The college football offseason leaves fans with plenty of questions about the upcoming season. One of the biggest concerns is the incoming freshman class and which players are ready to step into starting positions. Some of the biggest programs including the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide will lose top skills players to the NFL Draft. For the National Champion Tigers, Joe Burrow is headed to the NFL and a new signal-caller is needed. Could it be a freshman quarterback who steps in and takes the reins? LSU football fans are already looking toward next season and defending the National Championship. Fans can use the Bet9ja mobile app to get bet bonuses and tips before wagering on the Tigers when the season kicks off.
Which college football freshmen are ready to step into starting positions?
It is obvious that there are a handful of freshmen around the country who are ready to step into starting positions. Can they lead their teams to the College Football Playoffs in 2020?
Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama
Alabama has seen another great quarterback leave campus for the NFL this offseason. Tua Tagovailoa will be a top pick in the NFL Draft but his departure leaves a void at the position in Tuscaloosa. Enter Bryce Young, a five-star freshman recruit, who has all the tools to wrestle away the starting job from potential starter Mac Jones. Although Jones deputized for Tagovailoa last season when the starter was injured, Young’s skillset could see him usurp Jones in the race to be No. 1. Spring practice will see the two go toe to toe for the starting quarterback position.
Elias Ricks, cornerback, LSU
LSU has become one of the top schools around the country when it comes to developing NFL ready cornerbacks. Elias Ricks could be the next great shut-down cornerback produced in Baton Rogue. The 6ft 2in cornerback is likely to snatch one of the starting positions for the Tigers. The opposite side will be manned by returning player Derek Stingley. The Tigers’ defense is likely to be better next season with Ricks manning the flanks and that is a scary thought.
Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett has been hyped to the hilt this offseason. The Maryland freshman has a lot to live up but could come good in 2020. Jarrett should improve Maryland’s woeful pass offense from last season. The Terps were 114th in passing in 2019 and Jarrett goes into spring practice on par in terms of skills with the team’s existing wideouts Dontay Demus Jr and Jeshaun Jones.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, South Carolina
MarShawn Lloyd should have the keys to the backfield at South Carolina in 2020. South Carolina lost three senior running backs at the end of last season. Lloyd will walk onto campus in Columbia with all of the changes in the world to earn the starting position. It is the perfect scenario for a freshman and could have been part of the recruiting tools used by the Gamecocks. Lloyd was ranked as the No. 42 high school prospect and simply has two sophomore running backs in front of him on the depth chart.
