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College football 2018 preview: 15 freshmen poised to make instant impact

By Cody Williams

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - MAY 26: Trevor Lawrence of Clemson University poses for portraits at Steve Clarkson's 14th Annual Quarterback Retreat on May 26, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - MAY 26: Trevor Lawrence of Clemson University poses for portraits at Steve Clarkson's 14th Annual Quarterback Retreat on May 26, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – APRIL 14: Florida State defensive back Jaiden Woodbey (20) looks to the sidelines during the Florida State spring football game on April, 14, 2018 at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL. (Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – APRIL 14: Florida State defensive back Jaiden Woodbey (20) looks to the sidelines during the Florida State spring football game on April, 14, 2018 at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL. (Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Jaiden Woodbey, S, Florida State

Calling last year the season from hell for the Florida State Seminoles might be putting it kindly. Just about everything that has happened to them over the last year has not been for the positive. The most recent blow was obviously losing head coach Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M and having to scramble after replacing him with Willie Taggart.

Of course, before that, there was the injury to quarterback Deondre Francois and then the losses of their most highly touted players on the roster, including guys like Derwin James.

With the loss of James and other key members of their secondary, Florida State pretty clearly has some questions to answer as it pertains to their defensive backs. They have lost a leader and are clearly going to have to replace the overall talent that has departed from that group. Jaiden Woodbey could come in as a freshman and do his part in helping to address that.

Woodbey, a 6-foot-2, 204-pound safety from Bellflower, CA comes into the 2018 season as the top recruit of the Seminoles’ class (No. 35 overall, fourth at his position). Throughout the spring practices and leading up to this year, all reviews about the safety have raved about the way he’s picked things up and performed to this point.

While he may not be next-level great like James, he could have a similarly big impact right out of the gate. The opportunity and talent are there for him, without question, to make his mark on Florida State’s 2018 campaign.