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 6, the weekend of Oct. 4:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU (6-2, 220, Murrieta, Calif.): 18/25, 351 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 12
rushes, 43 yards, 1 TD
Bachmeier’s breakout performance led BYU to a 38-24 win over West Virginia last Saturday.
The true freshman’s 351 yards were more than 100 more than any of the first four games of his
career. Bachmeier connected on a 54-yard screen pass for his only touchdown pass and scored
the last point BYU needed to win with a two-yard rushing touchdown. Bachmeier aims to
improve to 6-0 and 3-0 in conference play with a win at Arizona on Saturday.
Mason Heinstchel, QB, Pittsburgh (6-2, 215, Oregon, Ohio): 30/41, 323 yards, 4 TD; 10
rushes, 28 yards
Heintschel’s first career start couldn’t have gone much better in Pittsburgh’s 48-7 domination of
Boston College. The true freshman didn’t wait to settle in, as he led an 11-play, 76-yard
touchdown drive on Pitt’s first possession. Heintschel was the first true freshman quarterback to
win his first career start for the Panthers since former NFL first-rounder Kenny Pickett in 2017.
Heintschel can introduce himself to the county this Saturday when Pittsburgh visits Florida
State.
Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (5-11, 188, Liberty City, Fla.): 7 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD
Toney’s short-yardage burst and top-end speed have made him a true deep threat in a Miami
receiver room loaded with talent. The true freshman outshined every offensive weapon in the
Hurricanes’ conference-controlling win over Florida State last Saturday. Toney shook defenders
in man coverage and found soft spots against zone coverage for touchdown catches of 44 and
40 yards. Toney eclipsed 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career and would love to do
it again when Louisville visits on Oct. 17.
Dallas Wilson, WR, Florida (6-3, 213, Tampa, Fla.): 6 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD
Wilson looked comfortable immediately in his collegiate debut as he led Florida’s receiving
corps in a 29-21 upset of Texas last Saturday. The true freshman has a physical frame, but he
used crisp route-running for his first career touchdown and a 17-7 Florida lead. Wilson did flex
his muscles with his second score, a 55-yard reception that included four broken tackles before
reaching the goal line. Wilson can impress the country again this weekend when the Gators visit
Texas A&M for a primetime Saturday night matchup.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Jake Dickert, Wake Forest: Dickert earned his first ACC win in a 30-23 road upset of Virginia
Tech on Saturday. Wake Forest scored all three of its touchdowns in the second quarter, taking
control with a 24-14 halftime lead. The Demon Deacons outgained the Hokies 347-263 and shut
out Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Wake Forest figures to be a road favorite
this weekend when it visits winless Oregon State.
K.C. Keeler, Temple: Keeler’s Owls also scored all three of their touchdowns in one quarter as
they upset UTSA 27-21. Temple trailed 14-3 at halftime before winning the third quarter 21-7
and taking the lead for good. Quarterback Evan Simon led the way for Keeler’s offense,
throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns while running back Hunter Smith added 74 yards
and a score of his own. Temple’s defensive front has faced several tough run attacks in Georgia
Tech and Oklahoma already this season, but they’ll be tested again this week when Navy visits.
Zach Kittley, Florida Atlantic: Kittley’s Owls entered Saturday night as 4.5-point underdogs
and left with an impressive 27-21 upset of Rice. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp completed 23
passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Florida Atlantic was also
clutch on key downs, converting eight of 14 conversion attempts on third down and both their
fourth down attempts. Kittley and the Owls will try to move to 2-1 in conference play with a home
win over UAB.
Dan Mullen, UNLV: Mullen’s Rebels used all three phases of the game to dominate Wyoming
31-17. UNLV took a 17-3 lead by the end of the first quarter with a short rushing touchdown and
the first of two punt return touchdowns. The Rebels held a double-digit lead the rest of the way,
and UNLV won its first conference game of the Mullen era. Mullen, the last undefeated first-year
head coach this season, aims to improve to 6-0 against Air Force 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.