Predicting Florida's Top Players in EA Sports College Football 25
The wait is (almost) officially over.
On Thursday, EA Sports teased the long-awaited release of College Football '25 following the series' decade-long hiatus with a preliminary trailer showcasing jersey, mascot and stadium renderings.
The Florida Gators were included among the mix of programs notably featured in the promo. The official trailer is scheduled to be released in May 2024, with the game itself coming this summer.
In anticipation of the video game's triumphant return to the shelves, All Gators projects Florida's 10 highest-rated players upon release, accounting for each player's physical profiles and attributes, previous collegiate production and positional value in the prediction process.
To preface, there are several high-ceiling, currently-developing prospects on Florida's roster who are likely to receive overall ratings in the 70-to-79-point range, like rising sophomores, cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson and wide receiver Andy Jean, and freshman defensive lineman LJ McCray, for example.
They could climb into the low-to-mid-80s by the end of the 2024 season — maybe even coming with hidden development traits in the game if that carries over from the storied Madden franchise.
However, the projections below are based on each individual in their current form.
WR Eugene Wilson III
The core piece of UF's offense.
Florida wideout Eugene 'Tre' Wilson III burst onto the scene for the Gators as a freshman, quickly becoming the most dynamic playmaking threat the offense had at its disposal.
Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III celebrates after scoring one of two touchdowns against Arkansas in The Swamp in 2023.
Alex Shepherd
Accounting for 593 yards and six touchdowns from scrimmage, Wilson capitalized on his continuously increasing volume of touches in his first collegiate season. Demonstrating elite-level speed, burst and a knack for working in space, the former top 105 prospect proved to be the most versatile and explosive skill position player on Florida's roster — and in the SEC.
He's accordingly considered the shiniest star the unit has to offer ahead of 2024, resulting in a projected 92 overall rating.
With another productive year under his belt and further technical growth, Wilson could climb comfortably into the mid-to-high-90s by the time his junior campaign commences.
All Gators’ rating projection: 92
LB Shemar James
What Wilson is for the offense, third-year linebacker Shemar James is for the Gators' defense.
A stalwart of the unit for the past two seasons, James has served in a voluminous capacity from the second level, where he's found vast success working in both the middle linebacker and weak side roles.
The Mobile, Ala., native has totaled 102 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 21 appearances (12 starts), displaying impressive run-fit diagnosis skills, physicality at the point of attack, and noteworthy game speed to quickly close rushing holes or track ball carriers from sideline to sideline.
However, amid a strong sophomore campaign in 2023, a meniscus injury suffered in Florida's annual matchup against Georgia in Jacksonville derailed him from further production, as he was on pace for an 82-tackle year.
He still finished second on the team in tackles with 55, thus earning the billing of UF's highest-rated defender, although not as high as it could've been with another full-season sample size on his resume.
James ties Wilson at 92 overall to top the list of Gators' talent.
All Gators’ rating projection: 92
QB Graham Mertz
Florida's undoubtedly bolstered its talent from a top-to-bottom standpoint from Napier's December 2021 arrival in Gainesville.
But, due to the aforementioned unproven nature of several pieces expected to command significant roles in the team's operation heading into year three under the current regime, the EA Sports rating model will likely realize a steep drop after regarding Wilson and James highly.
Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz makes a throw against No. 1 Georgia in Jacksonville.
Alex Shepherd
As a result, quarterback Graham Mertz's career-resurrection year with UF in 2023 and positional value could take hold to slot him at No. 3 on the Florida roster around the 86-87 overall mark.
Displaying impressive accuracy and ball security en route to 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions on 72.9% completion, Mertz comfortably surpassed low expectations in his lone year with the Gators.
He'll aim to carry that momentum into his final year of collegiate eligibility to elevate the Florida offense further in 2024.
All Gators’ rating projection: 87
RB Montrell Johnson Jr.
From a volume and production standpoint, running back Montrell Johnson Jr.'s appearances in the top ten is no surprise.
Since following Napier and Co. to the University of Florida from Louisiana-Lafayette upon their appointment at the helm of the program in Gainesville, Johnson has commanded a prominent bell-cow role in the Florida backfield.
Starting in 20 contests over 25 appearances in two years with UF, the Louisiana native has totaled 1,952 yards and 17 scores from scrimmage.
His reliability in short yardage situations — directly correlated to promising strength and power rushing ratings — and underrated speed and explosiveness to reel off chunk yardage gains will pop on film for EA Sports' evaluators.
As a result, Johnson should earn an overall in the mid-80s, likely hovering around the 85 mark after factoring in his success as a pass catcher and in pass protection.
All Gators’ rating projection: 85
Safety Jordan Castell
On the heels of a stellar freshman season, in which he led the Gators with 59 tackles on the year, safety Jordan Castell stands out as the face of Florida's retooled secondary.
Gators safety Jordan Castell communicates with the Florida defensive staff. Castell earned All-Freshman honors for his play during the 2023 season.
Alex Shepherd
He added three pass breakups and an interception while showcasing the renowned range and closing speed he posed as a prep prospect at various points while working in Florida's Cover 3-focused scheme. Castell firmly solidified himself into a starting role prior to year two, supplementing the effort with a growing willingness to play downhill and take on ball carriers or intended pass catchers head-on.
As a result, the Orlando, Fla., native will likely align within the mid-to-low-80s in the College Football '25 ratings.
All Gators’ rating projection: 84
CB Jason Marshall Jr.
It's been a rollercoaster ride for the cover corner, but his potential will be taken into account.
Entering his fourth season with the Gators, Jason Marsahll Jr. has realized an up-and-down career while at UF. New position coach Will Haris will aim to reconcile the inconsistent nature of play by implementing a physical approach that seemingly suits Marshall well.
Before last season, the Miami, Fla., native earned potential first-round draft grades. But, his game was unable to back up the preseason hype he generated, with several memorable shortcomings playing the ball overshadowing a late-season surge to finish with 11 pass breakups.
His physical traits in man-to-man coverage and well-regarded standing as a high-upside player will trump his lackluster overall production over the last three seasons to land him around 82 overall.
All Gators’ rating projection: 82
EDGE Kelby Collins
While the majority of EA Sports' ratings will come with a heavy emphasis on previous production, a select few will lean more into physical traits and potential. Rising sophomore edge rusher Kelby Collins falls into the latter category.
He didn't fill up the stat sheet during his true freshman campaign, as he worked in a rotational role, but he proved to be a disruptive piece off the edge for the Gators in year one.
Accounting for 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one tipped ball in relief at the 'F' end spot, Collins flashed his promise in all facets of the game to insert himself into candidacy for a prominent role heading into 2024.
His 6-foot-4, 270-pound frame and an end-of-season uptick in production will boost his rating considerably, allowing him to claim a rating in the low 80s.
All Gators’ rating projection: 81
DL Cam Jackson
Staying along the defensive line, next in line is rising fifth-year trenchman Cam Jackson.
Jackson found success in his first season at Florida after transferring in after three years at Memphis, totaling 32 tackles and two tipped passes. The numbers are promising for an interior defensive lineman, showcasing his disruptiveness against the run to lead the Gators' trenches to the success it did see.
Gators defensive lineman Cam Jackson warming up before a Florida home game during the 2023 season.
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
His return to the program in 2024, his final campaign of eligibility, has the potential to benefit both the defensive front under the new direction of Gerald Chatman, the defense as a whole and his draft stock.
As a result, Jackson will likely claim a rating in the low 80s. AG deems him an 81 overall, tied with Collins but listed below due to the positional value stipulation of the grading process.
All Gators’ rating projection: 81
QB DJ Lagway
Florida's face of the future, quarterback DJ Lagway, is officially on campus in Gainesville. And despite his expected QB2 status while he grows behind Mertz, the expectations surrounding the true freshman signal-caller are considerably high.
Freshly removed from, statistically, one of the greatest high school seasons of all time, Lagway brings his college-ready frame, talented arm and complementary rushing ability to a Gators squad in need of a game-changing talent at the sports' most important position.
He's expected to be that. To some, he is Florida's modern-day Tim Tebow. EA Sports will likely regard him similarly.
Franchise quarterback prospects hover within the high-70s to low-80s in dynasty mode of College Football '14, and will expectedly do the same in the newest rendition.
While taking that into account, AG also factored in Madden's trend of ranking highly regarded rookie quarterbacks at 78 or 79. As a result, Lagway — who claimed the throne as the 2024 cycle's top signal caller in the final 247Sports Composite rankings — earns a 79 overall.
All Gators’ rating projection: 79
OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
Florida took to the transfer portal this offseason aiming to find a bookend offensive tackle talent to plug into a starting role.
It found one of college football's most well-versed swing tackles in San Diego State transfer Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson —appearing in 38 games throughout his career with 18 starts at right tackle and 17 at left. He split time at both exterior offensive line spots during his 2023 season, making four starts on the right and five on the left.
Given his experience and success at both tackle positions while playing for the Aztecs, working as a starter and off the bench as a swing tackle, Crenshaw-Dickson is slated to receive a favorable grade in several metrics, resulting in an overall rating in the high 70s. That could improve with good showings against higher-quality competition in the SEC.
All Gators’ rating projection: 78
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