College football's next big stars? 10 freshmen who could make instant impact in 2026
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College football rosters have taken a hit in the depth department during the transfer portal era, allowing true freshmen to earn playing time earlier at even some of the biggest programs.
A pair of five-star true freshmen quarterbacks are competing for starting jobs at Vanderbilt and Tennessee, headlining our list of potential early impact players in 2026. Heralded Miami offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell leads the list, after becoming the first offensive lineman to win Gatorade National Football Player of the Year in high school.
While five-star prospects take up most of the list, a few high-end four-star recruits are already impressing in fall camp and could push for big roles, like at Alabama and USC.
Here’s a look at 10 potential early impact true freshmen heading into the 2026 season:
Jackson Cantwell, Miami
Cantwell is one of the most-gifted offensive tackle recruits in years, and is expected to start for the Hurricanes, a national championship contender this season.
Cantwell stands 6-8, 330 pounds, which makes sense given his parents’ athletic backgrounds. His dad, Christian Cantwell, won the silver medal in shot put at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. His mom, Teri Cantwell, competed in shot put at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and was a multi-time NCAA champion at SMU.
Cantwell was the No. 2-ranked prospect and No. 1 offensive tackle nationally, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings of the 2026 class. His Peak Power output was already registered at 9,461 watts in 2026 — the highest of any player on the Hurricanes’ roster — even more than imposing first-round pick Francis Mauigoa from Miami’s 2025 roster, per The Athletic.
Faizon Brandon, Tennessee
Brandon is still competing with redshirt freshman George MacIntyre for Tennessee’s starting quarterback job, although it’ll be hard to keep the talented true freshman off the field in some capacity.
Brandon is listed at 6-4, 225 pounds, and was the No. 10-ranked prospect and No. 3 quarterback recruit in 2026, per 247Sports’ Composite. He finished high school with a 35-1 record, including back-to-back state titles at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, N.C.
Brandon has tremendous upside among freshmen signal-callers.
Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt
Another former five-star recruit quarterback, Curtis is the highest-rated prospect in Vanderbilt history.
Curtis is competing with veteran Blaze Berlowitz for the starting gig, although Curtis has been tabbed as the favorite for months. Curtis was the No. 4-ranked prospect and No. 2 quarterback in 2026, per 247Sports’ Composite.
The Commodores appear to be putting a lot of expectations on the Nashville native. We’ll see if the talented passer is ready for the SEC.
Cederian Morgan, Alabama
Morgan has a path to starting for Alabama in what should be one of the better receiver corps in college football.
Morgan, who’s competing for the Crimson Tide’s No. 3 receiver spot behind Ryan Coleman-Williams and NC State transfer Noah Rogers, has been impressing Alabama in spring practices and fall camp.
Morgan caught a 22-yard touchdown from potential starting quarterback Keelon Russell in Alabama’s spring game, and has a ready-to-play 6-4, 222-pound frame. Morgan’s size could play nicely next to Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks, who also both played meaningful roles as true freshmen.
“He can catch the ball better than anybody I have ever seen,” Brooks told reporters recently. “… He is definitely going to play.”
The Alexander City, Alabama, native was the No. 44-ranked prospect and No. 5 overall receiver in 2026, per 247Sports’ Composite.
Chris Henry Jr., Ohio State
Henry Jr. could be the latest star-studded receiver to come through Ohio State, which has become a pipeline for first-round NFL draft receivers.
The son of late NFL receiver Chris Henry Sr., Henry Jr. could earn a path to playing time behind projected starters Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. He boasts big size — 6-5, 211 pounds — and skill, tabbed as the No. 14 overall prospect and No. 2 receiver of the 2026 class.
Henry Jr. also showed off some of his explosiveness in a recent social media video of his plyometric workout. He’s Big Ten ready.
I broke my knee in three places watching Chris Henry Jr. doing this workout smh. What a beast pic.twitter.com/Iy3wToqZtf
— Mekka Don (@MekkaDonMusic) August 7, 2026
Mark Bowman, USC
USC lost its leading receivers at tight end from last season in Lake McRee and Walker Lyons, opening the door for Bowman, a blue-chip true freshman.
Bowman appears poised for the starting job in a friendly offense led by offensive wunderkind Lincoln Riley and returning quarterback Jayden Maiava, one of the best passers in college football from 2025. Bowman has the pedigree, ranking No. 30 overall and No. 2 among all tight ends in the 2026 class, per 247Sports’ Composite.
Savion Hiter, Michigan
Hiter, a five-star recruit, is looking to be a change-of-pace option behind returning starter Jordan Marshall, a breakout running back last season.
Hiter is one of the most well-rounded running backs of the 2026 class, tabbed as the No. 12 player and No. 1 running back, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings. The Mineral, Virginia native is listed at 6 feet and 210 pounds, averaging nearly 14 yards per carry as a high school senior.
It’d be a surprise if Hiter didn’t carve out a role at Michigan under first-year coach Kyle Whittingham.
Deuce Geralds, LSU
Geralds is already favored to earn a starting role on LSU’s defensive line as a true freshman in Lane Kiffin’s first season as coach.
The four-star recruit ranked as the No. 4 defensive lineman of the 2026 class is impressing for a Tigers defense led by returning defensive coordinator Blake Baker, reportedly earning first-team reps in fall camp.
The Collins Hill, Georgia native opted to stay committed at LSU despite Brian Kelly being fired midseason, and it’s looking like the move is working out for the true freshman.
Kaiden Prothro, Georgia
Prothro was the No. 39-ranked recruit and No. 4 tight end of the 2026 recruiting class, although the 6-6 true freshman has already lined up at receiver for Georgia in the spring game.Prothro has an elite catch radius, and could line up out wide more often earlier in his career while his 230-pound frame develops. He caught 24 touchdowns as a senior and holds the Georgia state record with 61 career touchdown receptions.There isn’t an obvious spot for Prothro in 2026, but Georgia potentially lacks a go-to receiving option and he could be a threat in red-zone situations this season.
John Meredith III, Texas
Meredith III reclassified from the 2027 class to 2026 during the summer, and should be a senior in high school right now. Instead, he’s competing for a rotational spot in Texas’ defense.
Meredith III was the No. 2-ranked prospect of the 2027 class before reclassifying and turning into the No. 20-ranked prospect and No. 2 cornerback of the 2026 class. He missed all of spring practices, but why would he reclassify without a chance to play this season?
The Fort Worth, Texas native is listed at 6-2, 185 pounds, and his pure talent could be enough to get him on the field this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football's next big stars? 10 freshmen who could make instant impact in 2026
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