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Predicting the 10 highest-rated B1G players in EA Sports College Football 25
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In less than 2 months, EA Sports will officially release the latest installment of its college football video game franchise.
EA Sports College Football 25 will launch on July 19, giving fans their first update in this series since NCAA 14 was released back in the summer of 2013. Many of the details for the game, as well as an official trailer, were announced by EA Sports late last week.
There’s still a bit of mystery surrounding player ratings in this year’s game, however. Without further adieu, here’s a projection of the 10 highest-rated Big Ten players in EA Sports College Football 25:
Will Johnson | Michigan | CB | Predicted rating: 96
Will Johnson returns as arguably the nation’s top cornerback in 2024. A contributor in each of his first 2 seasons for the Wolverines, Johnson already has 7 interceptions and 7 pass deflections in his young career. He should be the highest-rated cornerback in the game and could be the highest-rated overall player from the Big Ten in EA Sports College Football 25.
Dillon Gabriel | Oregon | QB | Predicted rating: 94
Is there a more underrated quarterback in the country than Dillon Gabriel? All he did at Oklahoma last year was averaged 9.5 yards per attempt while posting a TD-to-INT ratio of 30-to-6. Gabriel’s contributions in Norman may have gone under-the-radar because the Sooners didn’t reach a high level of team success, but that was hardly Gabriel’s fault. With a stacked roster around him at Oregon, Gabriel should be recognized as an elite and experienced quarterback — and I think EA’s rating system will agree.
Emeka Egbuka | Ohio State | WR | Predicted rating: 93
Emeka Egbuka is a former 5-star prospect who has bided his time in Columbus while other future NFL stars had bigger roles. With Marvin Harrison Jr. now in the NFL, Egbuka (alongside freshman Jeremiah Smith) figures to be the top target for Will Howard in Ohio State’s passing game. Egbuka has already recorded 1,857 yards and 14 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
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Mason Graham | Michigan | DL | Predicted rating: 93
Mason Graham enters the 2024 season as one of the nation’s top pass rushers. As a sophomore last season, he recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks while playing in an elite front 7 for Michigan. After the Wolverines lost several key defenders to the NFL this offseason, Graham will be at the top of the scouting report for opposing offenses in 2024.
Abdul Carter | Penn State | Edge | Predicted rating: 92
The latest Penn State star to don the No. 11, Carter has already amassed 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his young career. He enters 2024 as one of the best pass rushers in the country, let alone the Big Ten. After Graham, Carter should be the highest-rated front 7 player from the Big Ten in this game.
Sebastian Castro | Iowa | CB | Predicted rating: 92
Cooper DeJean collected a lot of the headlines in Iowa’s secondary last season, but Sebastian Castro is a shutdown corner in his own right. Castro is a havoc machine — he created 8 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 8 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble for the Hawkeyes last season. Cornerback is a loaded position coming into 2024, especially in the Big Ten, but Castro is one of the best.
Colston Loveland | Michigan | TE | Predicted rating: 91
An elite tight end was unguardable in the right system in NCAA 14. With Brock Bowers on to the NFL, there may not be a better receiving tight end in the country than Colston Loveland. Last season, he caught 45 passes for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns. At 6-foot-5, Loveland has the frame to be a difference-maker offensively both as a receiver and as a blocker.
Caleb Downs | Ohio State | S | Predicted rating: 91
It’s not often that a true freshman can step on the field immediately and play for Alabama, but Downs was able to do that — and a lot more — in 2023. Downs made 107 tackles and collected 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble in 2023. Now at Ohio State, the Buckeyes need Downs to be an All-America-level safety in 2024.
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Donovan Edwards | Michigan | RB | Predicted rating: 90
Donovan Edwards was somewhat of a surprise inclusion on the cover for EA Sports College Football 25, but his presence there means the game developers clearly think highly of him. With Blake Corum NFL-bound, Edwards is set to emerge as the featured back in Michigan’s offense. He’ll need to have a big season if Michigan is going to meet expectations in 2024.
Denzel Burke | Ohio State | CB | Predicted rating: 89
Denzel Burke is entering his senior year at Ohio State. He’s been a contributor in all 3 of his previous seasons, totaling a remarkable 26 pass deflections during his career so far. Burke does only have 2 interceptions in his collegiate career, but opposing quarterbacks don’t often throw the ball his way. He’s the exact type of man-coverage cornerback you’ll be looking to build around in EA Sports College Football 25 this summer.
Honorable mentions (in no particular order): Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon; Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State; Jack Sawyer, Ohio State; Kyle Monangai, Rutgers; TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State; Kenneth Grant, Michigan; Tez Johnson, Oregon; Zachariah Branch, USC; JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State; Will Howard, Ohio State; Evan Stewart, Oregon.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.