Top 10 freshmen in FCS football after 4 weeks of action

We’ve made it to Week 5 of the FCS season, and some new players have made some impressive debuts. Here’s a look at 10 freshmen that have dazzled so far early in the season.

WR Rico Bond, Lindenwood

Lindenwood redshirt freshman wide receiver Rico Bond leads the OVC-Big South and all freshmen nationally with 301 receiving yards. The St. Louis native has two games with 100-plus yards receiving and has scored a touchdown in three games. His best game was his most recent, when he caught eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

first touchdown by Rico Bond from the 1st quarter#BurnTheWood pic.twitter.com/DNIQzrvyka

— Lindenwood Football (@LindenwoodFB) September 21, 2025

WALTER PAYTON AWARD: 10 early-season Walter Payton Award candidates to watch

QB Landen Clark, Elon

Landen Clark has been dynamic for Elon as a redshirt freshman. He has seven passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns to go along with 1,093 total yards. Clark has helped Elon to a 2-1 nonconference FCS record heading into CAA play.

LANDEN ➡️ ZIMERE!!!

What a throw from Landen Clark! 78 yards to the crib! #PhoenixRising | #AED pic.twitter.com/tadVK23qlf

— Elon Football (@ElonFootball) September 13, 2025

S Chase Hatton, Marist

Marist safety Chase Hatton leads all freshmen with his 27 tackles in three games. He also has three turnovers this season, recovering a fumble and snatching two interceptions.

Chase Hatton takes it away!!!!!

Red Foxes have the ball just outside the red zone with a minute to go in the half!#FoxholeGuys pic.twitter.com/iWOfzGaGhT

— Marist Football (@Marist_Fball) August 30, 2025

WR Evan James, Furman

Furman freshman Evan James has quickly emerged as a go-to target in the Furman offense. James has led the Paladins in receptions in every game this season, including a record-setting game against Campbell when he caught 10 passes for 134 yards — a school freshman record — and a touchdown.

Evan James turns his defender inside out and collects the 30-yard TD strike! pic.twitter.com/5IUNjgXAfC

— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) September 13, 2025

UPSETS: See every FCS-over-FBS upset all-time | Here’s the FCS blueprint to beating a ranked FBS team

DE Naquan Johnson, LIU

Few freshmen defenders have had a single game better than LIU defensive end Naquan Johnson. Johnson had eight tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble against Sacred Heart. Johnson also forced a fumble against Florida in his first game. 

RB TJ Lester, West Georgia

West Georgia is off to a 4-0 start, and a big part of that has been freshman running back TJ Lester. Lester leads the Wolves in rushing touchdowns with five, even without leading the team in carries or yards. Lester’s five rushing touchdowns are tied for the FCS lead among freshmen.

TJ. TOUCHDOWN. LESTER.

28-20 ETSU#BuiltForMore pic.twitter.com/OP9xVrW8dS

— West Georgia Football (@UWGFootball) September 14, 2025

DE Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth

Monmouth’s offense might get all the hype, but redshirt freshman defensive end Lamont Lester Jr. has impressed on the other side of the ball. Lester opened his season with a sack and tackle for loss in each of his first three games, adding a half sack and half tackle for loss against Villanova. Lester’s 3.5 sacks lead all freshmen.

Lamont Lester Jr. doing Lamont Lester Jr. things 💪#FlyHawks || @LamontLester6 || @CAAFootball pic.twitter.com/jTeddgdik1

— Monmouth Football (@MUHawksFB) September 13, 2025

RANKINGS: AFCA Coaches Poll | STATS PERFORM

RB Tre Page III, Tarleton State

Redshirt freshman Tre Page III has been part of a two-back tandem in the Tarleton State backfield that has helped pace the Texans to the No. 3 ranking. Page has 474 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on the season. When starting quarterback Victor Gabalis went out with an injury against Chattanooga, Page stepped up with 110 yards on the ground to keep the offense rolling.

He gone! 👋

Tre Page III scores the TD and gives the Texans the lead! pic.twitter.com/HvByNE5Qlz

— Tarleton State Football (@TarletonFB) September 21, 2025

QB Caden Pinnick, UC Davis

It’s never easy to replace the leading passing leader in the FCS from a season ago, but Caden Pinnick has done a good job thus far. He’s completed 62 percent of his passes and thrown for six touchdowns through three games — not counting the game against Mercer that was called a no contest where he had 203 total yards and two touchdowns.

HIGHLIGHT REEL 🤯 @CadenPinnick making some incredible moves on this TD pic.twitter.com/4ha1oW3l6D

— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) August 23, 2025

WR Owen Sweeney, VMI

VMI redshirt freshman Owen Sweeney looks that part as a 6-foot-4, 200-pound wideout, and he’s played big, too, with 367 yards and six touchdowns in four games. Against FBS program Navy, he caught five passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Sweeney leads the SoCon in receiving yards and touchdowns this season.

VMI didn’t get the win against Navy, but WR Owen Sweeney (@ocsweeney) was a bright spot.

Sweeney finished with 5 catches for 126 yards and a TD, showing signs of being the Keydets’ go-to target in 2025.#FCS #RahVaMil #ALLIN #ExpectToWin pic.twitter.com/WqlVREhn9M

— Bryan (@BGauvin23) September 3, 2025