While there are always a select few stars that shine as freshmen, more times than not it takes generally college football players a couple of years to really come into their own. Even the most blue-chip of prospects often require time to develop into eventual superstars.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s why a player\u2019s sophomore season is often primed for breakout potential. With that in mind, CBS Sports identified 17 second-year standouts that could prove to be difference-makers during the upcoming 2026 college football season.<\/p>\n
CBS Sports\u2019 list of sophomore stars includes several that turned heads as freshmen, but obviously still have room to grow into budding superstars. And if they do as CBS Sports expects, it could mean big things for their respective teams, and even become a significant factor in next season\u2019s College Football Playoff race. So, without further ado, let\u2019s check out CBS Sports\u2019 list to the Top 17 second-year stars ready to shine in 2026<\/a>:<\/p>\n Arguably no true freshman did more for his team last season than Toney, who set program and ACC rookie records with a conference-leading 109 total receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. That included carving up Indiana with a game-high 10 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in the CFP national championship game. Now playing alongside Duke transfers Darian Mensah<\/a> (QB) and Cooper Barkate<\/a> (WR) and returning Mark Fletcher Jr.<\/a> (RB), Toney and the Hurricanes are primed to take things to another level in 2026, with serious Heisman Trophy- and national title-winning potential for both.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cToney flashes the kind of effortless explosiveness that separates elite receivers from merely productive ones. He\u2019s sudden out of his breaks, dangerous after the catch and has the positional versatility modern offenses crave.\u201d<\/p>\n First-year Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi<\/a> made retaining the uber-talented Sagapolutele his highest priority upon returning to his alma mater, and it should pay off big-time in Year 1 for the former Oregon DC. The four-star true freshman, who was the No. 6 QB in the 2025 recruiting cycle, quickly established himself as a natural playmaker with six touchdowns in his first two FBS games last season and capped it with a breakout effort with 77.5% passing and four touchdowns in a home upset of SMU in late November. If Sagapolutele shows the same progress in 2026, an ACC title challenge isn\u2019t off the table for Cal.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cSagapolutele already looks the part physically with the arm talent to attack every blade of grass, but what makes him especially dangerous is his poise. He doesn\u2019t play rushed, even when protection breaks down, and that calm presence matters in the ACC.\u201d<\/p>\n The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Finney Jr. immediately established himself as a true lockdown corner within a veteran Ducks secondary last season, and ended 2025 with a team-leading three interceptions and eight pass breakups. Two of those picks came in Oregon\u2019s CFP quarterfinal win over a potent Texas Tech. Given the wealth of returning talent, especially on defense, Finney Jr. could prove to be a true difference-maker defensively for a Ducks squad with serious national championship aspirations in 2026.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cFinney checks every box that a premier cornerback should \u2014 physical at the line of scrimmage, fluid in transition and confident playing on an island against elite receivers.\u201d<\/p>\n Following Mansoor Delane<\/a>\u2018s selection at No. 6 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, LSU is rapidly reestablishing its status as DBU. And next up is Pickett, the 6-foot-4 former Five-Star Plus+ prospect who arrived in Baton Rouge as the No. 2 CB in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Despite only making three starts, Pickett tied for the team-lead with three interceptions to go along with 37 tackles and two sacks. If Pickett continues to lock things down defensively in 2026, the Tigers have the talent to make a serious SEC title push in 2026.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cPickett was exactly what\u00a0LSU\u00a0thought it was getting in a five-star prospect last cycle as a rangy 6-foot-4, 190-pound freshman All-American.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite coming to Columbus as the No. 1 cornerback in the 2025 recruiting cycle, Sanchez served in a mostly-reserve role last season while playing behind multiple talented veterans. Still, the former Five-Star Plus+ prospect flashed serious potential in 2025, including making five of his 15 total tackles in his lone start last season against Illinois. Given the Buckeyes\u2019 losses to the NFL, Sanchez will be counted on early and often to establish himself as a key figure within Matt Patricia<\/a>\u2018s standout secondary in 2026.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cThe No. 1 cornerback and fifth-best player overall in the 2025 class, Sanchez expects to hear his name called on Day 1 two years from now in the\u00a0NFL Draft\u00a0as long as his development keeps up.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite starting the season behind veteran Eli Holstein<\/a>, Heintschel showed more than enough at practice to eventually get promoted to QB1 in Week 4 after some early-season struggles by Holstein. And once there, Heintschel never looked back, throwing for 2,354 yards and 16 touchdowns on 63.6% passing while going 6-3 in nine starts in 2025. If he can continue to make strides in 2026, Heintschel could be primed to make the Panthers a serious contender in an already crowded ACC title field.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cWith spotlight opportunities this fall against\u00a0Miami,\u00a0Louisville\u00a0and two Friday night showdowns with\u00a0Virginia Tech\u00a0and Florida State, Heintschel has a chance to muddy up the ACC title picture for perceived contenders.\u201d<\/p>\n The former five-star prospect quickly established himself as a reliable reserve and eventually worked his way into the Crimson Tide starting lineup as a true freshman. After finishing the 2025 season with 34 tackles, five pass breakups and a pair of interceptions, Lee was named to the On3 True Freshman All-American team. Now, the physical 6-foot-4 and 205-pound Lee will be counted on to be a lock-down corner for Alabama, which enters a pivotal Year 3 under head coach Kalen DeBoer<\/a>.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cLee made an immediate impact in Tuscaloosa as an all-SEC freshman team honoree after showing coaches he was the most consistent option at cornerback and unseating previous starter, Domani Jackson.\u201d<\/p>\n The 6-foot-7, 255-pound Williams came to Athens as a four-star recruit and the No. 1 overall TE in the entire 2025 recruiting cycle, but was relegated to a mostly blocking role while playing behind veterans Oscar Delp<\/a> and Lawson Luckie<\/a>. This season, though, Williams will be the Bulldogs\u2019 No. 2 behind only Luckie, and is poised for a breakout year within a Georgia offense that likes to highlight its mismatch TEs. And given his size, Williams\u2019 presence could be especially pivotal in red-zone situations.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cMike Bobo<\/a>\u2018s multi-tight end sets will come in full force with Williams being a dependable third-down and red-zone threat as a sophomore.\u201d<\/p>\n The four-star local Miami product proved to be a playmaker from the get-go, securing three of his ACC-leading six interceptions across the Hurricanes\u2019 first five games of the 2025 season. And that was mostly in a reserve role with just four starts as a freshman. Given an increased role in 2026, and his production last season, Fitzgerald could be primed to challenge Miami\u2019s single-season interception record of 10 set by late Hurricanes legend Sean Taylor in 2003.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cWith more snaps coming his way this fall, Fitzgerald\u2019s numbers could be record-setting as one of the program\u2019s top players at the back end in several years.\u201d<\/p>\n As one of a handful of former LSU players that pulled a reverse-Lane Kiffin<\/a> and left Baton Rouge for Oxford this offseason, the 6-foot-5 and 330-pound Curne has already secured a starting spot along the Rebels\u2019 rebuilt offensive line this Spring. The former four-star prospect started five of the eight games he played for the Tigers in 2025, four of which came in SEC play. With QB Trinidad Chambliss<\/a> back in 2026, Curne will be counted on to keep the Rebels superstar clean during what could be another Playoff push.<\/p>\n CBS Sports: \u201cA four-star signee in LSU\u2019s 2025 class, Curne started five of the eight games he appeared in as a true freshman and was courted by several programs in the portal \u2026 before signing with the Rebels.\u201d<\/p>\n 11. Mandrell Desir<\/a>, EDGE, Florida State Seminoles<\/a>
12. Michael Fasusi<\/a>, OT, Oklahoma Sooners<\/a>
13. Kaliq Lockett<\/a>, WR, Texas Longhorns<\/a>
14. Gideon Davidson<\/a>, RB, Clemson Tigers<\/a>
15. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng<\/a>, LB, Michigan Wolverines<\/a>
16. Jayden Sellers<\/a>, WR, South Carolina Gamecocks<\/a>
17. Byron Baldwin<\/a>, S, Indiana Hoosiers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While there are always a select few stars that shine as freshmen, more times than not it takes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":663075,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[125632,125633,290112,185249,64052,1383,1384,290113,399,1386,170455,290114,1399,170457,196223,127831,1410,290115,398,396,397,99],"class_list":["post-663074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-football","tag-brandon-finney-25-mcdonogh-school","tag-bryce-fitzgerald-25-belen-jesuit-prep","tag-byron-baldwin-25-calvert-hall-college","tag-carius-curne-25-marion","tag-devin-sanchez-25-north-shore","tag-dijon-lee-25-mission-viejo","tag-dj-pickett-25-zephyrhills","tag-elyiss-williams-25-camden-county","tag-football","tag-gideon-davidson-25-liberty-christian-academy","tag-jaron-keawe-sagapolutele-25-james-campbell","tag-jayden-sellers-25-south-florence","tag-kaliq-lockett-25-sachse","tag-malachi-toney-25-american-heritage","tag-mandrell-desir-25-norland","tag-mason-heintschel-25-clay","tag-michael-fasusi-25-lewisville","tag-nathaniel-owusu-boateng-25-img-academy","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-football","tag-ncaafootball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=663074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/663075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=663074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=663074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=663074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}