Sacks 2 PBU 1 FF 1 Blk
Stefon Thompson (LB) – Syracuse: 19 Tak 1.5 TFL 1 Sack 1 FF
Alfred Collins (DT) – Texas: 8 Tak 1.5 TFL 1 Sack 1 PBU
Jalen Carter (DT) – Georgia: 5 Tak 1 TFL 1 QBH
Gervon Dexter (DT) – Florida: 4 Tak 1 TFL 1 Int
Dayon Hayes (DE) – Pittsburgh: 3 Tak 2.5 TFL 2.5 Sack 1 FF
DeMonte Capehart (DT) – Clemson: 3 Tak 2 TFL 1 Sack
Clarence Lewis (CB) – Notre Dame: 7 Tak 1 TFL 3 PBU
The true freshmen mountain has seen some new players emerge and the battle at the top between Murphy, Vaughn and Bigsby is tight. It may take a week or two for some the players who just started their season to work their way onto the mountain but they should be coming soon. We will update the true freshman mountain weekly to update the rankings as the season moves forward.
For our recap of the past weekend in college football click here.
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