EA Sports College Football 25 player ratings: Here’s how Drew Allar, Penn State’s offense stack up (2024)

The wait is finally over ... for some, at least. EA Sports College Football 25, the highly-anticipated video game, is out for those who purchased the early three-day access edition. The first college football video game since 2013 will launch worldwide on Friday.

As someone who grew up on these games, waiting a few extra days was a non-starter. And immediately upon downloading the game on Monday night, I pored over Penn State’s roster, curious how the 2024 Nittany Lions would be rated.

We knew last week that three Nittany Lions were ranked inside EA Sports’ top 100 players; defensive end Abdul Carter, running back Nick Singleton and safety Kevin Winston Jr. all had 91 overall ratings. But what about Drew Allar and the rest of the Nittany Lions?

It’s worth noting that multiple players on the real-life roster are not in EA Sports College Football 25. Most of the omissions are true freshmen who recently arrived on campus. Don’t be surprised if they show up in a game update down the line. But other more established players aren’t in the game. Each player had to individually opt in. Something to keep in mind.

Here, we took a closer look at Penn State’s offensive player ratings.

QUARTERBACK

Drew Allar: 88, Beau Pribula: 76, Ethan Grunkemeyer: 75, Jaxon Smolik: 72

Allar’s rating isn’t stellar but certainly not low after what he described as a “good, but not good enough” 2023 season. Allar’s 88 overall is tied for the 13th-best in the game among quarterbacks. Most notably, he has a 96 throwing power. I’m sure fans will be hoping to see the former five-star prospect air it out in his second season as the starter. I would’ve expected Pribula to be rated a little higher, but he’s still fun to run around with.

RUNNING BACK

Nick Singleton: 91, Kaytron Allen: 87, Cam Wallace: 68

Allen was arguably the better player than Singleton was in 2023; Allen had 902 rushing yards and 5.2 yards per carry to Singleton’s 752 yards and 4.4 per attempt. So I was a bit surprised that their ratings weren’t closer, if not the exact same. That would have been fair. Neither true freshman — Quinton Martin or Corey Smith — are in the game as of yet.

WIDE RECEIVER

Julian Fleming: 83, Harrison Wallace III: 80, Liam Clifford: 76, Kaden Saunders: 74, Omari Evans: 73, Anthony Ivey: 72, Josiah Brown: 67, Tyler Johnson: 66

Given the questions surrounding the wide receivers entering the year, these iffy ratings aren’t necessarily a shock. Fleming leads the way followed by Wallace, who, if he stays healthy and makes good on his potential, could be in for a decent ratings boost once the season gets underway. Summer enrollees Tyseer Denmark and Peter Gonzalez aren’t in the game yet. And just something to chew on, Penn State transfers ratings: Auburn’s KeAndre Lambert-Smith (82), Kansas State’s Dante Cephas (82) and Arizona State’s Malik McClain (77).

TIGHT END

Tyler Warren: 90, Luke Reynolds: 79, Jerry Cross: 78, Khalil Dinkins: 75

Warren, after electing not to enter the 2023 NFL draft, is Penn State’s fourth-highest rated player and the third highest-rated tight end in EA Sports College Football 25. Reynolds, the five-star true freshman, gets a really nice overall here. Cross is rated a good bit higher than Dinkins, who is expected to be the team’s No. 2 tight end, at least to start the season. And interestingly, second-year players Andrew Rappleyea and Joey Schlaffer are not in the game.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Drew Shelton: 81, Nolan Rucci: 80, J’ven Williams: 80, Anthony Donkoh: 76, Chimdy Onoh: 76, Garrett Sexton: 74

Shelton was an important contributor as a freshman in 2022 and swing tackle in 2023; I expected a slightly better rating for Olu Fashanu’s expected replacement. Williams, the 2023 five-star signee, gets an encouraging overall despite not having much. Rucci, the one-time five-star turned Wisconsin transfer, is the top option at right tackle, followed by Donkoh and Onoh.

GUARD

Sal Wormley: 84, Vega Ioane: 80, J.B. Nelson: 79, Alex Birchmeier: 79

Wormley, a two-year starter entering his sixth season, is the team’s highest-rated offensive lineman. Ioane and Nelson are the top candidates to compete for the starting right guard spot when training camp gets underway next month. Birchmeier, a highly-touted prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, hasn’t found a spot on the line yet but still holds plenty of potential.

CENTER

Nick Dawkins: 77, Cooper Cousins: 76, Dominic Rulli: 65

Dawkins might be in line for an in-season ratings bump; the redshirt senior is expected to start at center and is already looked as a leader on the offensive line. Cousins, meanwhile, earned rave reviews in winter workouts and spring camp after enrolling in January. The Erie McDowell standout is starting his career at center but could play any position on the offensive line.