They haven't been to their first class and have barely sampled the fine cuisine of Annenberg Hall, but a group of freshmen football players already has a good chance of seeing some playing time in tomorrow's season opener against Columbia.

Although sophomore defensive back Willie Alford was the only freshman to letter for Harvard last year, a strong recruiting class looks to make a significant impact this year. And while none of them will begin the season as starters, here are five young men that hope to be Harvard's stars of the future--today.

Local Boy Makes Good

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When you're one of the state's top high school quarterbacks, fall Saturday afternoons aren't any time for thinking about college football.

So although freshman Niall Murphy lives nearby in Lowell, Mass. and says that Harvard was his top college choice, he's only been to one Harvard football game in his life.

He was too busy leading his team to two consecutive victories in the Massachusetts Super Bowl and securing a spot on the All-State team and a USA Today honorable mention in the process.

Niall Murphy made his name well-known throughout recruiting circles as a quarterback for Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, where he started for three years. Tomorrow, however, he moves to the other side of the ball and will begin his Harvard career as the second-string free safety, backing up senior Ben Green.

With a good chance of seeing some playing time in tomorrow's opener, Murphy said he is looking forward to making his college debut in front of his friends and family from the area.