Phall
Master
Cosmopolitan sports journalist Bruce Feldman compiles an annual “Freaks List” of college football players with particularly impressive measurables.
There doesn’t seem to be any clear system for how Feldman determines his rankings. His blurbs focus on weight rooms feats and speed drill records, leaving actual on-field exploits as afterthoughts. No idea how player #20 might be considered “freakier” than player #80 (no homo) or how he gauges between positions.
Feldman does a decent job of peppering white players into his list. He doesn’t use any of the traditional backhanded compliments in his verbiage. In that way, he writes more fairly than the popular scouting services.
Inclusion in this list reflects little on a player's projected playing time or pro interest. For example, #39 TE Alex Honig of Connecticut is a backup to probable pro Louis Hansen, and #62 DT/DE Manny Biegel isn't even likely to play meaningful snaps for Michigan.
Feldman publishes for The Athletic, which is now owned by the New York Times: College football Freaks List 2025: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith tops a list of 101
I’ve attempted to collate all the white players here. I don’t read The Athletic, but if you wanted to do that without paying for a NYT subscription, this browser extension would help
No. 7 Logan Jones, Iowa, center
A former basketball player who was in the 260-pound range in high school, Jones first dunked in ninth grade at about 6-1. Now, at 303 pounds, he is one of the country’s best centers. Last year, Jones had zero sacks allowed in 280 pass blocking snaps, per PFF. He set the program record this offseason with a 705-pound squat. He holds the position record with a 36.6-inch vertical, a 1.53 10-yard split and a 4.09 shuttle. His 470-pound hang clean this summer is also a position record, but he was hoping to break the program record for all players held by another Freaks List alum, Tristan Wirfs.
“It’s a good number,” Jones said, “but I broke my hand in the winter, so I know I could’ve gotten more. Wirfs was five. I feel I could’ve gotten it, or gotten close at least. But I’m proud of my hang clean.”
No. 18 Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech, defensive lineman
The South African moved to Georgia when he was 10. His grandfather was a championship bodybuilder and his grandmother represented South Africa in the 1958 Commonwealth Games. The 6-3, 300-pounder, a Freaks List guy when he was at Penn State, made a big impact at Tech last year, earning second-team all-ACC honors after coming up with 23 tackles, five TFLs, one sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Van den Berg’s strength and agility numbers have risen. This summer he power cleaned 393, squatted 675 and bench pressed 450. His vertical jump of 36.5 inches was even more impressive. He also broad jumped 9-10 and hit 19.5 mph. Tech DB Will Kiker, a 195-pound walk-on, is another Freaky Yellow Jacket. He squatted more than triple his weight, doing 635, and cleaned more than double his weight, 393 pounds.
No. 22 Kade Pieper, Iowa, offensive guard
The 6-4, 290-pound former Nebraska state champion shot putter, who played in 11 games in 2024, is next in the long pipeline of Hawkeye O-line Freaks. Only a sophomore, Pieper already holds the program record (4.13) for fastest short shuttle among offensive guards. He also holds the vertical jump record for guards at 37.4 and for the best 10-yard dash program record at 1.52.
“He’s a Freak,” said Hawkeye center Logan Jones. “He can jump! It’s ridiculous. We don’t even practice broad jump, and the dude did like 10 feet.”
No. 35 Marlin Klein, Michigan, tight end
The TE from Germany made the Freaks List last year (No. 90). In 2024, he started six games and caught 13 passes for 108 yards and was named Most Improved Player on offense. The 6-6, 250-pound junior, who has hit 21.75 mph, broad jumped 9-7. This offseason, Klein ran a 6.89 in the three-cone drill. His former teammate Colston Loveland did it at 6.94 last offseason, and no tight end at this year’s combine did it quicker than that. Klein’s shuttle time of 4.25 this offseason would’ve been the fastest by any tight end at the combine.
No. 37 Chris D’Appolonia, Toledo, linebacker
He missed almost all of last year with a fractured hip suffered in the season opener. D’Appolonia showed a lot of promise as a true freshman in 2023, making eight tackles as one of Toledo’s top special-teamers. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the MAC’s best linebackers this year. The 6-3, 245-pounder is a high-level athlete. He clocked 21.94 mph on the GPS, broad jumped 10-8 and vertical jumped 34.5 inches. He also benched 355 pounds and squatted 555. The other Freaky athlete on the Rockets’ defense is 295-pound lineman Martez Poynter, who had seven TFLs in 2024. The near 300-pounder hit 19.77 mph on the GPS, did 35 reps of 225 on the bench and maxed 455 on the bench.
No. 39 Alex Honig, Connecticut, tight end
At 6-7, 270, Honig, a former quarterback from Bavaria, Germany, began his college career at TCU. He moved to tight end after a redshirt season and played in 12 of 15 games during TCU’s run to the title game. Honig won the starting job last season in large part because of his blocking ability, but he did have six catches, with three for touchdowns. At 6-7, 270 pounds with just 14 percent body fat, some scouts think he could project to offensive tackle at the next level because of his hulking frame and impressive athleticism.
There is a lot here. He’s cleaned 395 pounds — the most UConn strength coach Tyson Brown’s ever seen in his 16 years in the business. Honig, who has 11-inch hands, also benched 225 for 30 reps. He vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10-5. Honig would’ve been a pretty hot commodity had he gone in the portal this offseason, but he is very loyal to coach Jim Mora and the Huskies.
“He is a phenomenal guy with as good of a work ethic and character as I’ve been around,” said Brown, who has coached at Mississippi State, Baylor, Washington and Washington State. “He’s a big-time leader for us.”
No. 46 Cade Yacamelli, Wisconsin, running back
The junior was very effective in limited action, rushing 274 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries with a gaudy 8.3-yard per carry average in 2024. The 5-10, 220-pounder is a very explosive athlete. This offseason, he ran a 4.40 40, but that probably wasn’t his most impressive number. He did 10-9 3/4 inches on the broad jump, clocked a 3.96 shuttle time, squatted 635 pounds, vertical jumped 37 1/2 inches and did 33 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. His backfield mate, fullback Jackson Acker, is also pretty Freaky, a 6-2, 248-pounder who clocked a 4.50 40.
No. 48 Jake Golday, Cincinnati, linebacker
Golday finished second on the team in tackles last year (58) and had seven TFLs despite being limited by injuries over the season’s final three games. Still, he was PFF’s second-highest-graded linebacker in the Big 12 in 2024. The 6-4 1/2, 240-pounder has some elite testing numbers. He ran a 4.24 shuttle time, which would’ve been faster than any linebacker at this year’s combine. He broad jumped 10-7, which would’ve been second-best there. His 36-inch vertical and 1.54-second 10-yard split also stand out as did his 24 reps on the bench with 225 pounds. His max on the bench is 365. He did 19 pull-ups and hit 22.16 mph.
No. 50 Preston Ries, Iowa, linebacker
The former all-star QB didn’t get into any games last season, but don’t be surprised if he becomes a factor for the defense soon. A four-sport super athlete from a small town in Iowa (Monticello, pop. 4,056), the 6-1, 225-pound Reis already holds the program linebacker record with a 630-pound squat as well as a 41.4 vertical jump/ and 1.45-second 10.
No. 54 John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming, tight end
He started six games last year after overcoming an early-season injury and was still able to make second-team all-Mountain West. He was second on the Cowboys with 30 receptions for 425 yards and tied for the team lead with three TDs. The former high school basketball standout only played one season of football before coming to college, but he has the kind of athleticism at 6-5, 250 pounds that will intrigue NFL scouts. He’s hit 21.6 mph and his flying 10-yard time of 0.93 seconds is impressive, as are his 37-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump. He squatted 500 pounds, benched 350 (up 25 pounds from last year) and cleaned 335.
No. 62 Manuel Beigel, Michigan, defensive lineman
A soccer player from Germany who didn’t pick up football until 2020, Biegel redshirted last season as a 6-5, 280-pounder. He has added 35 pounds and displayed “rare traits in both movement and strength and power,” said strength coach Justin Tress. “He weighs 315 pounds and moves like a linebacker.” Beigel has uncanny flexibility in his lower body in his ankles, knees and hips, which is evident in how quickly and deep he goes squatting 425 pounds for three reps, Tress said.
Beigel also rocketed up the reactive plyo stairs in 2.64 seconds, best of any offensive or defensive linemen in the program. Former All-American Aidan Hutchinson once did it in 2.57 seconds but he weighed 50 pounds less. Beigel isn’t the only Freaky Wolverine in the D-line room. Ike Iwunnah, a 6-3, 320-pound senior, is just the third player in Michigan history who has done 800 pounds on the combo twist, joining Mike Onwenu and 2022 Freaks Lister Mazi Smith. Iwunnah also completed the reactive plyo stairs in 2.75 seconds (Mazi Smith did it in 2.82 seconds).
No. 69 Nick Morris, Duke, linebacker
Another Freaks List returnee, Morris’ 2024 season was over almost as soon as it began. He started the opener against Elon but suffered a season-ending injury. In 20 career games, he has made 75 tackles with three TFLs. The 6-3, 238-pound fifth-year senior looked more than ready for 2025 this summer. He vertical jumped 40 inches and broad jumped 10-2 1/4. He hit 21.73 mph on the GPS, clocked a 4.28 shuttle time and a 6.72 three-cone drill. His power numbers also were outstanding, bench pressing 415, squatting 573 and power cleaning 366.
No. 85 Eli Raridon, Notre Dame, tight end
After returning from an ACL injury that hampered him for parts of his freshman and sophomore seasons, the junior started three games, catching 11 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-6, 255-pound second-generation Irish football player displayed plenty of explosiveness this offseason, vertical jumping 34 inches and broad jumping 9-10. He’s also quite strong, benching 350 pounds, power cleaning 335 and squatting 535.
No. 87 Zach Barlev, Old Dominion, offensive lineman
The former Illinois O-lineman, who made Academic All-Big Ten in his two seasons there, made third-team All-Sun Belt in 2024, starting three games at left guard and then ODU’s final nine games at left tackle. The 6-4, 319-pound senior, who played five sports in high school (football, baseball, wrestling, golf and track and field), ran a laser-timed 1.58 10-yard split this offseason. His top GPS speed was 18.18 mph. He squatted 655 pounds and benched 425.
No. 90 Daniel Sparks, Virginia, punter
One of the ACC’s best punters looks and moves like an ACC power forward. Sparks, who averaged 44.6 yards per punt and had 25 percent of his kicks pinned inside the opponent’s 20 last season, is 6-6 1/2, 223 pounds. This offseason, he broad jumped 10-5 ½ and vertical jumped 33 1/2 inches. Only four DBs at this year’s combine ran faster than his 4.25-second shuttle time.
No. 93 Baron Tipton, North Texas, wide receiver
This is an intriguing young prospect who redshirted last season, catching one pass in three games. At 6-5, 211 pounds, Tipton, a former high school track standout in Texas, vertical jumped 41 inches this offseason and broad jumped 10-5. He also power cleaned 315 and clocked a 1.43-second 10-yard time with a 10-yard run-up.
No. 99 Paolo Gennarelli, Army, offensive lineman
Gennarelli started all 14 games at right guard and played a key role in Army’s O-line winning the 2024 Joe Moore Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football, the first Group of 5 school to win the award. The 6-1, 300-pound junior, an AP All-America Third-Team honoree, is one of the strongest men in college football. He bench pressed 505 pounds, squatted 605 and did a sumo deadlift of 625.
There doesn’t seem to be any clear system for how Feldman determines his rankings. His blurbs focus on weight rooms feats and speed drill records, leaving actual on-field exploits as afterthoughts. No idea how player #20 might be considered “freakier” than player #80 (no homo) or how he gauges between positions.
Feldman does a decent job of peppering white players into his list. He doesn’t use any of the traditional backhanded compliments in his verbiage. In that way, he writes more fairly than the popular scouting services.
Inclusion in this list reflects little on a player's projected playing time or pro interest. For example, #39 TE Alex Honig of Connecticut is a backup to probable pro Louis Hansen, and #62 DT/DE Manny Biegel isn't even likely to play meaningful snaps for Michigan.
Feldman publishes for The Athletic, which is now owned by the New York Times: College football Freaks List 2025: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith tops a list of 101
I’ve attempted to collate all the white players here. I don’t read The Athletic, but if you wanted to do that without paying for a NYT subscription, this browser extension would help
No. 7 Logan Jones, Iowa, center
A former basketball player who was in the 260-pound range in high school, Jones first dunked in ninth grade at about 6-1. Now, at 303 pounds, he is one of the country’s best centers. Last year, Jones had zero sacks allowed in 280 pass blocking snaps, per PFF. He set the program record this offseason with a 705-pound squat. He holds the position record with a 36.6-inch vertical, a 1.53 10-yard split and a 4.09 shuttle. His 470-pound hang clean this summer is also a position record, but he was hoping to break the program record for all players held by another Freaks List alum, Tristan Wirfs.
“It’s a good number,” Jones said, “but I broke my hand in the winter, so I know I could’ve gotten more. Wirfs was five. I feel I could’ve gotten it, or gotten close at least. But I’m proud of my hang clean.”
No. 18 Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech, defensive lineman
The South African moved to Georgia when he was 10. His grandfather was a championship bodybuilder and his grandmother represented South Africa in the 1958 Commonwealth Games. The 6-3, 300-pounder, a Freaks List guy when he was at Penn State, made a big impact at Tech last year, earning second-team all-ACC honors after coming up with 23 tackles, five TFLs, one sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Van den Berg’s strength and agility numbers have risen. This summer he power cleaned 393, squatted 675 and bench pressed 450. His vertical jump of 36.5 inches was even more impressive. He also broad jumped 9-10 and hit 19.5 mph. Tech DB Will Kiker, a 195-pound walk-on, is another Freaky Yellow Jacket. He squatted more than triple his weight, doing 635, and cleaned more than double his weight, 393 pounds.
No. 22 Kade Pieper, Iowa, offensive guard
The 6-4, 290-pound former Nebraska state champion shot putter, who played in 11 games in 2024, is next in the long pipeline of Hawkeye O-line Freaks. Only a sophomore, Pieper already holds the program record (4.13) for fastest short shuttle among offensive guards. He also holds the vertical jump record for guards at 37.4 and for the best 10-yard dash program record at 1.52.
“He’s a Freak,” said Hawkeye center Logan Jones. “He can jump! It’s ridiculous. We don’t even practice broad jump, and the dude did like 10 feet.”
No. 35 Marlin Klein, Michigan, tight end
The TE from Germany made the Freaks List last year (No. 90). In 2024, he started six games and caught 13 passes for 108 yards and was named Most Improved Player on offense. The 6-6, 250-pound junior, who has hit 21.75 mph, broad jumped 9-7. This offseason, Klein ran a 6.89 in the three-cone drill. His former teammate Colston Loveland did it at 6.94 last offseason, and no tight end at this year’s combine did it quicker than that. Klein’s shuttle time of 4.25 this offseason would’ve been the fastest by any tight end at the combine.
No. 37 Chris D’Appolonia, Toledo, linebacker
He missed almost all of last year with a fractured hip suffered in the season opener. D’Appolonia showed a lot of promise as a true freshman in 2023, making eight tackles as one of Toledo’s top special-teamers. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the MAC’s best linebackers this year. The 6-3, 245-pounder is a high-level athlete. He clocked 21.94 mph on the GPS, broad jumped 10-8 and vertical jumped 34.5 inches. He also benched 355 pounds and squatted 555. The other Freaky athlete on the Rockets’ defense is 295-pound lineman Martez Poynter, who had seven TFLs in 2024. The near 300-pounder hit 19.77 mph on the GPS, did 35 reps of 225 on the bench and maxed 455 on the bench.
No. 39 Alex Honig, Connecticut, tight end
At 6-7, 270, Honig, a former quarterback from Bavaria, Germany, began his college career at TCU. He moved to tight end after a redshirt season and played in 12 of 15 games during TCU’s run to the title game. Honig won the starting job last season in large part because of his blocking ability, but he did have six catches, with three for touchdowns. At 6-7, 270 pounds with just 14 percent body fat, some scouts think he could project to offensive tackle at the next level because of his hulking frame and impressive athleticism.
There is a lot here. He’s cleaned 395 pounds — the most UConn strength coach Tyson Brown’s ever seen in his 16 years in the business. Honig, who has 11-inch hands, also benched 225 for 30 reps. He vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10-5. Honig would’ve been a pretty hot commodity had he gone in the portal this offseason, but he is very loyal to coach Jim Mora and the Huskies.
“He is a phenomenal guy with as good of a work ethic and character as I’ve been around,” said Brown, who has coached at Mississippi State, Baylor, Washington and Washington State. “He’s a big-time leader for us.”
No. 46 Cade Yacamelli, Wisconsin, running back
The junior was very effective in limited action, rushing 274 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries with a gaudy 8.3-yard per carry average in 2024. The 5-10, 220-pounder is a very explosive athlete. This offseason, he ran a 4.40 40, but that probably wasn’t his most impressive number. He did 10-9 3/4 inches on the broad jump, clocked a 3.96 shuttle time, squatted 635 pounds, vertical jumped 37 1/2 inches and did 33 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. His backfield mate, fullback Jackson Acker, is also pretty Freaky, a 6-2, 248-pounder who clocked a 4.50 40.
No. 48 Jake Golday, Cincinnati, linebacker
Golday finished second on the team in tackles last year (58) and had seven TFLs despite being limited by injuries over the season’s final three games. Still, he was PFF’s second-highest-graded linebacker in the Big 12 in 2024. The 6-4 1/2, 240-pounder has some elite testing numbers. He ran a 4.24 shuttle time, which would’ve been faster than any linebacker at this year’s combine. He broad jumped 10-7, which would’ve been second-best there. His 36-inch vertical and 1.54-second 10-yard split also stand out as did his 24 reps on the bench with 225 pounds. His max on the bench is 365. He did 19 pull-ups and hit 22.16 mph.
No. 50 Preston Ries, Iowa, linebacker
The former all-star QB didn’t get into any games last season, but don’t be surprised if he becomes a factor for the defense soon. A four-sport super athlete from a small town in Iowa (Monticello, pop. 4,056), the 6-1, 225-pound Reis already holds the program linebacker record with a 630-pound squat as well as a 41.4 vertical jump/ and 1.45-second 10.
No. 54 John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming, tight end
He started six games last year after overcoming an early-season injury and was still able to make second-team all-Mountain West. He was second on the Cowboys with 30 receptions for 425 yards and tied for the team lead with three TDs. The former high school basketball standout only played one season of football before coming to college, but he has the kind of athleticism at 6-5, 250 pounds that will intrigue NFL scouts. He’s hit 21.6 mph and his flying 10-yard time of 0.93 seconds is impressive, as are his 37-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump. He squatted 500 pounds, benched 350 (up 25 pounds from last year) and cleaned 335.
No. 62 Manuel Beigel, Michigan, defensive lineman
A soccer player from Germany who didn’t pick up football until 2020, Biegel redshirted last season as a 6-5, 280-pounder. He has added 35 pounds and displayed “rare traits in both movement and strength and power,” said strength coach Justin Tress. “He weighs 315 pounds and moves like a linebacker.” Beigel has uncanny flexibility in his lower body in his ankles, knees and hips, which is evident in how quickly and deep he goes squatting 425 pounds for three reps, Tress said.
Beigel also rocketed up the reactive plyo stairs in 2.64 seconds, best of any offensive or defensive linemen in the program. Former All-American Aidan Hutchinson once did it in 2.57 seconds but he weighed 50 pounds less. Beigel isn’t the only Freaky Wolverine in the D-line room. Ike Iwunnah, a 6-3, 320-pound senior, is just the third player in Michigan history who has done 800 pounds on the combo twist, joining Mike Onwenu and 2022 Freaks Lister Mazi Smith. Iwunnah also completed the reactive plyo stairs in 2.75 seconds (Mazi Smith did it in 2.82 seconds).
No. 69 Nick Morris, Duke, linebacker
Another Freaks List returnee, Morris’ 2024 season was over almost as soon as it began. He started the opener against Elon but suffered a season-ending injury. In 20 career games, he has made 75 tackles with three TFLs. The 6-3, 238-pound fifth-year senior looked more than ready for 2025 this summer. He vertical jumped 40 inches and broad jumped 10-2 1/4. He hit 21.73 mph on the GPS, clocked a 4.28 shuttle time and a 6.72 three-cone drill. His power numbers also were outstanding, bench pressing 415, squatting 573 and power cleaning 366.
No. 85 Eli Raridon, Notre Dame, tight end
After returning from an ACL injury that hampered him for parts of his freshman and sophomore seasons, the junior started three games, catching 11 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-6, 255-pound second-generation Irish football player displayed plenty of explosiveness this offseason, vertical jumping 34 inches and broad jumping 9-10. He’s also quite strong, benching 350 pounds, power cleaning 335 and squatting 535.
No. 87 Zach Barlev, Old Dominion, offensive lineman
The former Illinois O-lineman, who made Academic All-Big Ten in his two seasons there, made third-team All-Sun Belt in 2024, starting three games at left guard and then ODU’s final nine games at left tackle. The 6-4, 319-pound senior, who played five sports in high school (football, baseball, wrestling, golf and track and field), ran a laser-timed 1.58 10-yard split this offseason. His top GPS speed was 18.18 mph. He squatted 655 pounds and benched 425.
No. 90 Daniel Sparks, Virginia, punter
One of the ACC’s best punters looks and moves like an ACC power forward. Sparks, who averaged 44.6 yards per punt and had 25 percent of his kicks pinned inside the opponent’s 20 last season, is 6-6 1/2, 223 pounds. This offseason, he broad jumped 10-5 ½ and vertical jumped 33 1/2 inches. Only four DBs at this year’s combine ran faster than his 4.25-second shuttle time.
No. 93 Baron Tipton, North Texas, wide receiver
This is an intriguing young prospect who redshirted last season, catching one pass in three games. At 6-5, 211 pounds, Tipton, a former high school track standout in Texas, vertical jumped 41 inches this offseason and broad jumped 10-5. He also power cleaned 315 and clocked a 1.43-second 10-yard time with a 10-yard run-up.
No. 99 Paolo Gennarelli, Army, offensive lineman
Gennarelli started all 14 games at right guard and played a key role in Army’s O-line winning the 2024 Joe Moore Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football, the first Group of 5 school to win the award. The 6-1, 300-pound junior, an AP All-America Third-Team honoree, is one of the strongest men in college football. He bench pressed 505 pounds, squatted 605 and did a sumo deadlift of 625.
