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In the past, it seemed almost like a right of passage for true freshmen to redshirt at the SEC level. Nowadays, each season a decent amount of first-year college football players make an impact in the league right away. Considering how well the SEC recruits as a whole, the conference always has tons of high-level players coming in each season — and those players often get coaches and fans excited immediately.

Perhaps the best example in recent memory came during the 2017 season, when true freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench for Alabama to lead the Crimson Tide to a comeback win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff championship game. Often, true freshmen will not claim starting spots on the two-deep ahead of the opener but like Tagovailoa will get more involved as the season goes on and make an impact as reserves.

The increased emphasis of the NCAA transfer portal means that coaches do not have to rely as much on freshmen to start, but there will still be plenty of players who change the course of the SEC season in 2022. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers did so last year, and someone else will this fall.

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Here is a look at the true freshman that sparks excitement for every team in the conference.

Recruitment: 3-star prospect, chose Vanderbilt over Harvard

Amid a long winless streak in SEC play, no roster deficiency has stood out more at Vanderbilt than a lack of team speed. Coach Clark Lea set out to fix that problem upon arriving last offseason, and McGowan is one speedster who will see early playing time after he played well during spring ball. The early enrollee is just 5-foot-8, 177 pounds, but he left defenders in the dust throughout the spring and emerged as one of Vanderbilt's best offensive players. McGowan will play an all-purpose role as a receiver, running back and return man.

Recruitment: 5-star prospect, chose Missouri over Georgia

There is no doubt about this answer, as Burden was a massive win for the Tigers over multiple big boys. He's also a psuedo in-state recruit from East St. Louis, Ill. Burden is going to play a big role this fall as long as he is healthy.

"One of his best attributes is what he can do after the catch and as a return man," 247Sports' Allen Trieu wrote in a scouting report. "Strong and breaks tackles. Has good acceleration and while he does not have a verified time, has shown the top end to run away from good competition. Has played largely on the outside but has the tools to play in the slot also. Still polishing and refining his game as a route-runner but has all the tools to be a high-impact college player and early draft choice."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Kentucky over Alabama

Kiyaunta Goodwin got plenty of buzz, and deservedly so as an elite offensive tackle who should play as a freshman. But Brown will contribute on both offense and special teams as a dynamic return man. Brown is a state champion sprinter out of Nashville, Tenn., who will immediately be among the SEC's fastest players with a verified 100M time of 10.49 seconds. He is thin at 6-foot-1, 173 pounds, but a summer in the weight room could help there.

"Provides great special teams value as a return man and potential coverage gunner," Brooks wrote. "Big-play machine who projects to the high-major level as a possible difference-making weapon with a ceiling beyond the college game."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Ole Miss over Tennessee, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Duke

It is difficult to find better physical traits in a cornerback than what Igbinosun has at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds to go with track speed. Although he is not necessarily the clear and obvious candidate here for the Rebels, Igbinosun did lead the Navy team in tackles during Saturday's Grove Bowl spring game. Ole Miss took the No. 1-ranked transfer class according to 247Sports, so the Rebels may lean less on freshmen than most teams.

"Long strider who covers space quickly," 247Sports' Brian Dohn wrote in a scouting report. "Has size to play safety and hip looseness to play cornerback. Changes direction well. Has speed to cover to the sideline from the safety position on balls thrown down the field."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Mississippi State over Auburn and Florida State

Mississippi State returns a good amount of depth and may not be very reliant on freshmen relative to some of its SEC counterparts. Williams is a lengthy defensive end/edge defender who has a shot to earn snaps thanks to an impressive frame at 6-foot-4 1/2, 277 pounds. Continuing to improve that frame has been a focus of his, he said earlier this spring.

"I've been working out and trying to get my weight up," Williams said, via Paul Jones of Gene's Page. "I've been working ever since the season ended, just trying to get prepared for the next level. I want to make sure my body is right."

Recruitment: 3-star prospect, chose South Carolina over Nebraska

Like with Ole Miss and multiple other SEC programs, Carolina is more focused on its class of incoming transfers. But Samson should be able to fight for a real role immediately even though he did not enroll early. The Texas product played against very tough competition in high school, which should help.

"That is one that thing about getting kids from that level in Texas," said South Carolina wide receivers coach Justin Stepp. "I am not saying it is the SEC, but he has played a lot of really good football. He is very smart and works really hard. He is going to have to earn everything that he gets when he gets here. If I didn’t think that he could do it, I wouldn’t have recruited him.”

Recruitment: 3-star prospect, chose Auburn over Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville and West Virginia

Don't let Wooden's status as an under-the-radar recruit fool you — he will play in 2022, and could even start at the spot vacated by Smoke Monday. Wooden already looks like one of Auburn's better defenders and appears to be a major steal for coach Bryan Harsin and Co.

"The Peach State product was around the ball what seemed like on a daily basis," wrote Nathan King of AuburnUndercover. "He wasted no time making a first impression, with an interception and fumble-return touchdown on the first day of spring ball. Wooden later had an interception in the end zone against the first-team offense to end a scrimmage, and was routinely talked about by coaches and players as a ball hawk."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Arkansas over Texas A&M and USC

The hometown stud from Fayetteville High School can absolutely fly. Sategna should provide immediate special teams potential in addition to whatever he does on offense, and Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles is more than creative enough to take advantage of that speed.

"Raw as a receiver but overall athletic profile suggests immense potential," 247Sports' Gabe Brooks wrote in a scouting report. "Could play in the slot or outside and also provide a dangerous return game option. One of the nation's top track and field athletes in this 2022 football class. Projects to the high-major level with all-conference potential and a ceiling beyond college."

Recruitment: 5-star prospect, chose Texas A&M over Texas and Florida

Not only did Stewart play well during spring practice, but he is looking like a potential starter for the Aggies. Stewart continues a theme throughout the league — incoming wide receivers are in great position to play early. The Dallas-area native should give A&M's offense a nice new dimension.

"Twitchy off the line and gets on top of corners quickly," Brooks wrote. "Not only a linear burner, but flashes impressive lateral suddenness with make-you-miss open-field athleticism. Because of that, should own a high ceiling as a route runner, especially since leveraging DBs into breaks is not an issue. Willing to go get it in traffic with springy elevating burst."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Florida over Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC

New Florida coach Billy Napier has some depth issues to figure out on the defensive line, and McClellan could help answer some of those questions right away this fall. Absolutely everyone wanted McClellan, but he committed to the Gators two days after they fired Dan Mullen and then stuck with Florida. McClelland has plenty of size at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds.

"High-major defensive lineman with terrific natural physical tools and athleticism," Brooks wrote. "Traits provide plenty of upside, especially if paired with a complementary role/scheme. Projects as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Five level with a long-term NFL Draft ceiling."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose LSU over Alabama, Georgia and others

An early commit for LSU, Campbell will likewise get on the field early for the Tigers with plenty of snaps to replace on the offensive line. Campbell could start at left tackle, an impressive feat for any true freshman in the SEC. Whoever starts at quarterback for LSU will need Campbell to hold up right away against the league's top edge rushers.

"Looks to be among the top 2022 offensive tackle prospects," Brooks wrote. "Projects to high-major level with long-term potential to reach the early rounds of the NFL Draft."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Tennessee over Auburn, Louisville, Nebraska and West Virginia

Plenty of choices here for the Volunteers, including in-state linebacker Elijah Herring, 4-star edge James Pearce and wide receiver Marquarius "Squirrel" White. Williams-Thomas, however, should have the best opportunity out of that group to earn a role immediately. Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack said this spring that while Williams-Thomas continues to adjust to college football, he continues to grow.

“Things are still going quite a bit fast for him right now, but for the most part, I think with more reps, more practice, summer and a fall camp, I think you’re going to see a different player when we get into the season," Mack said, via Patrick Brown of GoVols247.

Recruitment: 5-star prospect, chose Georgia over USC

Unsurprisingly, Georgia has multiple candidates here thanks to another loaded recruiting class. The reigning national champion Bulldogs have a future star tight end in Oscar Delp, who is behind multiple other excellent players at the position. And Earnest Greene has played well on the offensive line. But Williams will help replace multiple NFL players on the defensive line this season and has looked good in the spring.

"I think  Mykel Williams  can be a  Travon Walker  type player; he already has the traits and frame that Walker had coming into Athens," Rusty Mansell of Dawgs247 said. "I think Mykel is little more polished as a player coming into Athens than Travon. Williams has been working with  Chuck Smith  now for over a year and it showed in San Antonio. Give Williams three years in a college weight room and he will do well in a combine setting too, no question about it."

Recruitment: 4-star prospect, chose Alabama over LSU

Alabama will lose a lot of wideout talent to the 2022 NFL Draft, so Anderson and other young players will have plenty of opportunities to earn big roles. Although Anderson is on the small side at 5-foot-9, 184 pounds, that does not matter much in the slot. That's where 247Sports' Andrew Ivins projects Anderson to play the most in college and beyond.

"Should provide immediate special teams value for a college football contender given how elusive he is with the ball in his hands," Ivins wrote in a scouting report. "Seems destined to eventually emerge as an impact inside receiver on Saturdays."

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