DALLAS (FWAA) – Each week during the 2025 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.
For the fifth straight year the top first-year coach in the FBS will be honored at a special reception Feb. 23, 2026 at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Fla. The Spurrier Legends Awardee Coach and Freshmen Players of the Year will also be honored.
Here are the top performances from Week 2, the weekend of Sept. 6:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Zach Crothers, DL, Pittsburgh (6-4, 255, Westin, FL): 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 TFL
Crothers helped Pittsburgh comfortably improve to 2-0 with a 45-17 win over Central Michigan.
The true freshman logged his first career sack and was tied for third on the team in total tackles.
Crothers aided a Panther run defense that allowed just 40 yards rushing on 41 attempts.
Crothers can further endear himself to Pittsburgh fans with another dominant game at bitter rival
West Virginia this Saturday.
Brad Jackson, QB, Texas State (6-0, 200, San Antonio, Tx.): 18/26, 286 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT;
12 rushes, 34 yards, 2 TD Jackson’s explosive performance headlined Texas State’s 43-36 upset of UTSA last Saturday.
The redshirt freshman impressed in dual-threat fashion, gaining over 300 total yards and three
total touchdowns. Jackson’s first two scores came on the ground, but he took the lead for good
in the fourth quarter with a 65-yard touchdown strike to Beau Sparks. Jackson would love to
earn an early signature win this Saturday when the Bobcats visit reigning Big 12 champion
Arizona State.
Parker Livingstone, WR, Texas (6-4, 191, Lucas, Tx.): 4 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD
Livingstone was the cornerstone of Texas’ receiving corps in its 38-7 win over San Jose State.
The redshirt freshman set the tone for the win, scoring both of the Longhorns’ first quarter
touchdowns. Livingstone, who also scored the lone Texas touchdown in last week’s loss to Ohio
State, drew first blood against San Jose State with an 83-yard touchdown catch. The former 3-
star recruit will try to score for a third straight week when Texas hosts UTEP this Saturday.
Dakorien Moore, WR, Oregon (5-11, 182, Duncanville, Tx.): 2 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD; 1
rush, 25 yards, 1 TD
Moore flashed the elite speed and playmaking ability that made him such a sought-after talent in
high school. The true freshman helped Oregon beat Oklahoma State 69-3, burning the
Cowboys’ secondary vertically on a 65-yard touchdown catch and horizontally on a 25-yard
touchdown run. Moore has averaged an extremely efficient 19 yards per catch in two games this
season. He’ll look for another explosive outing in his Big Ten debut at Northwestern this
weekend.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Matt Entz, Fresno State: Entz’s Bulldogs upset Oregon State 36-27 with physicality and
scoring from all three sides of the ball. Fresno State rushed for 199 yards on 27 carries — good
for 7.4 yards per rush — and two touchdowns. The Bulldogs also returned an interception and a
punt for touchdowns in the win. Fresno State hosts Southern this Saturday before Entz makes
his Mountain West debut on Sept. 20.
Dan Mullen, UNLV: Mullen’s Rebels look much better than they did in their Week Zero game in
the national spotlight two weeks ago. UNLV upset UCLA 30-23 on Saturday thanks to a three-
touchdown day from Virginia transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea. UCLA made a late push
to tie the game before Aamaris Brown picked off Nico Iamaleava in the red zone with less than
a minute remaining. Mullen can focus on tweaking this week as the Rebels are off before
visiting Miami of Ohio on Sept. 20.
Jimmy Rogers, Washington State: Rogers and the Cougars hammered San Diego State,
which entered as a 1.5-point underdog, 36-13. Washington State quarterback Jaxon Potter led
the way with 257 yards passing and three touchdowns. Rogers’ defense allowed just 215 yards,
and San Diego State was 2-for-13 in third-down conversion attempts. Washington State can
improve to 3-0 with a win at North Texas this Saturday.
Brian Smith, Ohio: Smith earned his first career by a 17-10 final over Big 12 member West
Virginia. Ohio bullied the Mountaineers, rushing for 247 yards on 22 attempts, averaging 11.2
yards per carry. The Bobcats outgained the Mountaineers 429-250, and West Virginia was just
2-for-13 in third down conversion attempts. Ohio has a much tougher Power 4 team to prepare
for this week with a trip to Ohio State scheduled for Saturday night.
For more information on attending or sponsoring the Fifth Annual reception at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille for the Steve Spurrier First-Year and Legend Coach plus Freshman Player of the Year awards on Monday, Feb. 23, please contact Tricia Garzon of the JAG Agency at 352-214-2331. The media contact for the Freshman All-America Team is committee chairman and FWAA member Mike Griffith, contacted at 770-845-3244 and mikegriffith032@gmail.com.
Chris Doering Mortgage, based in Gainesville, Fla., was established in April 2007 as a residential lending company providing mortgage products including conventional, FHA, USDA, and VA loans. The branch is a division of MortgageAdvisors.com – 3940 NW 16th Blvd., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32605 – NMLS 70168/1937321. FHA Lender ID 2631500094. For more information, visit ChrisDoeringMortgage.com. College football analyst Chris Doering, a former wide receiver for Coach Spurrier both in college and the NFL, serves as the branch manager.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516.