The older college football players are being outshined by the new kids

College Football frequently receives criticism for retaining collegiate athletes who arguably should be in the NFL or have completed their college careers.

For example, Cam Rising, the 25-year-old starting quarterback for the University of Utah, began his collegiate football career in 2018. In contrast, Justin Fields, who graduated high school with Rising, has already played for two NFL teams: the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How old is too old to stay in college?

Under the present set of rules, he would likely be eligible for a second medical redshirt, assuming he does not participate in more than four games. Currently, it seems unlikely he will play again this season, which could lead to him starting as Utah’s quarterback at the age of 26 if he did not choose to enter the NFL Draft.

The New Kid on the Block:  Dylan Stewart, DE, University of South Carolina

While older collegiate athletes dominate a majority of Division 1 football, it seems, for the 24-25 season, underclassmen are putting on a show for the NCAA Football scene. Despite there being over a dozen true freshmen who have exceeded expectations, there are three who rise above the rest.

The best defensive freshman in the country, and one of the best defensive linemen in all of the SEC is the former 5 star recruit from Washington, D.C, Dylan Stewart. Stewart stands at a staggering 6’6 and weighs nearly 250 pounds at 19 years old. Despite his freakish size, Stewart moves as if he is a DB who ended up on the D-Line by accident. Stewart is top 10 in sacks with 5.5 and top 3 in forced fumbles with 2 in the SEC which is known as the strongest conference in all of college football. He is an exceptional talent, and his best performance came during his first Division 1 football game against Old Dominion, where South Carolina with a score of 23-19.

Stewart’s popularity skyrocketed his debut, after. Stewarts only game without any tackles was against LSU, in which Stewart faced off against Will Campell who is widely considered to be one of, if not the best offensive tackle in the country. Stewart’s biggest cons is learning to pass rush the B gap and adapt when his first move doesn’t work, and read the patterns of his matchup, however there is no doubt this underclassman will be a top edge rusher in all of Division 1 football due to his deep bag of moves he has to get the edge on whoever is blocking him and torment the opposing backfield.

The only reason Stewart is the number 3 true freshman in college football, is because the two people ahead of him are the main offensive pieces to two of the greatest programs in Division 1 football history as teenagers.

Next up – Jeremiah Smith, WR, The Ohio State University

Smith emerged as the top player in the 2024 graduating class. He garnered more media attention than coverage on the field at Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood, Florida. Every form of sports social media was abuzz with the 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound prodigy, primarily because Smith, while still in high school, possessed the talent and capability to start for some NFL teams before reaching the legal drinking age.

Smith’s greatest asset may well be his hands, as he seems capable of catching nearly anything thrown his way. His exceptional body control and significant strength, which allow him to break tackles, certainly contribute to his effectiveness.

As a five star recruit at Ohio State, Smith was expected to make an immediate impact. Throughout the season, his confidence and skill have shone, with his impressive catching abilities reflected in his remarkable statistics.

He is tied for second in the Big Ten for receiving touchdowns with 8 and is third in receiving yards with 678 on less than 40 receptions. Smith confirmed his skill against big time opponents in Ohio State’s 32-31 loss to Oregon in Week 7. Smith racked up 9 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown against the currently number 1 ranked team in the nation.

The only minor critique of Smith’s game is his occasional discomfort in route running. At times, the promising young receiver appears slightly imprecise in his maneuvers to evade defenders, leading to some incomplete passes. However, this infrequent flaw is something that can be improved upon. In two or three years, it’s highly probable that Smith will join the ranks of Buckeye stars like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr., as Ohio State receivers selected in the first round of the draft during the 2020s. While Smith could be argued to be the best freshman in college football, there’s another receiver in the south who claims that title.

In a class by himself Ryan Williams, WR, University of Alabama

Ryan Williams arrived at Alabama following a stellar high school career at Saraland High School in Saraland, Alabama, where he captivated college scouts all wanting to land the nation’s top wide receiver prospect. At 17, he chose Alabama, and as the youngest player in major college football, he has professional scouts swarming to watch the Tide and Williams bewilder, baffle, and simply torch defenses.

Williams’ greatest strength lies in his ability to create space and separate from defenders. Another significant asset is his agility after the catch, along with his skill in evading tackles. Like many college football receivers, Williams’ main drawback is his weight, being only 175 lbs at 6 feet tall. However, his speed compensates for his slender frame. Once Williams adds more size and muscle, it’s very likely that we’ll see another Heisman Trophy winner emerge from Tuscaloosa.