The release of the highly anticipated “College Football 25” video game came a little early for players who purchased the Deluxe Edition of the MVP Bundle, and those players got the chance to enjoy it on Monday.
Though the official launch date is Friday, those who've been waiting for a new college football video game since NCAA Football 14 came out in 2013 will have a blast on Monday as they started their own college football careers with customizable players or restarted dynasties with their favorite college programs.
After weeks of teasers from EA Sports, who even released a list of the top 100 players who will appear in the video game, the long-awaited moment has finally arrived.
While the game will not feature Division II University of West Florida, only Division I FBS programs for now, the Pensacola area still has a few local alumni who will be featured in the game.
Below is a list of the local players featured in the game and their ratings: Players can choose to participate in the game through a newly created NIL deal, which offers $600 and a copy of the game for PlayStation or Xbox. According to Extra Points, more than 12,800 players had accepted the offer as of May.
The players in EA Sports' “College Football 25” may not look exactly like themselves: An EA spokesperson told ESPN in February that facial scanning for individual players wouldn't be available in this year's version of the game because it would be too difficult to implement so many facial scans in such a short period of time.
Below is a list of Pensacola area alumni or people with ties to Pensacola who are “in the game” on College Football 25.
Adrian Medley, UCF
high school: Pensacola
position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Year 5
evaluation: Overall 79
Amaury Wiggins, Arkansas
high school: Pine forest
position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Junior
evaluation: 56
Amir McDaniel, Louisiana
high school: West Florida
position: safety
Year: Senior
evaluation: 74
Anwar Lewis, Jacksonville State University
high school: Pine forest
position: Run back
Year: Senior
evaluation: 78
Brennan Smith, University of Utah at El Paso
high school: Escambia
position: Offensive Line
Year: Junior
evaluation: 74
Dichon Folsom
high school: Escambia
position: Defensive tackle
Year: Senior
evaluation: 71
Dante Wright, Temple
high school: Navarre
position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior
evaluation: 80
Darius Washington, Florida State University
high school: West Florida
position: Offensive Line
Year: Senior
evaluation: 86
DJ Bell, Memphis
high school: Pensacola High School
position: Cornerback
Year: Sophomore
evaluation: 71
Donte Thompson, Texas
high school: West Florida
position: Cornerback
Year: Junior
evaluation: 64
Eldric Griffin, Liberty
high school: Grayson, Georgia…from Pensacola
position: Strong safety
Year: Junior
evaluation: 75
Eldrick Robinson II, Wake Forest
high school: Booker T. Washington
position: Linebacker
Year: Sophomore
evaluation: 74
Emory Williams, Miami
high school: Milton
position: Quarterback
Year: Sophomore
evaluation: 74
Eric Thomas Jr., Southern Miss
high school: Booker T. Washington
position: Defensive End
Year: Senior
evaluation: 73
Ethan Newman, Kennesaw State University
high school: Navarre
position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 71
Frank Peasant, Middle Tennessee State University
high school: Escambia
position: Run back
Year: Senior
evaluation: 79
Grady Kelly, Florida State University
high school: Navarre
position: Defensive tackle
Year: Junior
evaluation: 81
Ilyas Huavai, Southern Miss
high school: Pensacola Catholic
position: Defensive End
Year: Sophomore
evaluation: 69
Florida State's Jabrill Rawls
high school: Pensacola Catholic
position: Cornerback
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 70
Jacobi Jackson, Florida
high school: Pensacola Catholic
position: Run back
Year: Junior
evaluation: 64
Jayveon Showers, Arkansas
high school: Pensacola Catholic
position: Wide Receiver
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 65
Keyshawn Swanson, Western Kentucky
high school: West Florida
position: Free Safety
Year: Senior
evaluation: 75
Mac McWilliams, UCF
high school: Pine forest
position: Cornerback
Year: Senior
evaluation: 81
Markelle Redding, Kennesaw State University
high school: West Florida
position: Strong safety
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 58
Michael Redding III
high school: IMG Academy…from Pensacola
position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior
evaluation: 73
Tomarius “Puda” Walker, Kennesaw State University
high school: Pine forest
position: Defensive tackle
Year: Junior
evaluation: 79
Ryland Bragg, Jacksonville State University
high school: Pensacola Catholic
position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 58
Timothy Gulley
high school: Pensacola Catholic
position: Defensive Lineman
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 66
Tyler Strain, Illinois
high school: pace
position: Cornerback
Year: Junior
evaluation: 84
Zach Elam, Coastal Carolina
Previous School: University of West Florida
position: Offensive Lineman
Year: Senior
evaluation: 73
Xavier Hamilton, USF
high school: Fort Walton Beach…from Gulf Breeze
position: Linebacker
Year: Freshman
evaluation: 67
