On3 2026 Midseason True Freshman All-America Team

Now that we’re at the midpoint of the college football season, it’s time to take stock of how true freshmen are playing. First-year players nationwide are earning meaningful snaps, with several shaping the outcomes of College Football Playoff contenders. Many who made On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-America team have lived up to the billing and others have emerged as breakout stars in their debut seasons. Here is On3’s Midseason True Freshman All-America Team for the 2026 season to date. Players within each position group are listed in alphabetical order. OFFENSE QB Jared Curtis, VanderbiltThe highest-rated signee in program history took over as Vanderbilt’s starter in week three and helped the Commodores to a shocking victory over NC State. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect has started four games for Vanderbilt this season and has been the most productive true freshman signal caller thus far, passing for 1,242 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 144 yards and two more scores. A physically-gifted quarterback with elite arm talent and exciting playmaking ability, Curtis will be looking to cut down on turnovers (seven interceptions) as Vanderbilt continues through SEC play. RB Jonaz Walton, Notre DameJonaz Walton has the look of a budding star in Notre Dame’s backfield, as the Fighting Irish look to fill the sizable void left by first-round draft picks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The Carrollton (Ga.) Central product has had a big October with breakout games against North Carolina (120 rushing yards) and Stanford (181 rushing yards, two touchdowns). He is Notre Dame’s leading rusher with 426 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 7.5 yards per carry. The former Rivals300 prospect brings a combination of power and speed (10.60-seconds in the 100 meters) that bodes well for his long-term projection. WR Kenny Darby, KentuckyA one-time LSU commit, Kenny Darby followed offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to Kentucky following the coaching change in Baton Rouge. Darby’s flip has been a boon for the No. 12 Wildcats, as the Louisiana native has emerged as the leading receiver in Will Stein‘s first season in Lexington. A crafty receiver with an innate feel for finding space in opposing defenses, Darby has caught 34 passes for 436 yards and three touchdowns. He was a hyper-productive high-volume target at Bossier City (La.) Airline as a recruit with 218 catches for 3,449 yards and 41 touchdowns over three seasons. WR Legend Glasker, BYULegend Glasker has been a revelation early on for a surging BYU program that currently ranks No. 2 in the AP Poll. The in-state product has provided a spark of athleticism into the Cougars wide receiver room and has blossomed into Bear Bachmeier‘s top target. A smooth receiver with outstanding athleticism, Glasker is first among Power 4 true freshmen with 444 receiving yards and three touchdowns, along with a rushing score. He figures to be a key piece of BYU’s offense as the Cougars make a College Football Playoff push. WR Jesse Legree, Oregon StateJesse Legree has a case as the breakout player in all of college football to this point in the season. A one-time lightly-recruited prospect with limited varsity experience at wide receiver, Legree has exploded as a true freshman at Oregon State. The Baltimore native is in the midst of a historic first season in Corvallis, leading the nation with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Legree is not simply beating up on other Group of Six teams, as he combined for 376 yards and three touchdowns against No. 14 Houston and No. 8 Texas Tech. He’s dynamic playmaker who is moved all over the formation by first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard, showing the ability to win at every level of the field. Already high in On3’s Heisman Trophy poll, Legree should be considered the heavy favorite for True Freshman Offensive Player of the Year at this point. TE Mark Bowman, USCMark Bowman is one of several true freshman pass-catchers who have made an instant impact on Lincoln Riley‘s offense, along with Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt – both who could be True Freshman All-Americans at season’s end. A former Rivals Industry five-star prospect, Bowman is advanced as an all-around tight end, making an impact not only as a pass-catcher but a blocker, as well. He leads all true freshman tight ends with 204 receiving yards and two touchdowns despite missing the Trojans’ last two games. OL Kevin Brown, West VirginiaKevin Brown was a big recruiting win for Rich Rodriguez down the stretch of the 2026 cycle, with the long-time Penn State commit opting to sign with the Mountaineers following James Franklin‘s dismissal. Brown has played the most of any true freshman offensive lineman this season, logging 524 snaps at left tackle for West Virginia. He’s helped pave the way for a dynamic rushing attack led by quarterback Michael Hawkins. The No. 50 overall prospect in the 2026 Rivals300, Brown was known as one of the more explosive, athletic offensive linemen in the cycle. OL Darius Gray, South CarolinaDarius Gray was an instant contributor for South Carolina as the Gamecocks’ starting left tackle to begin the season, before moving to right tackle following the return of Jacarrius Peak. Gray among the top pass protectors among true freshman offensive tackles to this point in the season, surrendering eight pressures on 235 drop backs, according to Pro Football Focus. His play is made more impressive considering the fact he was a summer enrollee and was not on campus for spring practice. Gray, who ranked as the No. 51 overall prospect in the 2026 Rivals Industry Ranking looks to be a foundational piece on South Carolina’s offensive line. OL Zykie Helton, GeorgiaZykie Helton has made good on the considerable amount of preseason buzz, making a case as the top true freshman offensive lineman to this point in the season. The Carrollton, Georgia native has held down the right guard spot for No. 5 Georgia and has played at a high level. Helton has been outstanding in pass protection, surrendering just three pressures on 205 drop backs, per PFF. He’s also paired with Juan Gaston to open up some big holes on the right side of Georgia’s offensive line. Helton appears to be getting better on a weekly basis and should be a stalwart on the Bulldogs’ offensive line for years to come. OL Bott Mulitalo, BYUBott Mulitalo had a breakout game against a top defense in BYU’s win over Notre Dame. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder has seen his snap count at right tackle increase over the past month in games against Power 4 competition. He built on a strong start, playing excellent against the Fighting Irish, surrendering zero pressures on 38 pass attempts, according to Pro Football Focus. A one-time USC commit as a defensive lineman, the former four-star prospect made the full-time switch to offensive line as a senior in a move that has paid dividends. OL Wilson Zierer, AuburnWilson Zierer has been a steady presence at left guard for Auburn, logging 317 snaps through five games. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder has been solid in pass protection, allowing seven pressures in four SEC games. A native of Germany who was a was a Rivals300 prospect out of Rabun Gap (Ga.) Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, Zierer is the younger brother of former Auburn lineman and current Jacksonville Jaguar, Killian Zierer. DEFENSE EDGE Zion Elee, MarylandZion Elee has shown why he was considered to be the most athletic pass rusher in the 2026 cycle early on in his college career. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect leads all true freshman EDGEs with four sacks. Elee has taken off in the last four games, notching sacks against UCLA, Ohio State, and Rutgers. He pairs rare length with elite athleticism to create a big mismatch as a speed rusher. EDGE Luke Wafle, USCLuke Wafle ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 Rivals300 and has lived up to that lofty billing early on in his college career. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder is already one of No. 16 USC’s best defensive players, leading the Trojans with six tackles for loss along with two sacks. His 16 pressures tie with Deuce Geralds for the most among true freshmen. Wafle is also a strong run defender with the most stops (14) among true freshman EDGEs and defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. The combination of size, athleticism, and physicality should make Wafle one of college football’s best EDGE players over the coming years. DL Deuce Geralds, LSUDeuce Geralds has been one of the best true freshman defenders to this point in the season, turning in some dominant stretches for Blake Baker‘s LSU defense. Geralds’ 16 pressures and four sacks are tied for the most among all true freshman defensive front players. He was On3’s True Freshman of the Week in week four with a two sack game against Texas A&M. The 6-foot-1, 285-pounder is a cat-quick presence on the interior, using his burst to create disruption in the backfield. He leads a strong nucleus of true freshman talent along the defensive line at LSU along with Richard Anderson and Lamar Brown. DL Derek Colman-Brusa, WashingtonDerek Colman-Brusa is one of several true freshmen making an early impact on Washington’s defense along with cornerback Jeron Jones and EDGE Ramzak Fruean. The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder has been one of the most productive pass rushers among true freshman defensive linemen with 10 pressures, including a four pressure outing against Purdue last week. The Seattle (Wash.) Kennedy Catholic product was a big in-state get for Jedd Fisch and ranked as the No. 173 overall prospect in the Rivals300. LB Xavier Griffin, AlabamaXavier Griffin has been the most impactful true freshman linebacker in the Power Four to this point in the season, talking 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack along with six pressures and nine stops. Griffin earned On3 True Freshman of the Week honors earlier in the season after playing a key role in Alabama’s ability to limit Kamario Taylor in the Crimson Tide’s big win over Mississippi State. The former Rivals Industry five-star is a versatile defender who has range in space along with the ability to rush the passer. LB Jack Murray, Northern IllinoisJack Murray is one of several Group of Six linebackers who are off to a strong start as true freshmen. The 6-foot-2, 236-pounder has been a tackling machine for the Huskies, leading all true freshmen with 43 total tackles, along with 17 stops. The Brookfield (Wisc.) Brookfield East product is not just a high volume tackler – he’s very efficient, with just five missed tackles on the season, per PFF. He’s also played the most snaps of any true freshman linebacker, with 368. DB JJ Dunnigan, MiamiJJ Dunnigan has carved out a significant role in No. 1 Miami’s defensive backfield as a true freshman. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder has played 250 snaps for the Hurricanes, notching 24 tackles and an interception that went for a touchdown against Clemson. Dunnigan is a big, athletic defender with the ability to line up at multiple spots in Corey Hetherman‘s defense. The former four-star prospect was originally committed to Kansas before reopening his recruitment during his senior season and ultimately signing with Miami. DB Somad Eaddy, Wake ForestSomad Eaddy has been one of the top true freshman cornerbacks to this point in the season. The Greenville (S.C.) Riverside product has been sticky in coverage, allowing just 95 yards and zero touchdowns on 21 targets, according to PFF. Eaddy had a big game in Wake Forest’s win over Louisville, coming down with an interception in the upset. The true freshman is already a key piece in the secondary for Jake Dickert‘s No. 17 Demon Deacons. DB Mason Lewis, VanderbiltMason Lewis has been an active presence in Vanderbilt’s secondary as a true freshman. The Arizona native has tallied 34 tackles and broken up four passes while playing 301 snaps in Clark Lea‘s defense. Lewis has done a lot of his work in the slot and has proven to be a versatile defender who can make plays against the run and pass. DB Jay Timmons, Ohio StateJay Timmons has shown the ability that made him Rivals’ No. 1 cornerback in the 2026 cycle. The former five-star became the rare true freshman to start game one in the Buckeyes’ secondary. He’s been an impact player for Matt Patricia‘s defense with 16 tackles, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Timmons has also surrendered just 11 completions for 91 yards and zero touchdowns in coverage, per Pro Football Focus. He is fresh off a huge game in No. 3. Ohio State’s win over No. 6 Indiana that saw him tabbed as On3’s True Freshman of the Week. The NFL legacy is a difference-maker on Ohio State’s defense as the Buckeyes look to make another College Football Playoff run. DB Josiah Zayas, Penn StateJosiah Zayas has been a bright spot for Penn State this season. He is tied for the lead among true freshmen with two interceptions, including the pick of the year so far. In addition to the two picks, Zayas has recorded 16 tackles and a pass breakup, while allowing just 81 yards and zero touchdowns on 25 targets, per PFF. Originally an Iowa State signee, Zayas followed Matt Campbell to State College. He was a senior rankings riser, finishing as a four-star prospect inside the Rivals300.