Bryan Cole / Collegian File Photo

Learning in front of a crowd of 40,000 can̢۪t be easy, but midway through the season some true freshmen have been forced to step up and contribute for the Bulldogs.

Defensive tackles Logan Harrell and Chase McEntee and wide receiver Rashad Evans have been getting some playing time since the first few games of the season, but will be called on in more prominent roles with veteran players being injured.

While many true freshmen players in college football redshirt their first season to save their eligibility and learn, these Bulldogs will have to learn on the fly.

“At first it was pretty nerve-racking,â€Â Harrell said. “Being a freshman, that was a lot of responsibility going in.â€Â

While other members of the team have all summer to prepare for the season, true freshmen have only fall camp to get ready.

Freshmen often have a difficult time adjusting to the college game.

“Coming from high school to college, everything is so much faster,â€Â Harrell said. “The speed of everything is just incredible.â€Â

Defensive tackles Jon Monga, Cornell Banks and Wilson Ramos have all been injured this season, forcing coach Pat Hill to play McEntee and Harrell in their absence.

Monga, the senior leader on the defensive line, was injured in the first half of the Bulldogs̢۪ game at Toledo. In the second half, Harrell had five tackles and a quarterback pressure on the final play of the double-overtime thriller.

“Logan Harrell, I thought, played really well as a true freshman,â€Â Hill said.

On the offensive side of the ball, Evans has been forced to play because of injuries to receivers Marlon Moore, Jason Crawley and Devon Wylie.

All three receivers have missed significant playing time this season, but Evans has been there to pick up the slack.

“I just try to come out here and work hard and try to get some playing time,â€Â Evans said. “Then we had a few people go down, and I just had to step up.â€Â

Evans has made seven catches for 76 yards and has become the team̢۪s punt returner.

While the freshmen have room to improve, Hill has been pleased with their effort and improvement through the first six games.

“As it has turned out, we’re picking up steam with these young guys and I think we’re getting better,â€Â Hill said.

The bye week was a chance for the coaching staff to insert some new plays into the Bulldogs̢۪ playbook, with more action for the young players.

“I think with this bye week we’ll be able to open it up a little bit more as far as formations and getting the ball in the hands of playmakers,â€Â Hill said. “Rashad Evans, I think, is a playmaker.â€Â

While Evans, Harrell and McEntee have been able to step up for the Bulldogs, one true freshman who many thought was going to make an immediate impact has yet to see the field.

Quarterback Ebahn Feathers was the prize recruit of the 2008 recruiting class, but has not gotten a chance to take any snaps in a game situation.

Feathers was highly touted coming out of Washington Union High and has the ability to add a new dimension to the offense — a dual-threat quarterback.

But the Bulldogs have a senior Tom Brandstater at quarterback and have not yet needed Feathers. Brandstater has remained healthy through the first six games of the season, but Hill said that Feathers could be ready if there was an injury.

“If anything were to happen at the quarterback position, he’s ready to go with a package,â€Â Hill said, adding that Feathers has been progressing in practice and that the packages he is learning continue to grow each week.

If all goes to plan, Feathers will be able to redshirt this season and save his eligibility for the next four seasons, which could end up being exciting at the quarterback position.

“I think the guy really has savvy,â€Â Hill said.