In college football, getting meaningful playing time as a freshman is a challenging task; exceeding expectations in that first season is an even greater challenge. However, young up-and-comers make significant contributions to their teams every year at an early stage of their careers. With three complete seasons under their belts, the class of 2021’s freshman standouts is now eligible for the draft. Many of them will forgo their remaining eligibility and pursue professional careers.

At the conclusion of the 2021 season, quarterback Caleb Williams, running back TreVeyon Henderson, tight end Brock Bowers, linebacker Dallas Turner, and many more were among the most well-known names to make the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team.

However, not all of the top freshmen performers continued their upward trajectory. Over the ensuing years, some struggled with injuries, while the development and output of others stalled. It’s not an exact science to predict which path a player will take.

After just one half season at Oklahoma, Williams became one of the most well-known players in college football and went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. Williams broke multiple school records in his first season in Los Angeles after following head coach Lincoln Riley to USC as the top-ranked transfer in the country. He went on to be selected as the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. Despite the Trojans’ disappointing 7-5 record this fall, Williams was by no means at fault and is still on track to be the first quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, if not the first player selected overall.