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. 

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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.