Which freshman had the best season in Penn State history?

[john4psu]

As it is not easy for a freshman to get playing time at Penn State, which freshman had the best season in Penn State football history? For the various positions.

Both D.J. Dozier and Saquon Barkley had over 1,000 yards rushing as a freshman. We saw flashes of greatness from Curt Warner as a frosh. I remember Zack Mills won a game in legendary fashion #324 and thinking we got ourselves a quarterback.

What freshmen have had an impact?

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

As it is not easy for a freshman to get playing time at Penn State, which freshman had the best season in Penn State football history? For the various positions.

Both D.J. Dozier and Saquon Barkley had over 1,000 yards rushing as a freshman. We saw flashes of greatness from Curt Warner as a frosh. I remember Zack Mills won a game in legendary fashion #324 and thinking we got ourselves a quarterback.

What freshmen have had an impact?

Derrick Williams

 

[JeffClear]

Barkley, although Dozier was good too, it was easy to see SB was special his first game.

 

[Nitt1300]

Matt Millen and Bruce Clark

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Megan Hodge.

 

[GregInPitt]

Barkley, although Dozier was good too, it was easy to see SB was special his first game.

Obviously Barkley has done some things that probably go beyond Dozier at PSU. But I will never forget the game Dozier had against Bama as a true freshman - dominated the game running around and over the Bama defense particularly in the 1st half. Barkley was pretty good against oh-high-ya in his true freshman season. Very similar.

 

[OldTiredLion]

Barkley, although Dozier was good too, it was easy to see SB was special his first game.

His first game was against Temple in Philly when he had one carry for, if memory serves me, one yard. I'll give you the second game onward however.

 

[Bob78]

Matt Millen and Bruce Clark

They certainly came onto the scene with a huge impact in '76, playing at LB. But that season wasn't a great one for PSU... 7-5 final record, bowl loss to ND.
Matt Suhey and Mike Guman, among a couple of others, were also true freshmen in '76, and that class was one of the best ever at PSU, with a good number of those guys playing as true freshmen.

Cefalo in '74 added a lot to the offense.

Before Saquon, I'd probably go with Curt Warner, who was a freshman in '79, another not-so-great season for PSU.... 8-4 with a bowl win over Tulane. But he was outstanding.

We're lucky that we have had quite a few players who have come in and contributed in a big way as freshmen.

Freshmen became eligible to play (again) in the early 70s... Was it '73? '74? I can't remember anymore. That means a lot of greatness was relegated to the Freshmen team for many years prior to that!

 

[Option Bob]

Jimmy Cefalo was a star in the Cotton Bowl as a true freshman.

Richard McKenzie letterred and had a good game vs Washington in the Bowl as a freshman, as well.

 

[JeffClear]

Obviously Barkley had done some things that probably go beyond Dozier at PSU. But I will never forget the game Dozier had against Bama as a true freshman. Barkley was pretty good against oh-high-ya in his true freshman season. Very similar.

The Pitt game that year certainly was memorable. Extremely physical and emotional game and Paterno elects to kick the FG with no time left to get the tie after the fans run on the field.

 

[Lane]

Derrick Williams

Seriously?

He wasn't even the best Freshman on his team that year. Williams had 22/289 yards receiving and 22/105 rushing with 4 TDs combined. He did add 13 kickoff returns for 274 yards. He averaged about what a touchback would have been (21.1).

Deon Butler had 37/691 and 9 TDs through the air that year.

 

[GregInPitt]

Seriously?

He wasn't even the best Freshman on his team that year. Williams had 22/289 yards receiving and 22/105 rushing with 4 TDs combined. He did add 13 kickoff returns for 274 yards. He averaged about what a touchback would have been (21.1).

Deon Butler had 37/691 and 9 TDs through the air that year.

Didn't Justin King play both ways that year as well as a true freshman?

 

[bdgan]

Megan Hodge.

I'm worried about WVB this fall. Lose several key seniors but didn't see much from freshmen to get excited about. Could be rebuilding instead of reloading.

 

[bdgan]

As it is not easy for a freshman to get playing time at Penn State, which freshman had the best season in Penn State football history? For the various positions.

Both D.J. Dozier and Saquon Barkley had over 1,000 yards rushing as a freshman. We saw flashes of greatness from Curt Warner as a frosh. I remember Zack Mills won a game in legendary fashion #324 and thinking we got ourselves a quarterback.

What freshmen have had an impact?

Micah Parsons (hopefully)

 

[GregInPitt]

I'm worried about WVB this fall. Lose several key seniors but didn't see much from freshmen to get excited about. Could be rebuilding instead of reloading.

You might be in the wrong thread. This thread was about "in Penn State history?"

 

[lionsnphils]

there was this Hackenburg kid not too long ago if memory serves me correctly

 

[PennStateTurf2002]

Micah Parsons (hopefully)

Actually if you are getting your crystal ball out, so will I but mine is saying Justin Shorter.

 

[john4psu]

Yes, this post was somewhat inspired by thinking what Parsons might do this season.

Good call on Hackenberg, 2,955 yards passing his freshman season. Blake Gillikin's freshman season saw a significant improvement in our punting game from Pasquariello and Gula.

 

[PSU_Chicago]

Gillikin has been tremendous for the football team.

 

[Delco Lion]

Hands down Hack.

 

[razpsu]

Michael Robinson made the 2002 team exciting. That night against Nebraska was awesome

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Barkley. It’s not close either.

 

[BobPSU92]

there was this Hackenburg kid not too long ago if memory serves me correctly

Hackenberg.

 

[razpsu]

Dozier brought The team back from an 0-3 start in 1983 and tore it up. Best rookie year I’ve seen. Great win vs Bama I remember rushing the field!!

 

[Kmase21]

His first game was against Temple in Philly when he had one carry for, if memory serves me, one yard. I'll give you the second game onward however.

Am I right in saying his first carry didnt come until the 2nd half? It took a tough Temple defense that day shutting down Akeel for James to make the switch to/compliment Lynch.

 

[BBrown]

Seriously?

He wasn't even the best Freshman on his team that year. Williams had 22/289 yards receiving and 22/105 rushing with 4 TDs combined. He did add 13 kickoff returns for 274 yards. He averaged about what a touchback would have been (21.1).

Deon Butler had 37/691 and 9 TDs through the air that year.

Was Butler a True Freshman? He was a walkon and I thought he RS his first year?

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I thought maybe Allen Robinson might have had a decent year for his freshman season, but wow, was I wrong. Checked the stats and in 2011, he only had three catches for 29 yards. Even more startling was our top five receivers for the year were, in order, Derek Moye, Justin Brown, Devon Smith, Shawney Kersey, and Curtis Drake. Just - .

 

[nittanyfan333]

I'm not a historical statistics kinda guy. After the season, I concentrate on the next season. However, I'll ALWAYS remember Hack not only for how good he played his freshman year but more importantly what he meant to the program. I honestly think we're in a much bigger hole during CJF's first few years if Hack backs out of his commitment. SO, from a macro standpoint (overall what he meant to the program), I have to say Hack had the best freshman season. From a statistics standpoint, I'd say Saquon simply because he wasn't highly recruited, stepped in on a team with the OL issues they were having, and averaged 5.9 yds per carry. Again, I think any players 2012-2016ish? need to have not only statistics included, but overall importance to the program.

 

[THE Humanist]

As it is not easy for a freshman to get playing time at Penn State, which freshman had the best season in Penn State football history? For the various positions.

Both D.J. Dozier and Saquon Barkley had over 1,000 yards rushing as a freshman. We saw flashes of greatness from Curt Warner as a frosh. I remember Zack Mills won a game in legendary fashion #324 and thinking we got ourselves a quarterback.

What freshmen have had an impact?

Shocked no one has mentioned Rob Bolden.

 

[AvalonJohn]

Actually if you are getting your crystal ball out, so will I but mine is saying Justin Shorter.

Well, lets hope for "co" then.

 

[novaclassof90]

His stats were nowhere near what Barkley and Dozier put up but I remember the physical specimen that Curtis Enis was as a frosh and just thinking there is no way a kid his age can be that powerful.

But I would go overall with Hackenberg.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Seems like many are glossing over how terrible the offensive line and quarterback were in 2015 when it comes to Barkley. Much like how some say he's not the running back GOAT at Penn State, his freshman season was something of legend.

IMO, Barkley's game against OSU in 2015 was one of his best games in Blue & White, if not the best. The kid had a bum ankle, a horrendous OL, an even worse QB, and still nearly managed to drop 200 on a defense loaded with NFL stars.

 

[bsmith51]

The best I have seen was Barkley. Hack had a nice year for a true frosh qb in 2013. But I think his performance that year was viewed through the lens of him being so young. If Hack was a junior that year instead of a frosh, then I think his performance would be viewed as solid but not spectacular. If I recall correctly, Hack’s 2013 stats put him somewhere in the middle of the pack of B10 starters. In contrast, when Barkley was a true frosh, he was the best player in the B10 regardless of classification.

I recall MSU’s McDowell being asked about Heisman winner Derrick Henry after MSU got beat down by Bama in playoffs that year. McDowell said Henry was good but noted that Barkley was the best back they played all year. The OSU players expressed similar sentiments after Barkley tore their a@& up in the Shoe.