Deshaun Watson started as a freshman. So did Lamar Jackson. Dalvin Cook rushed for 1,000 yards in his first season.
Which incoming ACC freshmen will make major contributions for their team in 2017? The ACC blog picks the recruit most likely to make the biggest impact for each team.
Team: Louisville
Recruits: Caleb Chandler, Mekhi Becton, Cole Bentley
Stars: Four for Becton; three for Chandler and Bentley
Why they will make an impact: We generally list one player per school, but the situation on the offensive line at Louisville is so dire, the expectation is for there to be major impacts from multiple freshmen offensive linemen this season. Something has to change after the way Louisville ended the season, allowing 11 sacks to Houston and then eight to LSU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. Guard is the area where help is needed most. Both starters are gone, and only Kenny Thomas returns with playing experience. Chandler is already on campus and expected to compete in the spring for playing time. Becton capped the class on signing day, choosing Louisville over Virginia Tech.
Coach’s quote: "We loaded up pretty well,” coach Bobby Petrino said. "We've got one guy on campus right now in Cole Bentley. He's very athletic. He played tight end throughout his high school career, a 300-pound tight end that they never threw the ball to, so that's why we consider him an offensive lineman. He's on campus right now and I've been able to watch him do some quickness and agility drills and lift. He'll go out there this spring and compete for playing time.
"I really feel good about the young freshmen that we've got coming in. Caleb Chandler is a guy we feel can compete as a guard and center, very athletic, very smart, knows the game of football and two big, tall tackles we feel like will do a great job for us ... (Becton's) big, he's athletic Coach [Mike] Summers and Coach [Lonnie] Galloway got to watch him play basketball. He runs down the court, does a reverse slam so to be able to be that athletic at that size says a lot."