The last few years I have put out daily blogs that listed all the True Freshmen at each position and given you an idea of how many actually played in their first year on campus. I will go thru each position and show you how many have played the last three years, so you know what to expect out of this year’s true frosh class.
Here is a look at the top 50 WR’s that were signed over the last 7 years. Now 2020 was an odd year as with no spring practice, the true frosh WR’s could not benefit from being in early for the spring. With some conferences cancelling their seasons and then starting them up again that put them even further behind. Now in 2020 technically every WR redshirted as 2020 did not count against their eligibility so coaches were more likely to play them.
Here is a look at the Top 50 rated True Frosh WR from 2020 and how many played.
Todd Drop in 2020 CHART
My original thought was that Wide Receivers do have to learn route concepts and be in tune with the QB so they may have a little less play as true frosh than the RB’s. The top WR in 2020 was Kayshon Boutte of LSU who had 735 receiving yards and five TD’s. Quentin Johnston of TCU was second with 487 yards and an impressive 22.1 ypc. Jermaine Burton of Georgia was #3 with 404 yards receiving (15.0). Only 22 WR’s had more than five receptions and overall 32 WR’s had at least one catch which was 64% or 8% below the RB’s.
Now let’s look at the 2021 True Freshmen. I know that technically all of 2020’s true frosh were still true frosh, but I will just look at the ones that were in their first year on campus. We will just look at the 2021 signing class of WR’s and how much they played.
With everyone back from Covid and unlike in 2020 if a player played more than 4 games the player would lose a year of eligibility you would think that less true frosh WR’s would play. One advantage the 2021 true frosh had was being able to be on campus for spring if they enrolled early. The uninterrupted summer probably helped the WR’s gain cohesion with their QB’s.
Here is a look at the Top 50 True Frosh WR’s from 2021 and how many played.
TODD Drop 2021 chart in here
Xaiver Worthy of Texas led the way with 981 receiving yards (15.8) and 12 TD’s. Trevonte Rucker a rare VHT signee for Jackson St was #2 with 515 and an impressive 19.8 ypg. Just like 2020, 32 of the top 50 true frosh WR’s had at least one catch last year which is 64%. Nineteen of the Top 50 had 100+ yards receiving.
In 2022 I thought that Luther Burden could be Missouri’s top WR. Kevin Coleman is a rare PS#2 to play in the SWAC and should light it up with a veteran QB. Evan Stewart was the MVP of the spring for Texas A&M and should be one of the Aggies top WR’s with Chris Marshall not far behind. I said Tetairroa McMillian could be Arizona’s top WR this year. I called for last years’ top 50 Frosh WR’s to outproduce the last two years.
TODD DROP 2022 CHART IN HERE
The top 50 true frosh WR’s did outdo the previous two years true frosh but not by a large amount. McMillan led the way with 702 (18.0). Stewart was #2 with 649 (12.2). Burden only had 375 (8,3). Barlon Brown of Kentucky was #3 with 628 (12.6) and Clemson’s Antonio Williams was #4 with 604 (10.8). Matthew Golden of Houston and Dante Key of Kentucky both topped 500 yards.
In 2023 I did not project as many true frosh WR’s to be starters and as you would expect the numbers dropped. Eugene Wilson of Florida was the top guy with 538 yards (8.8) with Rico Flores of Notre Dame #2 (392, 14.5) and Zachariah Branch of USC had 320 (10.3). The top 50 true Frosh actually had the lowest numbers in the last 4 years.
TODD DROP 2023 CHART HERE
In 2024 I projected Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State as a starter along with Micah Hudson of Texas Tech, Cam Coleman of Auburn and Bryant Wesco of Clemson. I said the group should challenge the 2022 group which combined for 6035 yards and they became the top unit with 7840 yards! Jeremiah Smith led with 1315 (17.3) with 17 year old Ryan Williams of Alabama #2 with 865 (18.0). Bryant Wesco had 708 (17.3). TJ Moore also of Clemson had 651 (14.5) and Nick Marsh of Mich St had 649 (15.8). Cam Coleman of Auburn was #6 with 598 (16.2).
TODD DROP 2024 CHART HERE
Last year I did not have as many WR’s starting as true Frosh and I forecast a decent sized drop in the numbers. Andrew Marsh of Michigan was the top guy with just 651 (14.5). Vernell Brown of Florida had 512 (12.8) and Dakorian Moore of Oregon was #3 with 497 (14.6). Oregon also had two true Frosh RB’s at the top of that blog! Donovan Olugbode was #4 with 401 (13.4).
TODD DROP 2025 CHART HERE.
Here is a look at how productive the Top 50 True Frosh WR’s have been the last 6 years.
In 2020 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 4051 yds rec, 24 td and 13.2 ypc.
In 2021 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 5849 yds rec, 96 td’s and 14.1 ypc.
In 2022 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 6035 yds rec, 53 tds and 12.7 ypc
In 2023 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 3248 yds rec, 23 tds and 12.6 ypc
In 2024 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 7840 yds rec, 59 tds and 14.5 ypc
In 2025 the top 50 true forsh WR’s combined for 4345 yds rec, 21 tds and 12.6 ypc
Here is a list of this year top 50 rue Frosh. With the new rules of the 5 year plan I expect less to redshirt and they should easily top last year’s numbers and it will be interesting to see if they can come near the 2024 group as that group had some serious star power.
This years magazine is 376 pages and the biggest and best ever. Here are the different ways you can order the magazine.
Option #1 – Pick one up at your local Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million store. When you go into a Barnes and Noble you get two different cover choices in each store! The official on sale date is July 4th but it is hitting some stores sooner. It is also available at Books-a-Million which all have the national cover. These two distributors are our exclusive vendors of the magazine, and they are not available at Walmart’s, Walgreens, Grocery Stores, other bookstores or drug stores so save your gas. The only two brick and mortar store they are available are Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million.
Option #2 – Buy the Hard copy of the magazine at philsteele.com or call 1-866-918-7711. The total cost depends on where you live and which of the four types of shipping you choose. It will cost you in the ballpark of $10 for shipping and tax. The biggest advantage of buying online is that When you buy the Hard copy you GET the DIGITAL version of the magazine ($19.99) for FREE and it is updated thru September. Your digital access begins immediately when you purchase. You also get your choice of covers (National, SEC, Midwest, Southwest, West or East Coast) as these are generally mailed out the same or next business day as the order. Order Here!
Option #3 – Buy the digital magazine. The best thing about the digital magazine is that it is updated all the way thru the month of September. If a coach gets fired (that has happened the last couple of years) we update it. If a player is injured and out for the year we CIRCLE him in the magazine. If a player is added late (very rare) we put him in. Any changes to the team from the start of June thru the month of September is updated in the digital version. When you go to the philsteele.com store you will not see a picture there, you need to click on Digital Editions and order it there. It will be activated immediately giving you instant access. Order the Digital Here!
Option #4 – Order the VIP Bundle – The price of the VIP bundle is $44.95. With the VIP bundle you get the National Cover of the magazine. All VIP’s received EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to the digital version of the magazine for one week, but that bonus is gone as the digital is now available for everyone. You receive two magazines PLUS the Digital Magazine. You also receive FOUR Free issues of my Inside the Pressbox Newsletter ($20 per issue – $80 value) which gives you my Forecast and my computers forecast on EVERY FBS game each week. You also receive access to Phil Steele Plus ($25 per month) for the months of June, July, August and September! The VIP Bundle also includes SHIPPING so it is basically just $10 more than ordering the magazine by itself! Order the Reg VIP Bundle Here!!
Option #5 – THE BEST BUY – Order the Super VIP Bundle – The price of the SUPER VIP bundle is $74.95. With the Super VIP Bundle you receive
TWO magazines INCLUDING SHIPPING ($69 value!), EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to the digital version for one week (that happened already), order shipped next business day. Use the 2nd magazine when your first one gets dogeared or sell/give it to a friend.
Digital magazine ($19.95 value) FREE – The digital magazine is updated thru September (see option 3) and you get immediate access to the digital version upon purchase.
Four Issues of my Inside the Pressbox newsletter ($80 value) which gives you my forecast and my COMPUTERs forecast on EVERY FBS games each week (including FBS vs FCS) the same bonuses that the VIP’s get. You also receive…
FCS Digital Magazine ($25) FREE – Two full pages on Every FCS team laid out the same way the pages are for the FBS magazine. There are 128 FCS teams so over 250 pages!
NFL Digital Magazine ($15) FREE – Four full pages on Every NFL team and a Fantasy Football section!
Phil Steele Plus ($99 value) ENTIRE SEASON FREE – This is a tremendous addition. If you purchase the full year access to Phil Steele Plus it is $99 but you get it included in the Super VIP Bundle Purchase the Super VIP Bundle now and get the entire year of Phil Steele Plus FREE!! Here is a link to all the great info available on Phil Steele Plus including the schedule predictor! Order the Super VIP Bundle Here!!
