Is he already IN college?
If he is starting fall 2022, I agree…let him enjoy Christmas without blending in freshman year of college. There will be plenty of that when he graduates from high school.
If he is currently a college freshman, I would suggest this. Get him a tiny wallet that holds only cards (like credit cards…) but put the gift cards to local food places where he goes to college in there. Pizza, coffee, icecream, bakery…he will use those!