See how Penn State's 2024 recruiting class stacks up in College Football 25.
Tyler Calvaruso
The moment many had been waiting for spanning a decade arrived Monday afternoon. Early access to EA Sports College Football 25 went live for fans who paid for a package that consisted of early access to one of the most anticipated video games in years.
College Football 25 will have its full release Friday and the Penn State who did not purchase the early access package will be able to hop on and play with their beloved Nittany Lions for the first time since NCAA Football 14. Penn State is rated among the top teams in the game with an overall rating of 88, which is good for ninth among all teams. Andy Kotelnicki's offense received an 87 rating, while Tom Allen's defense starts out with an 88 rating. Beaver Stadium is also one of the toughest places to play in the game, providing an added sense of realism to a game that is drawing rave reviews within its first 24 hours on the market.
Penn State's College Football 25 roster consists of 85 players, including members of the program's touted 2024 recruiting class. The Nittany Lions signed the No. 14 class in the nation last cycle. Head coach James Franklin and his staff are bullish on the group's potential and Penn State fans can now play with most of the group on their preferred gaming system.
Read More: EA Sports College Football 25: All Penn State player ratings
16 of Penn State's 25 scholarship true freshmen are in the game. Running back Corey Smith, wide receivers Tyseer Denmark and Josiah Brown, offensive linemen Caleb Brewer and Donovan Harbour, cornerback Kenneth Woseley and safety Dejuan Lane are currently not in the game as summer enrollees. Running back Quinton Martin and offensive lineman Eagan Boyer are the only January enrollees not currently available for use in College Football 25. The rest of the group are in the game and ready to be deployed however fans see fit.
Let's take a look at the initial rating of each Penn State true freshman currently included in College Football 25.
QB ETHAN GRUNKEMEYER -75
Penn State's 2024 quarterback starts out with the third-highest overall on the depth chart behind Beau Pribula (76) and Drew Allar (88). The former Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy standout enjoyed a healthy rise in the rankings on 247Sports throughout his senior season, finishing as the No. 103 overall recruit and No. 8 quarterback in the 2024 class.
WR JOSIAH BROWN - 67
Brown arrived at Penn State as an early enrollee in January rehabilitating a knee injury that brought an abrupt end to his senior season at Malverne Senior High School in New York. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound speedster finished the 2024 cycle ranked as the No. 81 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 3 prospect in the Empire State.
TE LUKE REYNOLDS - 79
It's fitting that the highest-ranked recruit in Penn State's 2024 class has the highest overall of all the true freshmen on the Nittany Lions' roster. Reynolds went from a prospect ranked outside of the top 1,000 on 247Sports all the way to five-star status and a spot atop the mountain as the No. 1 tight end in the 2024 class by the end of the cycle. His rise was an impressive one, to say the least, and he is one of the highest-upside members of Penn State's 2024 class.
OL COOPER COUSINS - 76
Lauded as one of the most college-ready members of Penn State's 2024 class, Cousins instantly inserted him into the competition for a spot on Penn State's offensive line upon arriving on campus in January. He also made a late rise in the rankings before the 2024 cycle came to a close, finishing as the No. 53 overall recruit and No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the nation.
OT GARRETT SEXTON - 74
Sexton's prospect profile was one of the most unique in the 2024 class. He started his high school career as a quarterback before hitting a growth spurt, moving to the offensive line and bulking up in impressive fashion. Sexton's physical transformation has continued since his arrival at Penn State as an early enrollee in January. He concluded the 2024 cycle ranked as the No. 174 overall recruit and No. 15 offensive tackle in the nation.
DE JAYLEN HARVEY - 69
Penn State beat out USC to win the long battle to land Harvey out of Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard. Harvey is set to start his college career on the edge, but he could wind up on the interior when it's all said and done depending on where his development takes him. 247Sports ranked Harvey as the No. 34 edge rusher and No. 16 prospect in Maryland from the 2024 class.
DE MYLACHI WILLIAMS - 70
Penn State offered Williams last winter and the in-state standout quickly became a priority target for defensive line coach Deion Barnes. The Nittany Lions sealed the deal with the Monsignor Bonner product last July and he finished the cycle ranked as the No. 40 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 12 prospect to hail from the Keystone State.
DT XAVIER GILLIAM - 69
Gilliam did not garner as much notoriety as some of Penn State's other defensive line targets throughout the 2024 cycle, but the Nittany Lion arevery excited about his potential and he has been praised as a potential steal in the class. Gilliam teamed up with Harvey at Quince Orchard for his senior season and he finished ranked as the No. 50 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 19 prospect in Maryland.
DT LIAM ANDREWS- 74
The highest-ranked defensive lineman in Penn State's 2024 class also has the highest overall of any member of the class on defense. Andrews started his prep career in Massachusetts as a Top247 offensive line prospect before decided he wanted to focus on playing defensive line at the next level. Penn State pursued Andrews hard with that in mind and ultimately secured his commitment over the likes of South Carolina and Wisconsin. The 6-foot-4, 266-pound Andrews finished the 2024 cycle ranked as the No. 144 recruit and No. 24 defensive lineman in the nation.
DT DE'ANDRE COOK- 67
Penn State landed Cook out of Washington D.C. over Boston College, North Carolina and Rutgers. He finished the 2024 cycle as the No. 2 player in the District of Columbia and the No. 71 defensive lineman in the nation.
DT T.A. CUNNINGHAM - 68
Cunningham was a five-star recruit and lauded as one of the top talents in the 2024 class as an underclassman before he bounced around the nation at multiple high schools and injuries sapped him of film and valuable game experience. Cunningham ultimately landed on his feet at Penn State and is now anticipated to benefit from some stability with the staff in State College. Armed with a bunch of raw traits and a Big Ten frame, Cunningham finished the 2024 cycle as the No. 63 defensive lineman in the nation.
LB KARI JACKSON - 67
Jackson missed his senior season in Michigan with an injury, but he has put in a ton of work on the rehabilitation front to get back to full strength for his first season at Penn State. Before his injury, Jackson was regarded as a potential rankings riser if he put together strong senior season film. He finished the 2024 cycle as the No. 62 linebacker in the nation.
LB ANTHONY SPECA - 69
Speca spent his prep career commanding Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic's defensive from his middle linebacker position and made the most of his high football I.Q. and top-notch instincts to make a big impact as a run stuffer for one of the best programs in the WPIAL. Speca got Penn State to remain in Pennsylvania over the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 43 linebacker in the 2024 class and the sixth-ranked recruit in the state.
CB JON MITCHELL - 76
It's no secret that cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has a talented depth chart and Mitchell is one of the most talented young names on it. The Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin product was a Top247 prospect coming out of high school and he boasts the requisite coverage and ball skills to be an impact player throughout his career with the Nittany Lions.
CB ANTOINE BELGRAVE-SHORTER - 72
The second half of Mandarin's cornerback duo in Penn State's 2024 class is thought to be one of the more underrated true freshmen in State College. Belgrave-Shorter has garnered plenty of praise for his physicality and ability to make plays on the ball. He finished the 2024 cycle as the No. 65 cornerback prospect in the nation.
S VABOUE TOURE - 73
Penn State plucked Toure out of North Jersey and landed the Irvington High School standout over Kentucky, Oklahoma and others. The do-it-all safety prospect finished the 2024 cycle as the No. 46 player at his position and the No. 5 recruit from the Garden State.
