CT, your examples of Goff/Hackenberg are good ones in reminding us that it's impossible to confidently project Browning/Rosen's and other freshmens' career trajectories. But one overriding element in Hackenberg's decline was Bill O'Brien's departure after his freshman year and the installation of a new offensive system. The hype around Hackenberg wasn't only based on his high school accomplishments and his measurables, but also on a genuinely productive freshman year. Maybe O'Brien's system masked his flaws and Franklin's system exposed them, but the coaching change was clearly the trigger for his declining performance.
As you correctly point out, the opportunity to play as a true freshman QB usually is a result of the program's weakness at the position due to poor recruiting or development, but the fact that Browning and Rosen both took advantage of the opportunity and played well right from their opening games is still notable and not the norm.
As you correctly point out, the opportunity to play as a true freshman QB usually is a result of the program's weakness at the position due to poor recruiting or development, but the fact that Browning and Rosen both took advantage of the opportunity and played well right from their opening games is still notable and not the norm.