In an era of veteran-heavy rosters, touted true freshmen sometimes don’t play right away in college football. But roster turnover and coaching changes have opened doors at Alabama, Georgia, LSU and elsewhere in the Southeastern Conference.
Here are five newcomers who could make an immediate impact in the SEC.
Auburn WR DeShawn Spencer
The Auburn Tigers will look completely different this season with new HC Alex Golesh calling the shots. Along with a new offensive vision, Auburn has a new roster, opening opportunities within the receiver rotation.
Spencer, a Saraland, Alabama, native, finished his high school career with 34 receiving touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns, showcasing the versatility that can translate early at the college level.
Originally a running back, the versatile Spencer (5-foot-11 and 165 pounds) could be used in Golesh’s offense on jet sweeps, motion plays and play-action, giving him a chance to play early.
Georgia TE Kaiden Prothro
The Bulldogs have depth at tight end, but that shouldn’t stop Prothro from making an early impact. At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Prothro has the frame and skill set of a wide receiver instead of a traditional tight end.
Prothro finished his senior season with 1,115 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns, showcasing his ability as a dominant receiver. His size makes him a matchup nightmare for safeties, and he has the athleticism to flex outside and play as a wideout.
While Prothro will face plenty of competition for snaps, his versatility as a receiver could make it difficult for the Bulldogs to keep him off the field.
LSU DT Lamar Brown
LSU recruited one of the deeper defensive lines in the country, adding Ole Miss transfer Princewill Umanmielen, Auburn transfer Malik Blocton and Brown (6-foot-5 and 291 pounds).
Brown brings strength and athleticism to the table that would allow him to play any of the inside techniques at defensive line. His versatility could allow him to rotate anywhere on the Tigers’ front.
ESPN ranked Brown the most college-ready defensive lineman in the nation. He will join the Tigers in the summer, but he already has his coaches buzzing this spring.
Alabama RB Ezavier Crowell
Alabama finished 123rd in rushing in 2025, but Crowell is a back who could give the Tide a huge lift quickly. In 2025, he rushed for 2,632 yards on 209 carries.
Crowell (5-foot-11 and 205 pounds) is a patient runner, but when he finds the crease, he has the speed to break away at the second level. These traits could be the difference in the Tide returning to their former ways of running the football.
Daniel Hill is expected to be the lead back for the Crimson Tide in 2026, but the battle for the second-string spot could be between Kevin Riley and Crowell.
Vanderbilt QB Jared Curtis
Curtis (6-foot-3 and 225 pounds) was the No. 2 quarterback in the 2026 high school recruiting class, according to 247Sports, and arrives in Nashville as the potential heir apparent to Diego Pavia.
Curtis can make all the throws, fit passes between defenders and deliver deep outs to the sideline.
Curtis is expected to battle with Blaze Berlowitz for the starting job this spring. Vanderbilt (10-3 in 2025) aims to continue building off recent momentum, so Curtis could play a major role.
The spring and summer will give these freshmen time to acclimate and develop in their new roles. It won’t take long for them to start making headlines.
