Since 2018, the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been presented to the top freshman in college football. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the honor. This year, 14 players were named as semifinalists, with three coming from the Big Ten. Also leading the way are the three from the SEC and three from the ACC.
Three Big Ten Newcomers Named Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalists
Brandon Finney, CB, Oregon
Oregon’s 2025 recruiting class was one of the best in the country. According to 247Sports‘ ratings, Brandon Finney Jr. was the third-best Oregon commit in a class with two five-stars. The Ducks have gotten quite a bit of real productivity from their freshmen, led by Finney, Dakorien Moore, and Jordon Davison.
Finney has been an instant-impact player for Oregon. The freshman has recorded 15 tackles, four pass breakups, and returned his first career interception for a touchdown to tie the Indiana game in the fourth quarter.
If Pro Football Focus is your thing, Finney is the best in the Big Ten in terms of forced incompletion rate and yards allowed per coverage snap. Finney could be the first Oregon Duck to win the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Zahir Mathis, EDGE, Maryland
Maryland’s 2025 season hasn’t quite gone to plan. In addition to Zahir Mathis, the Terps have gotten a solid season from Malik Washington at quarterback, who has a compelling argument as the top true freshman quarterback in the conference. While Washington could have gotten the nod with the seven other quarterbacks, it’s Mathis who was honored.
As the third-highest-rated commit in Maryland’s 2025 class, Mathis had had about as instant an impact as any program would love from a freshman. He was one of six four-star recruits in the class and has been one of the stars of the Terps’ defense.
In seven games, Mathis has recorded 23 total tackles with six tackles for loss, four-and-a-half sacks, and one pass breakup. He missed nearly two games due to injury, so his numbers are reflective of that. Despite that, Mathis has 21 pressures on the year. Between the three Big Ten honorrees, Mathis may be the only one with a decision on the horizon if Maryland moves on from Mike Locksley. If he transfers – and we are not speculating he will even in the event of a coaching change – he would be highly sought after.
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Imagine, as a quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, your first career start had to come against the top-ranked Texas Longhorns. That was the reality for Julian Sayin, a redshirt freshman. Famously, Sayin was the top-rated quarterback of the 2024 recruiting class and pledged to Alabama. Then, after Nick Saban retired, he transferred to Ohio State. After sitting and waiting last year, he got his shot.
After passing his first test, Sayin has been as close to perfect as a quarterback could be. In eight games, Sayin has thrown for 2,199 yards and 23 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He leads the country with a ridiculous 80.7% completion percentage, and he’s on pace to break the single-season record. In two games, he threw more touchdowns than he had incompletions.
What Sayin lacks in imposing size and outward flamboyancy, he makes up for with pinpoint accuracy and a calmness under pressure. Sayin has led the Ohio State offense with an efficiency it hasn’t seen in years and could end up as the best quarterback in the Ryan Day era, which is saying something.
With four games to go, it’s very possible this isn’t the only award Sayin will be in the running for. He’s currently the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
The Rest of the Field
- Micah Alejado, QB, Hawai’i
- Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU
- CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
- Wendell Gregory, EDGE, Oklahoma State
- Mason Heintshel, QB, Pitt
- Dijon Lee Jr., CB, Alabama
- Drew Mestemaker, QB, North Texas
- Ty Redmond, CB, Tennessee
- Demetres Samuel Jr., CB, Syracuse
- Braylon Staley, WR, Tennessee
- Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (FL)
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
