FSU Football Places Only One Seminole In Top-100 Players In College Football 25

One Seminole standout was listed in the top-100 players of the upcoming video game.

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Patrick Payton (11) reacts against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The days have slowed to a crawl with the return of EA Sports's College Football 25 finally coming next week. Ahead of the launch, the developer revealed the top-100 rated players in the game.

In what may be a surprise to some Florida State fans, only one Seminole was included in the list. Star defensive end Patrick Payton was the lone FSU standout in the top-100, ranking No. 87 with a 90 overall rating.

Along with the overall rating, we got a peek at some of the athletic attributes that factor into how highly-regarded players are in the game. Payton has fun tools to work with at launch as he holds an 85 speed, 92 acceleration, 77 strength, 89 awareness, and 89 jumping. It's clear he has the makings of a dominant defensive end who can make life tough on opposing offenses.

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Based on the list, Patrick is regarded as the No. 9 defensive end in College Football 25. He ranks behind standouts such as Tennessee's James Pearce Jr., Kentucky's Deone Walker, Ohio State's Jack Sawyer, and Miami's Rueben Bain Jr.

Patrick Payton is #FSU’s lone representative among the top-100 players in College Football 25.

Payton comes in at No. 87 with a 90 overall rating. #Noles pic.twitter.com/HmOUaagHoL

— Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG) July 10, 2024

It's definitely a little curious that a conference title favorite and potential College Football Playoff contender didn't get more respect. Every player in the top 100 was ranked a minimum of 90 overall but there's certainly an argument for Seminoles such as offensive tackle Darius Washington, cornerback Azareye'h Thomas, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, running back Lawrance Toafili, safety Shyheim Brown, defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., and wide receiver Malik Benson to eventually work their way into the discussion with strong performances early in 2024.

Payton's rise is an example of his hard work and development at Florida State. He's added nearly 50 pounds over the last four years, growing from a high school linebacker into a college defensive end. Payton stepped into a starting role opposite of Jared Verse this past season, recording a career-high 44 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and ten pass deflections. He was named an ACC honorable mention and was the recipient of FSU's Monk Bonasarte Award.

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