One of my favorite things about the beginning of a college football season is seeing the new toys at our disposal, whether true freshmen who play right away or redshirt freshmen. In some ways, true freshmen tend to be most exciting because they are so fresh on the scene and because the potential seems so immense for guys who can get on the field right away. I can't wait to see who among Robinson, Speights, Stewart, Smith, one of the DL guys, or a relative surprise gets right in the mix. But I also can't wait to see what we have in the redshirt freshmen group. There are always some very significant contributions even among guys who don't play right away. Here is my stab at the top redshirt freshmen each year in the Harbaugh/Shaw era:
2009: Andrew Luck, David DeCastro, and Moose Martin all made honorable mention all conference.
2010: Zach Ertz had 190 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns, Usua Amanam had about 150 yards of offense and was our primary kick returner for much of the season
2011: David Yankey (he played as a true freshman and redshirt freshman due to injury), Cameron Fleming, and Jordan Williamson all made honorable mention all conference.
2012: Kevin Hogan made honorable mention all conference.
2013: Michael Rector had 431 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns, Johnny Caspers played as a jumbo package OL
2014: Austin Hooper made second team all conference
2015: Solomon Thomas made honorable mention all conference
2016: ?
Who's next? At the risk of going out on a limb and looking stupid at the end of the year, I'm calling an all conference year for Dylan Jackson.
2009: Andrew Luck, David DeCastro, and Moose Martin all made honorable mention all conference.
2010: Zach Ertz had 190 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns, Usua Amanam had about 150 yards of offense and was our primary kick returner for much of the season
2011: David Yankey (he played as a true freshman and redshirt freshman due to injury), Cameron Fleming, and Jordan Williamson all made honorable mention all conference.
2012: Kevin Hogan made honorable mention all conference.
2013: Michael Rector had 431 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns, Johnny Caspers played as a jumbo package OL
2014: Austin Hooper made second team all conference
2015: Solomon Thomas made honorable mention all conference
2016: ?
Who's next? At the risk of going out on a limb and looking stupid at the end of the year, I'm calling an all conference year for Dylan Jackson.
