Every college football season, a new batch of true freshmen burst through the door at their respective programs and excel in their first year on campus.
This season, we might see fewer true freshmen make an impact than in years past because the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility for all athletes who want to take it. That factor along with the increasing popularity of the transfer portal means there aren't as many voids on rosters as usual.
That doesn't mean there won't be opportunities or we won't see any first-year players make a splash. The 2021 recruiting class had some outstanding prospects ready to contribute to their teams this season.