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 12, the weekend of Nov. 15:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Texas A&M WR Ashton Bethel-Roman (6-0, 185, Missouri City, Texas): 4 receptions, 139 yards, 1 TD
Bethel-Roman helped Texas A&M earn one of the wildest comeback wins of the season, a 31-30 victory over South Carolina. The redshirt freshman played a key role in the comeback win, most notably with a 39-yard touchdown catch that cut the Aggies’ deficit to 30-17 in the third quarter. Bethel-Roman also set up Texas A&M’s next score with a 76-yard catch-and-run that flipped the field. Bethel-Roman and the Aggies expect to stay undefeated this weekend against Samford before a massive rivalry week trip to Texas.
Kent State QB Dru DeShields (6-2, 185, Beloit, Ohio): 17/25, 317 yards, 5 TD
The best game of DeShields’ young career led Kent State to a 42-35 overtime win against rival Akron on Tuesday night. The redshirt freshman shared the wealth beautifully, throwing each of his five touchdowns to different receivers. DeShields also impressed with the go-ahead touchdown, a 25-yard strike on the run on Kent State’s first play in overtime. DeShields and the Golden Flashes will fight to keep their bowl hopes alive against Central Michigan on Wednesday.
North Texas RB Caleb Hawkins (6-2, 200, Shawnee, Okla.): 27 rushes, 189 yards, 5 TD; 1 reception, 21 yards
Hawkins led North Texas to another dominant conference win, as the Mean Green hammered UAB, 53-24. The true freshman’s five-touchdown night set a program record, and four of his scores all came in the first half. Hawkins has rushed for 386 yards and nine touchdowns in his last two games. North Texas, still fighting for a shot at the American Conference title and the College Football Playoff, visits Rice this weekend.
Notre Dame S Tae Johnson (6-2, 192, Fort Wayne, Ind.): 5 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 TD
Johnson helped Notre Dame silence Pitt’s rowdy home crowd early in a 37-15 win. The redshirt freshman’s pick-six helped the Fighting Irish take a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and they never looked back. Johnson was also Notre Dame’s second-leading tackler on a defense that allowed just 70 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Johnson and the Fighting Irish will host Syracuse this weekend before visiting Stanford to finish the regular season.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Blake Harrell, East Carolina: Harrell’s Pirates showed resilience and delivery in the clutch in a 31-27 win over Memphis. East Carolina fell behind 27-24 with 2:29 left after Memphis recovered a sack fumble on the Pirates’ 24-yard line. Then quarterback Katin Houser led East Carolina 75 yards down the field in six plays, connecting with Payton Mangrum for a go-ahead 31-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 left. East Carolina can win its fifth straight game at UTSA on Saturday.
Tre Lamb, Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane pulled off a slight upset of Oregon State with a 31-14 win. Tulsa running back Dominic Richardson led the way with 166 yards rushing and a touchdown on 27 carries. The Golden Hurricane bullied the Beavers on the line of scrimmage, out-rushing them, 283-69. Tulsa snapped a five-game losing streak with the win and will fight for another upset this Saturday at Army.
Dan Mullen, UNLV: Mullen’s Rebels stacked another win in dramatic fashion on Saturday, beating Utah State 29-26 in double overtime. Both kickers missed field goals in the first overtime period, Utah State converted a field goal in double overtime but UNLV running back Kayden McGee ended the game with a 25-yard rushing touchdown on the next snap. Mullen won several gambles in Las Vegas, too, as the Rebels were 2-of-3 on fourth-down conversions. UNLV, which sits in a five-way tie for second place in the Mountain West, can separate itself with a win over Hawaii Friday night.
Willie Simmons, FIU: Simmons’ Panthers also sealed a dramatic win in overtime on Saturday, beating Liberty 34-27. Joe Pesanky connected with Maguire Anderson for a go-ahead touchdown pass and Mister Clark sealed the game with an interception on the next possession. Florida International added two more interceptions to its total of 10 this season, good for third-most in Conference USA. The Panthers will try to finish their home schedule with an upset of Jacksonville State on Saturday.
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.