Campus Favorites: 10 Freshman the a home fans are GUARANTEED to love

10 Freshmen who are guaranteed to be fan favorites

With all of the changes in today's college game, it's sometimes hard as fans to know who to become real fans of anymore and who to really invest in.  Putting your emotions in an athlete can be an iffy proposition these days: what if they leave you?  What if they turn out not to be the team player you thought they were, and you're disappointed you chose them as your favorite?  What if you buy their jersey and they let you down, and now you are out $125 and you aren't proud to wear it to any more matches?  Well, don't worry any longer, we have made a list of 10ish athletes that you can support, cheer, buy jerseys all you want, and they aren't going to let you down.  Here is our list of Freshmen that we GUARANTEE will be Fan Favorites right off the bat in their new homes.

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1.  Reese Messer - Setter USC - I've been looking for write ups on the Trojans and haven't seen much from camp so not sure what the status is and I'm not close with the USC so have no clue even though I've talked alot abotu Reese being my darkhorse for B1G Freshman of the Year (beating out her teammate and club friend Abigail Mullen).  But, I've simply always thought Messer was way undervalued in this class, so much so that I've thought she could be at times the #1 setter in the class.  She is a goofball, and she also loved basketball, so I think both those things hurt her with USA VB folks and hurt her promotion through the ranks.  Athletes love playing with her, and her temperament is great for playing with high-intensity players, and it's perfect for the West Coast.  My interviews with Reese were some of the most enjoyable I've done, talking freely for 20 minutes + about hoops, our dogs, whatever after we stopped recording.  I think teammates will play free and relaxed with her at the helm, reporters will enjoy interviewing her, coaches will enjoy working with her as the floor general, and she simply seems like someone that the fan base can get behind and cheer for.
2. Charlotte Vinson - Outside Indiana - Where do want to start with reasons to pull for Vinson?  Talented in-state girl who chose to stay home because she wants to be part of building a WINNER AT IU.  OK, how does any Hoosier fan in America not want to high-five this gal for that alone #LetsGo!!!  Then, she overcomes a near-death illness that seriously could have killed her, fights it off only to recover (faster, of course), and gets back in the gym immediately and is on the court competing like she never left, helping her team and then her club.  Instead of enrolling early, she stays back so she can work one-on-one with her club director (maybe one of the most notorious toughest gyms in America) because she feels like she lost so much being sick.  This athlete is EVERYTHING anyone would want to cheer for anyway, and she happens to be one of the most talented commits you have ever had besides.
3. The "Little Goats" - Texas 2025 Class - It is actually proven you can go read the article on the Hook Em Horns fan page we did an actual break down of what the Jr. Class at Nebraska would have been given for PPV scores and what this Texas class was given and this class did come out slightly ahead of Nebraska, thus earning the title of GOAT Recruiting Class.  We are the only site that actually posts how we do our rankings still.  But, we couldn't pick and were not taking up 3-4 spots to name multiple players, so we grouped them all together, because honestly, Hook Em Nation, this is a group that so far, at least, really enjoys playing with each other, no matter who plays.  They do everything together and understand who is ahead of whom already on the depth charts, and it doesn't matter; they just really enjoy each other.  It's a really enjoyable group to interview and talk with, much different than, well, let's just say other groups.  There is no ego, there aren't really any nationally famous stars, and when you shut the camera off, they don't change who they are.  They are still very polite and friendly.  They don't turn into different people who don't have time for you.  I've talked with many of them when I have had NIL questions, and they have helped me.  The group is approachable, oh, and by the way, they are extremely locked in on WINNING and are competitive, but they don't let that consume them. It's almost like they look out for each other off the court and protect one another from anyone who may bring up anything else.  So fanwise they honestly are like a group of very normal 18-19 yeare olds when you would see them around town just doing things together, but they bleed burnt orange and they are all-in on Texas Volleyball, so it's a group that is going to be very easy to like all of them and get close to very quickly.
4. Tereya "T" Sigler - Outside Nebraska-  You want to talk about magnetic personality, that is "T".  She is always on and so comfortable being that center of it all.  At Dream Team, she was that buffer, that comfort zone between all of the campers and the upperclassmen.  They all navigated to T because they knew her from the club and felt safe around her, and she was amazing with every one of them, just long enough for each of them to get the courage to meet 1 or 2 new Huskers, and that was all they needed, and they were fine.  Nebraska fans have always taken stars like that to a different place, and get ready because it is 100% natural for Sigler; she will do any of the meet and greets or stop and talk with fans at the grocery store or downtown.   Who knows how many extra free pics she will take with fans? She is just that person.  Get ready, Husker Nation, you're going to love "T".
5. Tekeo Barnes - Outside Georgia - Not sure if you people can tell that she was one of my favorites in the class yet, I just thought she was so overlooked in the club, yeah, an inch short on the pin, but she was Charlotte Glass' favorite target on their nationals run that Junior year.  I just think the people in Norman are going to appreciate her all-out effort and her power.  Hopefully, she fits in and the program grows, and she fits into it, but she plays full speed, and I think a good fan base appreciates that.
6. Tenseynse Frye - Setter Houston - Maybe my nephew Zach and I's favorite hidden gem in the entire class.  We noticed her at the Northern Lights tourney in her 16th year and followed her and her team the rest of the way, and were following all of her interests until she committed.  One thing we know is that if you play on the Idaho Crush squad, you are tough as nails, so Cougar fans, you are getting a 6'1" tough setter.  Houston fans you are simply going to love her game and her demeanor is alot like Reese Messer, very laid back a bit goofy (Now Frye has a bit more DAWG in her and can get after ya) when needed.  I just think she is one very good setter with a great attitude that is going to draw fans' attention early.
7. Lily Hayes - Libero Florida- Come on, if you can't get excited for Hayes.  She's amazing and the bright spot of Florida recruiting right now, and she had an amazing Summer.  She should come in and play right away, which should provide a spark and excite the fan base, giving them a young star to cheer for.
8. Caliegh Ponn - Libero KState - Ok, Caliegh is a great story, and in Manhattan, that is becoming more and more of a volleyball town.  She just became better and better and slowly received more and more recognition before blowing up after she committed, and then last year had an amazing year with some great opportunities, including being named State Player of the Year!  She's a baller and an all-out libero that will sell out on every play to get PT and to win a match.  KState fans will get behind a player like that, and she will grow on the community quickly.
9. Devyn Weist - Outside Utah - I talked to multiple college coaches around the country who simply said, "We missed on Devyn, dang, is she really good? Utah is going to be really good with her!"  Now, coaches don't usually admit they missed on other recruits, so that tells just how good Weist is.
10. Carly Gilk - Opposite Minnesota - Again, an in-state kid who originally had no plans to stay home at all.  Commits to the Gophers to help build them back into a B1G contender.  Reason enough to love and cheer for the girl right there, but the fact that she turned down interest from rivals and several nationally ranked programs to do so is even better.  She's a metro kid and understands the rivalries and the history of the program, so winning is understood by Gilk; she gets it and wants it.  I think drive and passion is needed and will be appreciated by fired up Minnesota fans looking to get back to those Top 5-8 ranking days of a few years ago.  Gilk is also intense on the court when she gets rolling so Gopher fans will applaud that, combine all of those factors and you have the making of a legendary Gopher player of years gone by.