The long wait is almost over, and college football fans are ready.
EA Sports is releasing a new college football game, EA Sports College Football 25. It has been over a decade since a college football game was released, with NCAA Football 14 being the last we were graced with. The 14 game was fantastic, and I know many people who still play it today.
That is why people are so excited about the newest installment. There’s no guarantee that it will be good, with EA having mixed reviews about the way they’ve developed their latest sports games. Even so, it’s difficult to not be excited about what we are getting.
Before spring football, we predicted Clemson players’ ratings, and now that spring football is behind us, we’re updating these top five predictions.
Updated 1/3
5
Jake Briningstool
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Tight End
Rating: 86
Briningstool is an interesting player who is far better than you’d assume if you only looked at the box score at the end of a game. He’s a natural receiver from the tight end position and can explode for a huge play at any moment. The issues have really come with consistency, but the talent is there. He’ll likely be the No. 5 guy when the rosters are released.
4
TJ Parker
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Defensive End
Rating: 88
With Parker’s ranking in the 2023 class heading into his freshman year with the Tigers, there was no doubt that the young defensive end had talent. Parker obliterated those expectations, performing as one of the top freshmen defenders in the country. While I feel he should be ranked higher, I’m also assuming the ratings won’t be as friendly to Clemson.
3
Peter Woods
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Defensive Tackle
Rating: 89
Originally, it was TJ Parker ahead of Woods, but the hype around Woods’ name and what he’s shown everyone with limited snaps made me make the switch. Woods looked like a superstar as a freshman, and from what we hear from the coaching staff, Woods is going to go down with the greatest of the great Clemson defensive linemen. He is a tremendous talent with a high ceiling.
2
Phil Mafah
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Running back
Rating: 91
It’s not a big jump for Mafah, but the more I think about it, the more I think he’s the best running back in the ACC. He will be the Tigers’ highest-rated offensive player; the question is simply what rating he’ll have. I think he should crack the 90s, with a 91 feeling more than reasonable. I’m assuming the 91 is about as high as they’d go, though, but no lower than an 88, or we speak to the people making the ratings.
1
Barrett Carter
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Linebacker
Rating: 93
I’m sticking to where I had Carter pre-spring. Heading into the season, I’d say most would consider Carter the best player on the Tigers roster. While there are names I mentioned that could emerge to be that player, it’s Carter right now. A 92-94 rating works for me with the dynamic linebacker.
