By Jack Leo
DALLAS (FWAA) – Each week during the 2025 season, we will highlight the notable
performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual
Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award
presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.
For the fifth straight year the top first-year coach in the FBS will be honored at a special reception Feb. 23, 2026 at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Fla. The Spurrier Legends Awardee Coach and Freshmen Players of the Year will also be honored.
Here are the top performances from Week 3, the
weekend of Sept. 13:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Tory Blaylock, RB, Oklahoma (5-11, 203, Humble Tx.): 14 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TD
Blaylock helped Oklahoma take firm control in a 42-3 win at Temple on Saturday. The true
freshman scored rushing touchdowns on back-to-back drives to open the second quarter.
Blaylock saw a significant increase in carries after playing a supporting role in Oklahoma’s first
two wins over Illinois State and Michigan. Blaylock will see his first SEC action this weekend
when the Sooners visit Auburn.
Braylon Staley, WR Tennessee (6-0, 190, Aiken, S.C.): 9 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD
Staley played a large role in Tennessee’s explosive performance in a 44-41 loss to Georgia.
The redshirt freshman scored the Volunteers’ final touchdown, shaking a safety and finding
plenty of space for a 32-yard score. Staley was also Tennessee’s highest-graded offensive
player on Pro Football Focus, which is especially impressive considering he wasn’t even the
leading receiver. Staley could be in line for his first 100-yard outing when the Volunteers host
UAB this weekend.
Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele, QB, California (6-3, 225, Ewa Beach, Hi.): 24/38, 279 yards, 3
TD
Keawe-Sagapolutele, the first two-time Freshman Focus selection of the season, led California
to an impressive 27-14 win over Minnesota. The lefthanded true freshman was responsible for
every Golden Bear touchdown, including a fourth-quarter dagger to comfortably take the lead for
good. Keawe-Sagapolutele leads all FBS freshmen with 780 passing yards through Week 3.
He’ll also have a good chance to expand that lead when California visits San Diego State this
Saturday.
Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan (6-4, 228, Detroit, Mich.): 16/25, 235 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 9
rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD
It was only a matter of time until Bryce Underwood dominated a football game, and that’s
exactly what he did in Michigan’s 63-3 win over Central Michigan. The true freshman might have
surprised people with his legs, though, scoring rushing touchdowns of 18 and 20 yards.
Underwood has played clean football, too, giving up just two sacks and on interception through
three games. Underwood will get his first taste of Big Ten action this Saturday when the
Wolverines go to Nebraska.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Jason Eck, New Mexico: Eck’s Lobos rolled into the Rose Bowl as 15.5-point underdogs and
left with a monumental upset. New Mexico beat UCLA 35-10, silencing any chance of a
comeback bid with a 21-point fourth quarter. The Lobos rushed for 298 yards and three
touchdowns on 46 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per rush. Eck will get an extra week to prepare
for opening conference play against rival New Mexico State on Sept. 27.
Eddie George, Bowling Green: George’s Falcons upset 6.5-point favorite Liberty 23-13 on
Saturday. Bowling Green was outgained by 28 yards, but it forced four turnovers and committed
none in the win. The Falcons scored the deciding 10 points in the fourth quarter to put the game
away. George aims to pull off a bigger upset this Saturday when the Falcons visit Louisville.
Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia: The Mountaineers were 7.5-point underdogs, but odds didn’t
seem to matter in the 31-24 overtime win over bitter rival Pittsburgh. Rodriguez, who went 4-3
against Pitt in his first tenure at West Virginia, added win number five with a walk-off turnover on
downs. Running back Tye Edwards spearheaded the offense with 25 rushes for 141 yards and
three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score. Rodriguez will try to earn his second Power 4
win at Kansas on Saturday.
Frank Reich, Stanford: It's worth noting that, as an interim head coach, Reich wasn't expected
to make much noise at Stanford this season. But the former NFL head coach’s ACC debut
couldn’t have gone much better, as the Cardinal beat Boston College 30-20. The game was tied
at 20 at halftime before Stanford shut Boston College down and sealed the game with a seven-
and-a-half-minute drive. Reich can earn his first away ACC win at Virginia on Saturday.
For more information on attending or sponsoring the Fifth Annual reception at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille for the Steve Spurrier First-Year and Legend Coach plus Freshman Player of the Year awards on Monday, Feb. 23, please contact Tricia Garzon of the JAG Agency at 352-214-2331. The media contact for the Freshman All-America Team is committee chairman and FWAA member Mike Griffith, contacted at 770-845-3244 and mikegriffith032@gmail.com.
Chris Doering Mortgage, based in Gainesville, Fla., was established in April 2007 as a residential lending company providing mortgage products including conventional, FHA, USDA, and VA loans. The branch is a division of MortgageAdvisors.com – 3940 NW 16th Blvd., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32605 – NMLS 70168/1937321. FHA Lender ID 2631500094. For more information, visit ChrisDoeringMortgage.com. College football analyst Chris Doering, a former wide receiver for Coach Spurrier both in college and the NFL, serves as the branch manager.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists,
broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The
FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and
honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its
programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or
tiger@fwaa.com.