Utah five-star OT Kelvin Obot named Big 12’s No. 1 impact freshmen

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Every year in college football there seems to be a true freshman that sticks out above the rest. Whether that was Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin picking up a huge victory over Texas or Malachi Toney being the difference maker in Miami's national championship run. The examples are becoming more frequent. 

So who's ready to be the best newcomer in the 2026 season? Because of the NIL era, the chances a freshman will play an expanded role or even start at a key position have skyrocketed. Remember college football wasn't always like that. There was a time when underclassmen rarely played. And starting wasn't considered unless there were injuries. That meant burning a possible redshirt to see action in a game. 

Times have evolved, and the game has become more accepting of players being instant contributors. If a player is a generational talent, he won't last long due to NFL dreams. Three years and out in most cases around the country. One freshman who is expected to shine in the Big 12 this season is Utah Utes offensive lineman Kelvin Obot. He was named as the No. 1 freshman to make an impact in the conference, according to ESPN. 

After losing the entire starting five in the trenches, Obot will be in the rotation for the Utes and could be relied upon heavily. Utah had two offensive linemen taken in the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft. Without Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, the next group of leaders needs to be established in Salt Lake City.  

With Morgan Scalley in as head coach, there are some gems on his staff. Utes offensive line coach Jordan Gross is one of them and will be key to Obot's development. The former NFL All-Pro will be able to take the former five-star talent into the next phase of his career. There aren't many former players who have reached the same heights as Gross and gone into coaching. 

Obot has all the skills to be great. At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, the Idaho Player of the Year played in the trenches as a two-way star last season for Fruitland. He was on an offense that averaged 42.2 points and 448.4 yards per game. Obot also racked up 75 tackles (27 TFL) and 8.5 sacks. Being able to fully understand the positions on the other side of the line will be helpful for him at Utah. He's a blue-chip talent who will be a force for many years to come. 

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