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Sunday, August 26, 2007
Five freshmen who will have an impact
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An old coach used to say that the best thing about freshmen is that if they survive, they eventually become sophomores. But some freshmen can come in and make an immediate impact. Here are five from the ACC and SEC who will do exactly that when the season begins on Saturday.
1. Eric Berry, CB, Tennessee: The native of Fairburn (Creekside) could start the first game versus California. There is also the temptation to use him on offense with his own special package of plays, a la Darren McFadden at Arkansas. He’s so good that folks around the program are already starting to call him “The Truth.”
2. Chris Rainey, RB, Florida: The Gators have a lot of talented freshmen but Rainey is intriguing. He’s small (5-9, 156) but incredibly explosive. Had 15 touchdown runs of 50 yards or more as a senior at Lakeland (Fla.) High School. Florida will find a way to get the ball in his hands.
3. Willy Korn, QB, Clemson: He is the Tigers’ future, but coaches want to bring him along slowly. But, like Georgia’s Matthew Stafford in 2006, he is too talented to redshirt and coach Tommy Bowden knows that. He will get on the field and will make plays. If he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, he’ll get a chance to make even more plays.
4. Trinton Sturdivant, OL, Georgia: Conventional wisdom says that a true freshman cannot line up at left tackle in the SEC. Well, Andre Smith of Alabama proved that conventional wisdom to be wrong last season. Coaches don’t trust a freshman to play that spot unless he has a lot of talent and is mature beyond his years. Sturdivant is just such a player.
5. Marvin Austin, DL, North Carolina: If Austin wasn’t the nation’s best high school defensive lineman last season, he was certainly in the top three. And when the Tar Heels line up on Saturday against James Madison, the Washington, D.C., native will be in the starting lineup. The Tar Heels gave up 172.8 rushing yards per game last season. That will change.
