Top 5 College Football True Freshmen in 2023: Keon Keeley, Arch Manning, and more make an immediate impact

The jump from high school to college football is one of the largest jumps in collegiate sports. Many freshmen are often not prepared for the size and speed of college athletes. Many programs prefer to ease their freshmen into action and not put too much on their plates.

With how many players commit, decommit and then enter the transfer portal, it is more important than ever to generate immediate contributions from the incoming freshman class.

Several teams lost vital cogs and although that leaves excellent opportunities for the incoming players, these are large shoes to fill. It could take time for players to fill them.

Today we take a look at the top five incoming freshmen and how quickly fans could find them on the football field.

Top 5 college freshmen to keep an eye on in 2023

#1 Keon Keeley, Edge, Alabama Crimson Tide

Replacing the third pick in the 2023 NFL draft, edge defender Will Anderson Jr., is daunting, especially for an incoming freshman. Luckily for Tide fans, Keon Keeley isn't your average recruit. Will Anderson Jr. made immediate waves for Nick Saban as a freshman, and fans can expect a similar impact from Keeley.

#2 Arch Manning, QB, Texas Longhorns

Texas Spring Football Game

Can Arch Manning surpass current starter Quinn Ewers? That's one of many burning questions ahead of the 2023 season. Arch Manning has the pedigree and the type of name value that makes him must-see TV. With the variety of weapons surrounding him at Texas, once Manning starts, expect him to keep the gig.

#3 Cormani McClain, CB, Colorado Buffalos

Colorado Football Spring Game

Cormani McClain was quite the signing for Colorado. McClain had agreed to play for Miami, but switched later in the process, preferring to play for one of the greatest cornerbacks in history, under coach Deion Sanders. Expect McClain to vie for a starting position from the first practice.

#4 Dante Moore, QB, UCLA Bruins

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl - Pittsburgh v UCLA

Starting as quarterback as a true freshman is a huge undertaking, but Dante Moore has the ideal skillset to run coach Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense. Moore must surpass Ethan Garbers and Colin Schlee for the job, but he is arguably much more talented than the veteran options, so it's likely only a matter of time before Moore is the Bruins' starter.

#5 Peter Woods, DL, Clemson Tigers

Few teams do a better job of developing defensive line talent than the Clemson Tigers. Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee are off to the NFL, so there is an opportunity for Peter Woods to contribute immediately for the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions.