While the return of college football offers excitement on its own, breakout players add another layer of enthusiasm.

Sometimes, we see it coming. In the case of Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, for example, he was a highly recruited prospect who the Huskers expected to play a critical role in 2024.

But others seem to emerge out of nowhere.

The focus isn't simply the best performances of the weekend. That would include Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

Since they're all established players, the spotlight turns to lesser-known names. Several may be familiar, but they've never produced at the level of what happened in Week 1.

Keon Sabb, S, Alabama

Last season, Keon Sabb played a complementary role on Michigan's defense. He notched 28 tackles and grabbed a couple of interceptions for the national champions.

In his Alabama debut, he matched the latter stat.

Sabb snagged a couple of picks on consecutive drives early in the victory over Western Kentucky. Bama promptly turned both of his takeaways into touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

"Keon, you can just see he was ready for that moment," Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer told reporters after the game. "He pounced when the opportunity came and made some really big plays and got our offense some great field position there early in the game."

Sabb chipped in two tackles during the rout, as well.

Nate Frazier, RB, Georgia

Trevor Etienne, who served a suspension in Week 1, will be Georgia's featured back when he returns.

But as he watched the opener from the sideline—and as a toe injury sidelined Roderick Robinson II—true freshman Nate Frazier took advantage of his opportunity against Clemson.

Frazier scampered for 83 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and added a 24-yard catch. Both his reception and a 40-yard run happened on the first play of a drive, and that explosive gain undoubtedly played a valuable part of UGA finding the end zone on those possessions.

Etienne is a potential star in the backfield. Frazier, meanwhile, has probably earned himself some carries anyway.

Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska

If you're a fan of Nebraska and feeling like you might spontaneously combust of excitement, I understand.

Dylan Raiola, a 5-star recruit in the 2024 cycle, was always seen as the future of the program once he flipped to the Huskers. After winning the QB competition this offseason, he's the now, too.

The son of Nebraska legend Dominic, he completed 19 of 27 passes with 238 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Raiola had a stretch of leading the Huskers to the end zone on four consecutive drives, which allowed NU to separate from UTEP in a 40-7 victory.

As long as Raiola plays reasonably well in 2024, the hype train won't be slowing down before his sophomore year.

If he leads the Huskers past rival Colorado in Week 2, though, be prepared for another wave of praise for Raiola.

Jahvaree Ritzie, DL, North Carolina

Jahvaree Ritzie is a familiar face on the North Carolina defense. He's been a contributor since his freshman year in 2021, notching 25-plus tackles in each of the last three seasons.

Never before had he done this.

The lineman generated six tackles with a trio of sacks in the Tar Heels' triumph at Minnesota. Ritzie entered the contest with 2.5 sacks in 39 career appearances but surpassed the mark in a single evening.

Poor defense plagued UNC last season, so Ritzie's breakout showing is especially encouraging for the Heels.

Ethan Hampton, QB, Northern Illinois

Back in 2022, Ethan Hampton played in four games—all losses—after Rocky Lombardi's knee injury. Hampton struggled in his lone significant action last season, tossing two interceptions in a loss to Tulsa.

Considering that history, it would be fair to have a little uneasiness about Hampton being QB1 in 2024.

Week 1 hardly could've gone better, though.

Hampton hit 18-of-20 throws for 328 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Sure it was only Western Illinois, but Hampton picked apart the lower-division squad and keyed the Huskies' 54-15 win.

Armed with an experienced defense, NIU will be a prime MAC contender if Hampton puts together a steady year.

Anthony Tyus III, RB, Ohio

Most of these performances happened in a victory, which is a very logical trend. Anthony Tyus III is an exception.

Syracuse earned a 38-22 win, but Ohio might've found a cornerstone piece in its transfer running back. Tyus rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in his Bobcats debut.

It was, without question, a career-best performance from him.

Tyus collected 210 rushing yards as a freshman at Northwestern in 2021. After managing only 19 carries as a sophomore, he tallied 238 yards on the ground last year. So, if you're keeping up, Tyus nearly eclipsed his previous season-high total in his first game at Ohio.

Ohio is seeking a third straight 10-win record, and Tyus clearly should be a critical part of that chase.

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

The bad news: Jeremiah Smith dropped his first target. Had he caught it—given the number of blockers Ohio State had storming ahead—the freshman might have scored on his first career touch.

Bummer, dude.

The good news: The wideout redeemed himself in a major way, finishing the Buckeyes' 52-6 rout of Akron with six receptions, 92 yards and two scores. Smith, who paced the offense in each of those categories, accounted for both of OSU's first-half touchdowns.

"You can see the talent," head coach Ryan Day told reporters after the game. "Sometimes you look at him, and you don't think he's quite human, but he is. ... He's built different."

If he becomes a consistent threat, Smith and Emeka Egbuka can form one of the country's more feared receiving duos.

Harrison Wallace III, WR, Penn State

When top receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith transferred to Auburn after spring practice, his departure left Penn State searching for answers at the position.

Harrison Wallace III only needed one afternoon to become the Nittany Lions' first solution.

On the first play of the second quarter, a perfect throw from Drew Allar hit Wallace in stride. He raced 50 yards, untouched, to the house and gave PSU a lead it wouldn't relinquish at West Virginia.

Wallace scored again with six seconds left before halftime, snaring a back-shoulder pass from Allar.

The duo connected five times for 117 yards and those two scores as Penn State cruised to a 34-12 triumph.

Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina

Dylan Stewart saved South Carolina from an embarrassing loss.

As the fourth quarter ticked past the halfway mark, the Gamecocks trailed Old Dominion 19-16. They desperately needed a clutch play, and Stewart—a true freshman—made his debut a special one.

ODU quarterback Grant Wilson saw a running lane and tried to sprint through the hole. Stewart shed a blocker and punched the ball loose, and defensive tackle DeAndre Jules pounced on the fumble to set up South Carolina just six yards from the end zone.

Two snaps later, the Gamecocks jumped to a 23-19 advantage that—though it took two more defensive stops—would be the final score.

Stewart ended his memorable opener with four tackles (1.5 sacks), two forced fumbles and a hurry.

Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia put together a tremendous year at New Mexico State in 2023, throwing for 2,973 yards, running for 923 and totaling 36 touchdowns as the Aggies won 10 games. He played a key role in NMSU stunning Auburn late in the season, too.

So, in some ways, it feels like a disservice to label him a breakout player. Pavia's reputation was already good.

But this was an incredible game.

This offseason, Pavia transferred to Vanderbilt—a program that mustered only two victories in 2023. And until Saturday, the Commodores hadn't defeated a non-SEC power-conference opponent since 2017.

Pavia, however, ended that streak against Virginia Tech. He went 12-of-16 for 190 yards and two touchdowns as a passer and scurried for 104 yards with a score. Pavia's four-yard touchdown run in overtime propelled the 'Dores to a 34-27 upset.

The season is young, and Vandy has much to prove. Pavia's impact, nevertheless, is already undeniable.