These 4 true freshmen wide receivers stole the show in Week 2 of college football

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There were a number of true freshmen receivers that broke out and made their mark in Week 2.

When it comes to the Class of 2024, the wide receivers have led the way early as true freshmen, with a number of talented players breaking the rotation for their respective teams.

During Week 2, four true freshmen receivers especially shined, with a number of them leading the way for their teams in a number of categories. Which freshmen wideouts stole the show this past weekend?

Michigan State WR Nick Marsh

Talk about a breakout performance. Nick Marsh was the star of the show in Week 2 for the Michigan State Spartans, catching eight passes for 194 yards and a touchdown in their 27-24 win over the Maryland Terrapins.

Marsh, a consensus four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, had a major opportunity in Michigan State’s receiver room to break out, but had a quiet outing in the opener with one catch for 11 yards as the Spartans could only go for 114 yards in the air.

However in Week 2, quarterback Aidan Chiles threw for 363 yards, looking Marsh’s way as his top receiver, and the true freshman repaid the trust with production, catching passes of 57 and 77 yards en route to a major performance.

Marsh was also Chiles’ go-to guy down the stretch, as his 77-yard catch ended up being the game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Then, on the final drive that resulted in a game-winning field goal, Marsh got three targets: a 3rd down incompletion where he drew a pass interference, an 11-yard catch for a first down, and a six-yard catch that set up a 3rd & 1.

Michigan State is going to go through some growing pains with a ton of turnover this season, but Chiles may have found his No. 1 receiver in Marsh after a stellar Week 2 performance.

Clemson WR Bryant Wesco

The Clemson Tigers nabbed a pair of elite wide receiver recruits in the 2024 class with four-star recruits T.J. Moore and four-star Bryant Wesco.

Both players were limited to just one catch in Clemson’s 34-3 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 1, with Antonio Williams being the focus of the passing game with six catches for 76 yards.

However, it was Wesco’s time to shine in Week 2, as the true freshman exploded for 130 yards and a touchdown, taking a 76-yard pass from quarterback Cade Klubnik to the house on the very first drive against Appalachian State.

Wesco wasn’t done there, however, as he caught a 51-yard pass on the ensuing drive that set up a 1st & Goal for Clemson at the two-yard line, resulting in a Klubnik rushing touchdown.

Later in the second quarter, Moore got in on the action, catching a 33-yard touchdown pass from Klubnik to extend the Clemson lead to 49-7.

With the game wrapped up essentially by halftime, there wasn’t much needed from the Clemson starters in the second half, but it was still a nice performance from the true freshmen, with Wesco leading the team with 130 receiving yards on Saturday.

Clemson’s offense has been their issue, and Wesco showed his ability to create explosive plays in the 66-20 win. He should figure to be a focal part of the offense going forward alongside Antonio Williams as one of the top options for Klubnik in 2024.

Alabama WR Ryan Williams

Another week, another touchdown for 17-year-old true freshman wideout Ryan Williams.

The five-star receiver led the way once again for the Alabama Crimson Tide, catching four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in Alabama’s 42-16 Week 2 win over South Florida.

Now, the Crimson Tide clearly put an emphasis on pounding the football, especially as they started to pull away in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 42 carries and 199 yards on the ground.

Williams remains a focal part of the offense, despite being just 17 years old, he’s taking over as Alabama’s No. 1 receiver as a true freshman. Through two games, he has 209 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging a whopping 34.5 yards per catch.

The next leading receiver for the Crimson Tide? Junior wideout Kobe Prentice, who has five catches for 77 yards and a score through two weeks.

Williams will look to continue his hot start when Alabama travels to face the Wisconsin Badgers in Week 3.

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith started off his collegiate career with a strong six-catch, 92-yard, two-touchdown performance for the Ohio State Buckeyes, setting the bar high in his debut.

Well, he managed to top that in Week 2, going for five catches, 119 yards and a touchdown, while serving as Will Howard’s top receiver for the second consecutive week, despite being a part of a loaded receiver room at Ohio State.

Smith came along early, catching a 70-yard touchdown pass from Howard where he managed to run past Western Michigan’s defense for a score to put Ohio State up 14-0 in the first quarter.

All five of Smith’s catches came in the first half, with the Buckeyes leading 35-0 at halftime. The true freshman would’ve had more output, as he caught a 15-yard pass to begin the second half, but a penalty wiped away the catch.

After that, with the game in hand, Smith wasn’t needed any more, ending with a strong stat line for the second consecutive week.

The true freshman’s output could change on a week-to-week basis, given that Ohio State also has star wideout Emeka Egbuka, who had five catches for 98 yards, and former five-stars Brandon Inniss and Carnell Tate.

Through two weeks, Smith has clearly made his mark on a top-two team in college football, easily matching the hype as the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2024.