EA Sports is two weeks away from releasing its first college football video game in a decade.
A lot has changed in the past 10 years, and the biggest difference is the opportunity for players to get paid for their name, image and likeness. As a result, EA Sports asked athletes from each school to opt in to be included in the video game.
According to KeynoteUSA, more than 10,000 players signed up, but only 85 from each school can be included. That selection process is based primarily on depth charts, but it also takes into account athletes’ popularity on social media. On June 26, a social media account affiliated with EA Sports posted a list of five players who were part of the video game’s Heisman Hopeful Pack. Louisville defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte, who was labeled as a power rusher, was included among the five, along with Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Southern California wide receiver Zachariah Branch and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.
A day after the package was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, EA Sports finalized the rosters and notified players of their inclusion, according to The Athletic. The company made allowances for transfer portal players, so even if an athlete changed schools in the past five months, they would already be in the system, allowing for team modifications.
Even though Gillotte’s selection was made public, who could be among the top 10 Louisville players included in the video game? Here’s an estimate of the other nine players:
Offense
Tyler Shough
Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough (9) is expected to be the team’s starter.
The quarterback is a given. Tyler Shough was brought to Louisville to be the starter and practiced as such during the spring. Despite his rough patch with injuries, he is praised for his strong arm. Deep throws are not only exciting in real life, but can also be easy six-pointers in the virtual world.
Renato Brown
Every offense needs linemen, and Renato Brown has been as consistent as any. In 2022, Brown’s final healthy season, he had the fourth-best run-blocking rating and sixth-best pass-blocking rating of U of L offensive linemen. Despite not playing a full season in 2023, he finished 14th overall in pass blocking and 35th in run blocking. EA Sports used Pro Football Focus analytics to determine power rankings, so it would make sense for the company to do the same to measure a player’s value.
Maurice Turner
Louisville’s Maurice Turner is the team’s top returning running back.
With Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo both in the NFL, Maurice Turner is Louisville’s leading returning running back. Though he finished the year with just 284 yards, Turner has a good chance to be the No. 1 running back on the depth chart. Of the Cardinals’ current running backs, he’s the one who’s had the most on-field experience playing in coach Jeff Brohm’s system. Turner also had two standout moments of the season: a 41-yard run against Florida State in the ACC championship game and a 30-yard run at Pittsburgh. Turner’s small but quick stature could make those moments even more frequent in a video game.
Caullin lace
While Caullin Lacy wasn’t on Louisville’s team last season, the transfer allowance and his accomplishments at the FBS level make him a great choice to wear the red and black in the virtual world. The South Alabama transfer’s 2023 receiving grade of 85.0 ranked 25th nationally. He considered turning pro and was on the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list but opted for another year of college football in 2024. The decision could not only mean a year to play at the Power Five level, but also at least $600 and a free copy of “EA Sports College Football 25.”
Chris Bell
Chris Bell is one of Louisville’s biggest and strongest receivers. He’s also the leading returning receiver after totaling 407 yards and two touchdowns on 29 receptions. Additionally, of non-offensive linemen who logged 200 or more snaps, Bell had the best pass-blocking rating (61.9) on the team. His muscular build allows him to accept contact with or without the ball. Stiff-arming a defender is one thing, but using Bell to do it virtually would make a Louisville fan happy.
Defending
Quincy Riley
Louisville’s Quincy Riley has been a shutdown cornerback.
In addition to being a projected starter for the next three years, Quincy Riley is one of Louisville’s top defenders after opting to return for another year. His 8.7 QB rating allowed is in the top five among returning defensive players in the ACC, and he had the sixth-lowest completion percentage (36.5%) nationally. Riley is expected to be featured in “EA Sports College Football 25.”
Devin Neal
Devin Neal transferred to Louisville last offseason from Baylor and finished as the team leader in interceptions (4). Although the safety position was thin on the ground for the Cardinals, the Lexington native played 662 snaps, had one of the lowest catch percentages allowed on the team (61%) and can be expected to retain his starting job. That makes him a surefire candidate to be part of the video game.
TJ Quinn
Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn (holding ball) had a breakout season in 2023.
Cardinal legacy TJ Quinn had a standout campaign for Louisville in 2023. He was the team’s leading tackler (92) and stands out as a big hitter. While some love the highlight-worthy offensive plays, Quinn’s performance makes a strong case for including him for those who want to land big hits on their virtual opponents.
Ben Perry
Ben Perry is one of Louisville’s most versatile defenders and is expected to retain his starting job this fall. Both traits make him a viable addition to the Cardinals’ virtual team. In real life last year, he played all over the field and had the team’s sixth-best run defense rating (76.1) while playing 594 snaps, seventh among Cardinals defensive players.
Contact Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Football: Which Cards will appear in EA Sports College Football?
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