Gavin Freeman redefined “preferred option” in Baylor’s opener against Auburn, reeling in a shocking 12 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown. This isn’t just a big game; Freeman became DJ Lagway’s absolute go-to, accounting for a massive 45.6% of Lagway’s 333 passing yards in their tough 17-16 loss. No other Baylor player even sniffed five catches, making Freeman’s Week 1 performance one of the most actionable usage developments we saw.
Freeman’s Unstoppable Clutch Factor Emerges
Think about this: Freeman wasn’t just piling up garbage-time stats. Lagway was looking his way when the game hung in the balance. We saw him deliver in straight-up money situations, converting two third-downs and grabbing two fourth-down receptions on Baylor’s final drive. His five-yard touchdown with nine seconds left nearly forced overtime, though the Bears unfortunately couldn’t convert the two-point play. The Oklahoma State transfer came into the year way down the CFF draft boards behind Louis Brown IV, but his debut screamed that he’s way more than a slot complement in Jake Spavital’s offense. While Baylor threw 54 times, a volume we probably won’t see every week, Freeman’s sudden target ceiling is *way* higher than anyone anticipated. Rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues after the game, he’s shaping up to be an aggressive waiver add for Week 2.
Rule and Glasker Announce Their Arrivals in Dominant Fashion
It wasn’t just Freeman making noise. Two true freshmen went absolutely wild, too. Nebraska’s Jamal Rule burst onto the scene, shredding Ohio for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. He wasn’t done, catching both of his targets for another 47 yards and a score. That’s a mind-blowing 169 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on just 17 touches, averaging a ridiculous 8.1 yards per carry. Rule even out-carried fellow RB Mekhi Nelson 15-to-10. His 122 rushing yards? The first 100-yard performance by a freshman running back for Nebraska since 2004! He rightfully earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Ohio Coach John Houser even commented that Rule ran more physically than expected, which is huge for a 215-pound back whose explosiveness we already knew about. The coaching staff had been hyping him up before the season even started, so this isn’t some fluky small-sample eruption. Even with Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee in the room, 17 touches in his collegiate debut is a massive signal for CFF. He’s officially gone from a speculative stash to one of the most compelling Power Four waiver adds of Week 1.
And then there’s BYU’s Legend Glasker, who turned just four touches into *three* touchdowns during their 63-7 destruction of Utah Tech. Glasker caught three passes for a team-high 65 yards and two scores, adding a nine-yard rushing touchdown. His 21.7 yards per reception and absurd 75% touchdown rate won’t last forever, but that pure explosiveness is absolutely undeniable. He shot up BYU’s depth chart in camp for a reason, and now we all know why.
These guys aren’t just one-week wonders; they’re immediate impact players shaking up the CFF landscape. If you’ve got a roster spot, you need to be looking at these names right now. Week 2 is coming fast, and you don’t want to be the one watching them blow up on someone else’s team. What kind of fireworks will these guys deliver next? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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