Editor\u2019s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date EA Sports College Football 26 Freshman Rankings released on Aug. 22<\/p>\n
EA Sports College Football 26 officially dropped<\/a> in July, marking the second consecutive year of the game\u2019s release. The video game made its return\u00a0last summer for the first time in over a decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n While EA did not release a full official list, On3 went looking through the video game\u2019s rosters to compile the top-50 freshmen in this year\u2019s edition. For the second time in EA Sports College Football\u2019s history, athletes are being compensated for having their\u00a0name, image and likeness<\/a>. That also means on-field performances are being factored into the players\u2019 ratings. Here\u2019s the full breakdown of the top-50 freshmen in EA Sports College Football 26:<\/p>\n 1. Oregon WR Dakorien Moore<\/a> \u2013 84 Overall 2. LSU RB Harlem Berry<\/a> \u2013 83 overall 3. Clemson RB Gideon Davidson<\/a> \u2013 83 Overall 4. Georgia DL Elijah Griffin<\/a> \u2013 82 overall \u201c[Defensive lineman]\u00a0Elijah Griffin\u00a0is a bulletproof prospect. Really talented, really driven, one of the best I\u2019ve been around. Maturity, habits \u2014 this guy is a pro,\u201d a source told On3 in the winter. <\/p>\n 5. Clemson DL Amare Adams<\/a> \u2013 82 overall 6. Penn State OL Malachi Goodman<\/a> \u2013 81 overall 7. Ohio State CB Devin Sanchez<\/a> \u2013 81 overall 8. Texas WR Kaliq Lockett<\/a> \u2013 81 overall 9. Maryland ATH Zymear Smith<\/a> \u2013 81 overall 10. Michigan QB Bryce Underwood<\/a> \u2013 81 overall 11. Kansas State TE Linkon Cure<\/a> \u2013 81 overall 21. Texas DL Justus Terry<\/a> \u2013 80 overall 31. Ohio State QB Tavien St. Clair<\/a> \u2013 80 overall 41. Florida State DL Kevin Wynn<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
The top-ranked freshman in the game, Dakorien Moore, enters the 2025 season with high expectations. Previously committed to LSU and Texas, the Ducks were able to pull the wide receiver from Texas. With Evan Stewart expected to miss time this season, Moore is thrust into a big-time role in Year 1 at Oregon. Over his four-year high school career at Duncanville (Texas), he caught 204 passes, amassing 4,113 yards and 48 touchdowns while averaging better than 20 yards per catch.<\/p>\n
The most electric running back in the 2025 cycle, Harlem Berry, has flashed the ability to be a game-changer in the passing game, too. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound running back was heavily utilized in the spring as returners Caden Durham and Kaleb Jackson were the only players getting as many reps as him. He is expected to immediately be a factor in LSU\u2019s passing game. He topped the 2,000-yard mark for rushing yards all four years of high school.<\/p>\n
Already being tabbed as one of the top running backs in the ACC, Gideon Davidson is expected to contribute immediately this fall at Clemson. Quarterback Cade Klubnik compared Davidson to Clemson great Travis Etienne in fall camp. A four-star recruit in the\u00a0Class of 2025<\/a>, the running back finished his high school career with 7,438 rushing yards on 701 career carries with a 10.53-yard average and 118 rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Ranked by On3 as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the class of 2025, Elijah Griffin has turned heads since the minute he arrived at Georgia. He posted 53 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a senior in 2024 at Savannah Christian Preparatory School.<\/p>\n
At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Amare Adams was as a top-five defensive linemen in the 2025 cycle. The top-ranked recruit in the state of South Carolina, Adams collected 250 career tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in his high school career. The Tigers have a deep defensive line with Peter Woods and T.J. Parker returning, but Adams will be a contributor as a true freshman.<\/p>\n
The top-ranked offensive tackle signee in Penn State\u2019s 2025 class, Malachi Goodman, might not play immediately as a true freshman but was the No. 37 overall recruit in the nation. The top-100 recruit is 6-foot-6, 310 pounds and projects as a future starter for the Nittany Lions. <\/p>\n
The top-ranked cornerback in the 2025 cycle, Devin Sanchez, has competed in fall camp for snaps with Davison Igbinosun, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Aaron Scott Jr. But Sanchez is on track to play the most of any freshman on this year\u2019s Ohio State roster. A Five-Star Plus+ recruit and top-10 prospect in the nation, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound cornerback looked the part of an early contributor in spring ball. He\u2019ll have to continue to show off his ball and coverage skills in fall camp ahead of the season opener against Texas.<\/p>\n
Kaliq Lockett ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. The five-star recruit is the highest-ranked wide receiver commit of the Steve Sarkisian era. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound wide receiver gives the Longhorns a big-body wideout on the outside. He caught 47 passes for 625 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Sachse (Texas).<\/p>\n
Zymear Smith was ranked as a top-10 athlete nationally as a recruit, picking Maryland over Penn State and South Carolina. A one-time Alabama commit, Smith carried the ball 71 times for 609 yards and 7 touchdowns while also catching nine passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns as a senior at Denton (Md.) North Caroline. He\u2019s listed as a wide receiver on Maryland\u2019s roster and a running back in EA Sports College Football 26.<\/p>\n
On3\u2019s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, stunned the nation last November when he flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound quarterback finished his high school career with a 50-4 record, winning state championships as a freshman and sophomore. He broke the Michigan high school football records for\u00a0career passing and total touchdowns<\/a>. <\/p>\n
12. Miami RB Girard Pringle Jr.<\/a> \u2013 81 overall
13. Auburn DL Malik Autry<\/a> \u2013 81 overall
14. Texas RB James Simon<\/a> \u2013 81 overall
15. Alabama QB Keelon Russell<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
16. Oregon CB Na\u2019eem Offord<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
17. Ohio State RB Bo Jackson<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
18. Oregon RB Dierre Hill<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
19. Alabama OL Michael Carroll<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
20. Alabama RB AK Dear<\/a> \u2013 80 overall<\/p>\n
22. LSU CB DJ Pickett<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
23. Tennessee OL David Sanders<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
24. Florida WR Vernell Brown<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
25. Texas WR Jaime Ffrench<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
26. Texas S Jonah Williams<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
27. Texas CB Kade Phillips<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
28. Florida WR Dallas Wilson<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
29. Virginia Tech RB Jeff Overton<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
30. Georgia EDGE Isaiah Gibson<\/a> \u2013 80 overall<\/p>\n
32. Georgia Tech RB JP Powell<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
33. Georgia OL Juan Gaston<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
34. Texas A&M OL Lamont Rogers<\/a> \u2013 80 overall
35. Ohio State RB Anthony Rogers<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
36. Notre Dame TE James Flanigan<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
37. Oklahoma OL Michael Fasusi<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
38. Wake Forest RB Jamar Searcy<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
39. Baylor RB Michael Turner<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
40. LSU RB JT Lindsey<\/a> \u2013 79 overall<\/p>\n
42. Colorado QB Julian Lewis<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
43. Florida State RB Ousmane Kromah<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
44. UCLA RB Karson Cox<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
45. Texas A&M TE Kiotti Armstrong<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
46. Penn State RB Tikey Hayes<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
47. Miami EDGE Hayden Lowe<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
48. Texas A&M WR Kelshaun Johnson<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
49. Alabama CB Dijon Lee Jr.<\/a> \u2013 79 overall
50. Auburn RB Alvin Henderson<\/a> \u2013 78 overall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Editor\u2019s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date EA Sports College Football 26 Freshman…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310852,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[42411,58413,42412,42413,58414,42414,5977,42415,42416,14497,42417,42418,37910,42419,57097,42420,42421,42422,42423,7,40579,42424,42425,42426,42427,37915,42428,58415,58416,27738,58417,58418,42429,58419,42430,42431,42432,42433,37916,42434,53245,42435,58420,42436,42437,42438,42439,42440,58421,42441,42442,42443,42444,58422,58423,49,48,58424,58425,42445,42446,32736,42447,42448,42449,42450,42451,42452],"class_list":{"0":"post-310851","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-akylin-dear-25-quitman","9":"tag-alvin-henderson-25-elba","10":"tag-amare-adams-25-south-florence","11":"tag-andrew-olesh-25-southern-lehigh","12":"tag-anthony-rogers-25-carver","13":"tag-bo-jackson-25-villa-angela-st-joseph-hs","14":"tag-bryce-underwood-25-belleville-high-school","15":"tag-champ-taulealea-25-valley-christian","16":"tag-dakorien-moore-25-duncanville","17":"tag-dallas-wilson-25-tampa-bay-tech","18":"tag-daniel-bray-25-north-crowley","19":"tag-david-sanders-jr-25-providence-day-school","20":"tag-daylan-mccutcheon-25-lovejoy","21":"tag-demetres-samuel-26-heritage","22":"tag-devin-sanchez-25-north-shore","23":"tag-dierre-hill-25-althoff-catholic","24":"tag-dijon-lee-25-mission-viejo","25":"tag-dj-pickett-25-zephyrhills","26":"tag-elijah-griffin-25-savannah-christian-prep","27":"tag-football","28":"tag-gideon-davidson-25-liberty-christian-academy","29":"tag-girard-pringle-25-armwood","30":"tag-harlem-berry-25-st-martins-episcopal-school","31":"tag-hayden-lowe-25-oaks-christian","32":"tag-isaiah-gibson-25-warner-robins","33":"tag-jaime-ffrench-25-mandarin","34":"tag-jalen-wiggins-25-james-rickards","35":"tag-jamar-searcy-25-pittsburg","36":"tag-james-flanigan-25-notre-dame-de-la-baie-academy","37":"tag-james-simon-25-calvary-baptist-academy","38":"tag-jeff-overton-25-hayfield","39":"tag-jonah-williams-25-ball","40":"tag-jp-powell-25-miller-county","41":"tag-jt-lindsey-25-alexandria","42":"tag-juan-gaston-25-westlake","43":"tag-julian-lewis-25-carrollton","44":"tag-justus-terry-25-manchester","45":"tag-kade-phillips-25-hightower","46":"tag-kaliq-lockett-25-sachse","47":"tag-karson-cox-25-oak-hills","48":"tag-kedren-young-24-lufkin","49":"tag-keelon-russell-25-duncanville","50":"tag-kelshaun-johnson-25-hitchcock","51":"tag-kevin-wynn-25-greene-county","52":"tag-kiotti-armstrong-25-jasper","53":"tag-lamont-rogers-25-horn","54":"tag-lance-jackson-25-pleasant-grove","55":"tag-linkon-cure-25-goodland","56":"tag-malachi-goodman-25-paramus-catholic","57":"tag-malik-autry-25-opelika","58":"tag-marquise-davis-25-cleveland-heights","59":"tag-michael-carroll-25-img-academy","60":"tag-michael-fasusi-25-lewisville","61":"tag-michael-turner-25-richland","62":"tag-naeem-offord-25-parker","63":"tag-ncaa","64":"tag-ncaa-football","65":"tag-ousmane-kromah-25-lee-county","66":"tag-quincy-porter-25-bergen-catholic","67":"tag-sj-alofaituli-25-bishop-gorman","68":"tag-taevion-swint-25-osceola","69":"tag-tavien-st-clair-25-bellefontaine","70":"tag-tikey-hayes-25-aliquippa","71":"tag-trestin-castro-25-upland","72":"tag-vernell-brown-iii-25-jones","73":"tag-zayden-walker-25-schley-county","74":"tag-zion-johnson-25-newton","75":"tag-zymear-smith-25-north-caroline"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310851\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}