2023 PFF College All-Freshman Team: Alabama S Caleb Downs, USC WR Zachariah Branch and more

• Caleb Downs: The Alabama safety was the only true freshman to also be named to our All-American team.

• Jaheim White: The West Virginia running back led the nation with 8.2 yards per attempt.

• Jaylen Raynor: Arkansas State’s signal-caller was the highest-graded true freshman QB in the nation.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

It’s hard to excel in college football. It’s almost impossible to do so mere months after your senior prom.

That’s exactly what these players have done this season. Here’s PFF’s 2023 All-Freshman team.

Offense

QB: Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State Red Wolves
RB: Jahiem White, West Virginia Mountaineers
WR: Kevin Concepcion, NC State Wolfpack
WR: Eugene Wilson III, Florida Gators
WR: Eric Singleton Jr., Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
TE: Benjamin Brahmer, Iowa State Cyclones
LT: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama Crimson Tide
LG: Cayden Green, Oklahoma Sooners
C: Connor Lew, Auburn Tigers
RG: Trovon Baugh, South Carolina Gamecocks
RT: Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Defense

DI: Peter Woods, Clemson Tigers
DI: Jarra Anderson, Memphis Tigers
EDGE: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL) Hurricanes
EDGE: T.J. Parker, Clemson Tigers
LB: Taurean York, Texas A&M Aggies
LB: Kam Robinson, Virginia Cavaliers
CB: D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison Dukes
CB: Malik Muhammad, Texas Longhorns
S: Caleb Downs, Alabama Crimson Tide
S: Dillon Thieneman, Purdue Boilermakers
Flex-D: Khalil Barnes, Clemson Tigers

Special Teams

K: Peyton Woodring, Georgia Bulldogs
P: Dylan Joyce, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
RS: Zachariah Branch, USC Trojans

Offensive Freshman Spotlight: RB Jahiem White, West Virginia Mountaineers

While CJ Donaldson Jr. received the lion’s share of carries in West Virginia’s backfield, White was the Mountaineers' true star at running back. The former three-star recruit only had three fewer rushing yards than Donaldson even though White registered 72 fewer attempts. In fact, the true freshman averaged 8.2 yards per attempt, the most by any back in the country with at least 95 carries. It was nearly a full yard more than the next-closest back, Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright (7.4 yards per attempt).

Defensive Freshman Spotlight: S Caleb Downs, Alabama Crimson Tide

Downs entered Alabama as the highest-rated safety recruit since Derwin James in 2018 and immediately showed why. The true freshman’s 13 coverage stops tied for fifth among Power Five safeties. He was so dominant that he was named to PFF’s first-team All-American list.