Over the last few days, EA has begun rolling out rankings for its College Football 27 video game set to release worldwide on July 9.
Even for those not interested in playing the game, the ratings provide some interesting insight into how Penn State is viewed nationally and which players are likely to be the most impactful this fall.
The Nittany Lions were given an overall team rating of 83, which ranks No. 26 nationally, with an offensive rating of 86 and a defensive rating of 81. Their home venue, Beaver Stadium, ranked as the No. 3 toughest place to play this season behind LSU’s Tiger Stadium and Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium.
On the roster, safety Jeremiah Cooper is the highest-rated player at 91 overall, a bit of a surprising choice. He’s followed by tight end Ben Brahmer and quarterback Rocco Becht, both 88 overall.
The only players who rank top-10 at their respective positions are Cooper, the No. 4 safety in the game, Brahmer, the No. 7 tight end, and Ryan Barker, the No. 7 kicker.
Several players have an argument to be ranked higher, including safety Marcus Neal Jr. (87), linebacker Tony Rojas (85) and offensive linemen Anthony Donkoh (84) and Cooper Cousins (75).
The full rankings are as follows:
- Safety Jeremiah Cooper: 91
- Tight end Benjamin Brahmer: 88
- Quarterback Rocco Becht: 88
- Linebacker Caleb Bacon: 87
- Running back Carson Hansen: 87
- Safety Marcus Neal Jr.: 87
- Wide receiver Chase Sowell: 85
- Running back James Peoples: 85
- Linebacker Tony Rojas: 85
- Offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh: 84
- Kicker Ryan Barker: 84
- Offensive lineman Trevor Buhr: 84
- Wide receiver Brett Eskildsen: 82
- Tight end Andrew Rappleyea: 81
- Running back Cam Wallace: 81
- Defensive lineman Keanu Williams: 81
- Running back Quinton Martin Jr.: 81
- Defensive lineman Siale Taupaki: 81
- Center Brock Riker: 80
- Offensive tackle Malachi Goodman: 79
- Cornerback Daryus Dixson: 78
- Cornerback Audavion Collins: 77
- Tight end Gabe Burkle: 77
- Kicker Cristiano Rosa: 76
- Defensive lineman Dallas Vakalahi: 76
- Wide receiver Koby Howard: 76
- Defensive lineman LaVar Arrington II: 76
- Defensive lineman Max Granville: 76
- Tight end Brian Kortovich: 75
- Offensive lineman Cooper Cousins: 75
- Defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu: 75
- Cornerback Jahmir Joseph: 75
- Safety Jamison Patton: 75
- Linebacker Kooper Ebel: 75
- Defensive lineman Liam Andrews: 75
- Defensive lineman Ty Blanding: 75
- Cornerback Zion Tracy: 75
- Linebacker Cael Brezina: 74
- Defensive lineman Jackson Ford: 74
- Safety Vaboue Toure: 74
- Cornerback Xxavier Thomas: 74
- Wide receiver Zay Robinson: 74
- Defensive lineman Armstrong Nnodim: 73
- Offensive lineman Chimdy Onoh: 73
- Cornerback Tyrell Chatman: 73
- Defensive lineman Yvan Kemajou: 73
- Quarterback Alex Manske: 72
- Defensive lineman Alexander McPherson: 72
- Defensive lineman Alijah Carnell: 72
- Offensive tackle Owen Aliciene: 72
- Cornerback Tyler Armstead: 72
- Cornerback Christian Askew: 71
- Quarterback Connor Barry: 71
- Offensive tackle Garrett Sexton: 71
- Cornerback Josiah Zayas: 71
- Offensive tackle Kuol Kuol II: 71
- Safety Omarion Davis: 71
- Linebacker Cam Smith: 70
- Defensive lineman De’Andre Cook: 70
- Center Dominic Rulli: 70
- Wide receiver Keith Jones Jr.: 70
- Wide receiver Lyrick Samuel: 70
- Punter Nathan Tiyce: 70
- Linebacker Alex Tatsch: 69
- Linebacker Dayshaun Burnett: 69
- Wide receiver Karon Brookins: 69
- Offensive tackle Mason Bandhauer: 69
- Offensive lineman Will Tompkins: 69
- Safety Ibn McDaniels: 67
- Tight end Cooper Alexander: 66
- Linebacker John Klosterman: 66
- Center Vaea Ikakoula: 66
- Linebacker Chris Fileppo: 63
- Long snapper Blaise Sokach-Minnick: 56
Players with the highest speed ratings are Jeremiah Cooper (93), Cam Wallace (92), Lyrick Samuel (92) and Quinton Martin Jr. (92). The highest strength ratings went to Chimdy Onoh (96), Anthony Donkoh (91), Dallas Vakalahi (90), Keanu Williams (90), Malachi Goodman (90) and Trevor Buhr (90).
