Last year, we saw the impact freshmen can make, as Georgia was led by freshman QB Jake Fromm and won an SEC title.

Alabama also got a huge contribution from a freshman quarterback, as Tua Tagovailoa replaced Jalen Hurts in the second half of the national championship game and led the Crimson Tide to a come-from-behind win over Georgia.

On Friday, Sports Illustrated’s Joan Niesen listed five potential impact freshmen from around the country, and Georgia RB James Cook and Alabama DB Patrick Surtain Jr. made the cut.

About Surtain, Niesen wrote that Alabama’s holes in the secondary give him a path to playing time:

At 6’2″ and 183 pounds, Surtain already looks the part, and although the son of an 11-year NFL veteran will have work to do mastering Nick Saban’s defense as he arrives on campus this summer, there’s an easy-to-imagine path for him to making an early impact.

About Cook, she wrote that his resemblance to older brother Dalvin Cook (now with the Minnesota Vikings) will make him tough to keep off the field:

Cook has a similar physical profile to his older brother’s as a college freshman, to go along with astonishing speed.

See Niesen’s full comments about both Surtain and Cook here.