The comparisons make your jaw drop immediately. Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson ... T.A. McLendon?

Now, NC State Chuck Amato really wasn't saying his first-year RB was gonna do everything that those guys did, but those were the names he invoked when he spoke about how impressively McLendon has made the leap from Class 1A prep football to D1.

	T.A. McLendon ran all over Texas Tech.

McLendon, who set national records for touchdowns in a career (178) and in a season (71) at tiny Albemarle High in N.C., hammered Texas Tech last weekend for 150 yards and five TDs. "He is the real deal," Amato says. "And yeah, I do think he really does have the capablities of [Walker and Jackson]."

Of course, there was some question as to how quickly the 220-pounder would pick up State's terminology and intensity level. But Amato says McLendon answered the latter early on in two-a-days. "He broke one of our DB's noses and put another DB out with a shoulder injury."

You can ask Tech to see if there are any doubts as to whether he has a grip on the offense.

McLendon will make his first start Saturday. (He was to start at Texas Tech, but was late for his bus when the team left its hotel for the stadium, and Amato started Josh Brown instead.)

For the Pack, McLendon's rapid emergence has been a godsend. Senior Cotra Jackson was expected to be their starting TB, but he failed to become eligible in summer school. McLendon has stepped up and given State a balance with QB Philip Rivers, and now only an Oct. 12 meeting with UNC appears to be in the way of the Pack taking an 8-0 record into the Clemson game (Oct. 26).

So in honor of McLendon, and seeing as we're officially one month into the season, it's a good time to take stock of which true freshmen have made the biggest impact. (Note to all e-mailers, true freshmen, so I'm not talking about the Mizzou QB or Roscoe Parrish or whoever else benefited from redshirting last year.)

Fittingly, the toughest call was at tailback. Coaches say the quickest place for rookies to make their mark is at tailback, and this year's crop certainly supports that. Ohio State's Maurice Clarett might be the biggest story of the season thus far (well, outside of South Bend, that is), and as great as the big Buck has been, his numbers aren't that much better than those of McLendon, Syracuse's Damien Rhodes or UConn's pint-size Terry Caulley.

The best class, so far, has to go to Ohio State. In addition to Clarett, the Buckeyes are getting help from most of their top-five class. In fact, seven rookies are on the defense's two-deep.

Here is a quick look at a true freshman all-September squad:

WR: Brandon Williams, Wisc.: Shined in Lee Evans' absence, catching 18 passes for 250 yards.

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt: Big, physical wideout is looking like Pitt's much needed go-to guy. Is fourth in Big East in catches with 3.5 per.

TE: Eric Winston, Miami: Only two catches, but this agile 6'7", 265-pounder is already a devastating blocker.

OL: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, UVa: Has started all four games at LT and is thought to be the only TF O-lineman to start the opener in Cavs history.

OL: Chaz White, Ariz. St: Ultra-smooth; ASU coaches say he's another Levi Jones, last year's first-rounder.

OL: Randy Hand, Florida: Proven to be a force at RG for the Gators.

OL: Winston Justice, USC: Starter at RT, he's the first of Long Beach Poly's fab five to make an impact.

OL: Kili Lefotu, Arizona: Coaches like his toughness and that he can play both center and guard.

QB: Steven Jyles, ULM: A spindly unknown who simply has done more than any other rookie QB. Lit Ark. State up for three first-half TD passes and has thrown five touchdowns in the past two weeks.

RB: Maurice Clarett, OSU: Can block, catch and run. Is a legit Heisman hopeful.

RB: T.A. McLendon, NC State: Now, is there any doubt why people say his initials stand for Touchdown Anytime?

DL: Kwakou Robinson, UVa: Helping solve Cavs' run-stuffing woes, the 320-pound Brooklyn, N.Y. native is the first TF to start an opener on D since '86.

DL: Haloti Ngata, Oregon: A bull at 6'4", 333, he's been as good as advertised, making 10 tackles while freeing up LBs in Ducks scheme.

DL: Nick Leaders, Iowa St.: The son of ISU all-Big Eight LB Mike Leaders, the 6'2", 275-pound NG has 24 tackles, including making six and a sack against Iowa.

DL: Bryan Pickryl, Texas: DC Carl Reese loves his explosiveness. Despite being only 6'5", 210, Pickryl has four QB pressures and TFLs.

LB: Darryl Blackstock, UVa: Al Groh, an L.T. guy, gave him No. 56 and Blackstock has backed it up making three sacks and eight tackles per. Had five QB pressures against Akron last Saturday.

LB: Anthony Cannon, Tulane: Even though the Wave returned all 11 starters on D, this 216-pounder is the one leading in tackles with 36.

LB: D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland: Fourth in tackles (25), also has 3 TFLs and two forced fumbles.

DB: Justin Miller, Clemson: The Tigers' top recruit is a legit cover corner: had two INTs and was ACC Rookie of the Week vs. Louisiana Tech.

DB: J.J. Billingsley, Colo: Has been terrific in CU's dime package, he made 15 tackles vs. SD State.

DB: O.C. Collins, Memphis: A stud. Taken over FS job, has 31 tackles, including 12 against USM. Also has two INTs.

DB: Matt Fawley, Ariz. St: Could be the next great Sun Devil safety. Has made 17 tackles.

Random Notes: