NCAA College Football 25 became available on Monday after a decade-long drought of the hugely-popular video game.
Buyers who pre-ordered the game’s deluxe version got early access to the game, which releases officially on Friday, and the game has generated huge buzz as the buildup to the release got closer and closer.
Illinois as a team has an 82 overall rating with a 76-rated offense and a 78-rated defense.
Though no Illini player has an overall rating of 90 or better, here are the top-10 rated Illini players in the video game.
10. DB Miles Scott | Rating: 79
Miles Scott had a solid first year as a starting free safety for the Illini and had a pick-six in both the first and last game of the season. The former walk-on wide receiver was in his first season as a defensive back after moving last spring and really dove into being a free safety last summer. Illinois has been excited about Scott’s development.
9. RB Kaden Feagin | Rating: 79
Feagin was a somewhat tough case study. Had he not missed the final two games of the year, he may well have been the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and potentially in line for a higher rating. That may be a stretch but missing games left yards and touchdowns on the table. He’s a monster back with more speed than he gets credit for and should be the top running back on the Illini this year.
8. DB Xavier Scott | Rating: 79
Scott’s versatility, length and athleticism combined with his solid production in his first year as a starter land him in the top 10. His versatility to play either the nickel or outside corner will be big for the Illini this year. Scott allowed some receptions and yards: 54 receptions in 91 targets for 663 yards but is a good college football player.
7. WR Pat Bryant | Rating: 81
Bryant has had a sneaky productive few seasons but has been a bit overshadowed by NFLers Isaiah Williams and Casey Washington. Bryant has left plenty on the table due to some inconsistency but he’s shown he can be a Big Ten No. 1 wide receiver and should be in line to show that this year. He’s combined for 77 catches and 1,013 yards with nine touchdowns over the last two seasons.
6. QB Luke Altmyer | Rating: 81
Though the first few games of the season were rocky for Altmyer in his first year as a starter, he really settled into the middle part of the season and had a 10-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio in his final six games of the year. He threw for 1,883 yards and 13 touchdowns while running for 282 yards in his first year as a starter. He sustained a concussion late at Minnesota and Illinois stuck with red-hot John Paddock for the final three games of the season.
5. C Josh Kreutz| Rating: 82
Kreutz had a solid season in his first year as a starter for the Illini and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention. He’s expected to take a jump and be one of the leaders on the offensive line and potentially a team captain this season. Kreutz has expressed a desire to go from a serviceable Big Ten center last year to one of the best in the league and head coach Bret Bielema is hyping him as such.
4. OLB Seth Coleman | Rating: 82
Real-life Coleman needs to show more consistency this season to firmly put himself as a no-doubt draft pick next spring, but he’ll be one of the most talented players on the Illini defense and should be a good player in the new game and rated appropriately with 130 career tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks with 12 passes defended. It’s no surprise he has one of the highest ratings on the team.
3. DB Tyler Strain| Rating: 84
Strain is a bit of surprise here, but EA Sports likes his speed (94 overall). Strain started his career at boundary cornerback and is a candidate to move to the nickel spot in the Illini defense this year. He does have versatility to move outside as needed, which will likely depend on where Illinois plays Xavier Scott.
2. CB Terrance Brooks | Rating:84
Brooks comes in as one of the bigger offseason additions after a strong two seasons at Texas. He’ll be the No. 1 cornerback for the Illini after an honorable mention All-Big 12 season. Though Brooks isn’t as solid in zone coverage, he excels in man-to-man and should be a perfect fit for the Illini defense.
1. OT J.C. Davis | Rating: 84
Plug-and-play left tackles are difficult to come by and Illinois landed a stellar one out of the transfer portal in New Mexico’s J.C. Davis. It wouldn’t have been a stretch to see Davis test the NFL Draft waters this past offseason — and Pro Football Focus had him as a draftable player — but he transferred to the Illini to increase his stock. He and Brooks are two of the biggest transfer additions of the cycle and land in the top-five.
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