Scarlet Sunrise: Jeremiah Smith an 84 overall in EA College Football 25

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Jeremiah Smith an 84 overall in EA College Football 25

Jeremiah Smith clocked out as the On3 Industry Ranking’s top overall prospect in the 2024 class. Fittingly, it looks like the Ohio State wide receiver’s going to be one of the top-rated true freshmen in EA Sports College Football 25.

The college football video game — EA’s first in 11 years — officially releases July 19 but will be available for early access on July 16 for those who pre-ordered the “Deluxe Edition.” Some media members and YouTube creators have gotten their hands on it even earlier, including CBS Sports’ Josh Pate.

Pate put out a video Thursday where he’s playing as Ohio State, and he revealed more information about the Buckeyes’ player ratings.

Earlier in the week, we learned that eight Ohio State players earned top-100 player ratings:

• S Caleb Downs (95 overall)
• RB Quinshon Judkins (95 overall)
• WR Emeka Egbuka (93 overall)
• RB TreVeyon Henderson (93 overall)
• DE Jack Sawyer (92 overall)
• LG Donovan Jackson (91 overall)
• CB Denzel Burke (91 overall)
• DT Tyleik Williams (91 overall)

I played with Ohio State on EASports CFB25

Pate State 🤝 @OhioStateFB 🤝 @EASPORTSCollege #PresentedByEACreatorNetwork pic.twitter.com/VSdLlTvH8p

— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) July 11, 2024

But, according to Pate, several more Buckeyes are highly rated. He said that 10 players are rated 85 overall or better on the defensive side of the ball.

Sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate is an 85 overall, and then Smith, perhaps most notably, is an 84 overall. For reference, the highest-rated true freshman in the last EA college football video game — NCAA 14 — was also an 84 overall. EA updates its player ratings throughout the season, and those ratings are typically lower for true freshmen. Bottom line: An 84 overall is very good for Smith.

Quarterback Will Howard is an 85 overall and, per Pate, has impressive running ability in the game. That checks out considering that Howard recorded eight runs of 15-plus yards last season at Kansas State, the second most among Big 12 quarterbacks in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.

RELATED

• What Ohio State commits think they’d be ranked in EA College Football
• What did EA College Football 25 get right, wrong about Ohio State with top 100 ratings release?

Buckeyes sending three veteran leaders to Big Ten Media Days

Big Ten Media Days are coming up. They’ll be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from July 23-25. Ohio State is sending three veteran leaders to represent the program at the event: defensive end Jack Sawyer, cornerback Denzel Burke and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Last year, the Buckeyes had defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Cade Stover go.

Sawyer helped rally the draft-eligible and starter-level Buckeyes players who returned to Columbus for the 2024 campaign. Burke is probably the most outspoken player on the team — he’s already described this season as “natty or bust.” And Egbuka heads up Ohio State’s vaunted receiving corps, entering his senior year needing 78 receptions and 1,042 receiving yards to leave school as the all-time leader in those categories.

For more details, go here.

Projecting depth chart for Buckeyes safety room

Another week, another Lettermen Row depth chart projection to go hand-in-hand with our position preview series. It’s “Safeties Week,” so we forecasted what the safety pecking order will be this season.

It begins with Alabama transfer Caleb Downs at free safety and fifth-year veteran Lathan Ransom at strong safety. That much is clear.

But who will back those guys up?

To get our analysis, head on over here.

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 50 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 141 days

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