Four True Freshman That Could Have Impact In 2018

Thanks to a new NCAA rule, there could be an unprecedented number of true freshman to see the field this season in college football.  Here are four Texas Tech true freshman that could have a significant impact in 2018.

One of the biggest developments of the college football summer is a change to the redshirt process. Beginning in 2018, players may now appear in up to four games in a season and still retain their ability to redshirt.

This news will give college football coaches across the nation flexibility like never before.  Coaches will be able to evaluate true freshman in real games before determining whether those players are ready to contribute in significant roles.  (Of course, they do so at the risk of putting freshmen in positions to impact the outcomes of important games.)

Also, coaches will now have to strategize how to best deploy their freshmen throughout the schedule.  For instance, some coaches may use them during the first four games of the season before conference races are determined.  While others may pick the four most winnable games on the schedule to give their freshman some snaps.

Still others may wait until the stretch run during the season.  Letting freshmen develop for several months in the weight room while learning the scheme in meeting rooms and on the practice field could be wise as coaches would then have fresh reinforcements to add to a roster that has been through eight or nine weeks of the season.

But however the coaches decide to utilize this new rule for their teams, there is no doubt that the role of freshmen in college football is about to expand more significantly than at any time since 1972 when freshmen were first allowed to compete at the Division I level for the first time.

The 2018 Texas Tech signing class was unique in that of the 18 players signed, only one, LB Xavier Benson, was a high school defensive player.  That makes sense because the Red Raiders return ten of eleven starters on the defensive side of the ball and 19 of 22 players in the 2017 defensive two-deep rotation.

But while the Red Raider defense appears to be solid, the offense is looking to replace as many as five starters meaning that some true freshmen will have an opportunity to play huge roles on Texas Tech’s marquee side of the ball right away.  One of those players is certain to be QB Alan Bowman who is fighting for the starting spot.

But even if Bowman does not win the job, he will almost certainly see the field in a backup role.  Fans likely know plenty about Bowman so let’s spend our time getting to know some other interesting freshmen.

Here are four true  freshmen not named Alan Bowman who could significantly impact the Texas Tech offense this fall.