Fifteen true freshmen who will make noise in 2007

Early enrollee Arrelious Benn has already established himself as Illinois' top receiver. AP

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For two of last year's most high-profile freshmen, the season ended with confetti raining down inside the domed University of Phoenix Stadium, as the electric playmaker and change-of-pace quarterback were crowned national champions.

There was no denying the impact Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow made in Florida's march to a title as role players who brought flash to coach Urban Meyer's offense. A number of other first-year guys made quite an impact on the national landscape, such as Clemson's all-purpose speedster C.J. Spiller, Alabama's hulking left tackle Andre Smith and USC's ball-hawking free safety Taylor Mays.

The bar has been set high, so who will headline this year's crop of rookies? Here's a look at the true freshmen (we're talking straight from high school, no prep school players included) who are most likely to make an immediate impact.

Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

High School: Dunbar (Washington, D.C.)

No player has already made the all-around impact Benn has at Illinois. The five-star recruit's surprise commitment gave a jolt to a team that hasn't been to a bowl since 2001 and to an offense in need of a true top-flight receiver.

"I think when you look at a guy that has his size and has his speed and then the athleticism and the power that he possesses, it really creates some matchup problems," Fighting Illini offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said.

During spring practice, the early enrollee solidified himself as Illinois' No. 1 wideout, developing instant on-field chemistry with quarterback Juice Williams. The duo connected five times in the spring game for 145 yards and a TD.

"Last year we led the Big Ten in rushing, and now, to create a little more balance offensively, you've got to upgrade the passing attack," Locksley said. "When you bring in a freshman that's 6-2, 220-pounds, that's a 4.4/4.3 guy, that's explosive and has tremendous abilities, that in itself lends to your offense."

Eric Berry, CB, Tennessee

High School: Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside

Volunteers fans can expect to see a lot of the nation's top-ranked prep cornerback this season -- a whole lot.

Along with competing for playing time in a secondary that returns just one starter, coaches are working to get the 5-foot-11, 194-pounder, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards and threw for over 1,000 yards as a senior, involved on both sides of the ball.

"We intend on doing that in the return game, punt return or whatever," Volunteers defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "Then the offense will take him, and obviously it would be in a limited role, where he can get the ball in his hands."

But job No. 1 for Berry is in the defensive backfield, where he's competing with senior Antonio Gaines and sophomore Marsalous Johnson for one of the starting corner spots.

"We finished the spring practice with two guys that we feel quite comfortable with, but we're going to play the best guy," Chavis said. "It's open competition. Those guys know if they want to keep their jobs they have to be better than him."

Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

High School: Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian

Easily the most-hyped recruit to don a Notre Dame uniform since Ron Powlus (I'll leave it up to you to decide if that's a good thing), Clausen has Irish fans clamoring to see "The Kid With The Golden Arm" immediately.

Rivals.com's top-rated prospect threw for 10,677 yards in his high school career and enrolled early at Notre Dame to get a leg up in the competition with Demetrius Jones and Evan Sharpley to succeed four-year starter Brady Quinn. Coach Charlie Weis has said he doesn't plan on naming a starter before ND's season opener and the Irish players are also dancing around the issue.

"[Clausen's] a talented player, there's no doubt about it, but we have three guys competing for the spot and they're all capable," senior tight end John Carlson said. "It's really nice to have three different options and in those options have three guys that can play and do a good job at it."

Coaches say Clausen is healthy despite rumors he is experiencing elbow trouble and could redshirt. He may not start Sept. 1 against Georgia Tech, but it's likely he'll follow the lead of Quinn, who started as a true freshman. Can he live up to the off-the-chart hype?

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