logo
Oregon has just one defensive player in EA Sports' Top 10 defenders in latest game

Oregon has just one defensive player in EA Sports' Top 10 defenders in latest game

Yahoo05-07-2025
The old adage that offense wins games, but defense wins championships still rings true in college football, and it's no wonder that teams with the best defensive players are in contention to win it all.
It's true in real life, and it's probably true in the video game rules, depending on your settings and sliders, of course.
Advertisement
The newest version of EA Sports' College Football 26 is set to release next week, and in anticipation, the ratings for every player in the game have been published, including the Top 10 defensive players' ratings in the game and the country.
It's curious that only one Oregon Duck appears in the Top 10 as the Ducks are expected to have one of the best defensive units in the country for 2025. But it's hard to argue with the other nine players listed. Perhaps college football is becoming more of a defensive game right now, which makes it even more important to have a really good offense and quarterback, in particular, in today's game.
Here are the Top 10 defensive players in college football, according to EA Sports.
10. Dillon Thieneman - Oregon Ducks
Oct 18, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Jay Harris (22) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Position: Strong Safety
Advertisement
Rating: 93
9. Keldric Faulk - Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Keldric Faulk (15) celebrates a stop as Auburn Tigers take on California Golden Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
Position: Left Edge
Rating: 93
8. Leonard Moore - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) celebrates interrupting a reception attempt during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.
Position: Cornerback
Rating: 93
7. Colin Simmons - Texas Longhorns
Position: Right Edge
Rating: 93
6. Peter Woods - Clemson Tigers
Aug 31, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) shown on the field pregame prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Defensive Tackle
Rating: 94
5. Jermod McCoy - Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) celebrates after making a play during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Position: Cornerback
Rating: 94
4. Dylan Stewart - South Carolina Gamecocks
Aug 31, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks edge Dylan Stewart (6) celebrates after a sack against the Old Dominion Monarchs in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Right Edge
Rating: 94
3. TJ Parker - Clemson Tigers
Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker (3) during the Spring football game in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, April 6, 2024.
Position: Left Edge
Rating: 96
2. Anthony Hill, Jr. - Texas Longhorns
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: Anthony Hill Jr. #0 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates in the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by)
Position: MIKE Linebacker
Rating: 96
1. Caleb Downs - Ohio State Buckeyes
Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Caleb Downs (2) prays with teammates in the endzone before the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game against the Michigan Wolverines at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Position: Free Safety
Advertisement
Rating: 96
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: EA Sports lists their Top 10 defenders and Oregon appears just once
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What to know about the Oregon Ducks in 2025
What to know about the Oregon Ducks in 2025

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

What to know about the Oregon Ducks in 2025

With Dan Lanning paving the way, Oregon is entering an era of NIL-fueled success, taking the program to new heights with strong recruiting and on-field performance. Lanning dove headfirst into the transfer portal and hit the recruiting trail hard to reload for 2024, replacing a slew of departed stars. Now, with more holes to fill from last season's roster, Lanning's banking on another group of newcomers to keep the Ducks flying high. Here's where Oregon stands as the 2025 season creeps closer. 2024 in review Lanning's third year in Eugene was special. The Ducks racked up 12 regular season wins - their best showing since 2010 - snagged a Big Ten title and punched a ticket to the College Football Playoff. They earned the No. 1 overall seed before coming up short in a rematch against Ohio State. Even with a brutal Big Ten slate, Lanning had Oregon looking like a national contender up until the end. Head coach profile Lanning's got a fiery edge, and he's built Oregon into a machine. In three years with the Ducks, he's 35-6, mixing a high-octane offense with a defense that hits like a freight train. His 'stay hungry' mantra has Eugene buzzing with dreams of a title, and he's got the financial backing from megabooster Phil Knight to get there. Before he traveled west, he was calling defenses at Georgia, helping them lock up national championships in 2021 and 2022. Top offensive players Offensive linemen Isaiah World and Emmanuel Pregnon, who transferred in from Nevada and USC, respectively, will anchor the left side of the offensive line and both have All-Big Ten potential. World is viewed as a first-round talent and has three seasons of starting experience, while Pregnon didn't allow a sack while starting all 13 games for the Trojans last season. Top defensive players Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei returns for his junior season after recording 38 tackles and a whopping 10.5 sacks in 2024. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Uiagalelei is a physical freak with first-round draft potential. Additionally, transfer safety Dillon Thieneman arrives from Purdue after back-to-back 100-tackle seasons to start his college career. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 1 safety transfer of the cycle and he's another player with first-round potential. 2025 schedule Aug. 30 vs. Montana State Sept. 6 vs. Oklahoma State Sept. 13 at Northwestern Sept. 20 vs. Oregon State Sept. 27 at Penn State Oct. 11 vs. Indiana Oct. 18 at Rutgers Oct. 25 vs. Wisconsin Nov. 8 at Iowa Nov. 14 (Fri.) vs. Minnesota Nov. 22 vs. USC Nov. 29 at Washington Oregon's September trip to Penn State has game-of-the-year potential, pitting two projected top-five teams against each other in a prime-time White Out. The Ducks haven't played in Beaver Stadium since 1964 (the stadium has changed quite a bit since), and with Penn State's nasty defense going up against the Ducks' explosive offense, it'll make for a highly anticipated rematch of last year's conference title game, which both teams will be trying to return to this season. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Scouting the Oregon Ducks ahead of 2025

Drew Allar looks to cement his legacy at Penn State in 2025
Drew Allar looks to cement his legacy at Penn State in 2025

USA Today

time6 hours ago

  • USA Today

Drew Allar looks to cement his legacy at Penn State in 2025

Drew Allar has been under the microscope since the day he set foot on campus. Five-star recruit, future of the program, the guy who was supposed to take Penn State to the next level. Now in 2025, everything comes down to this one season. It's not about talent anymore — it's about legacy. Allar hasn't exactly been a letdown. Statistically, he's done well. He's approaching 6,000 career passing yards, with over 50 touchdowns and a pretty low turnover rate. He's led Penn State to double-digit wins and a College Football Playoff appearance. That's nothing to shrug off. But let's be honest — around here, greatness is measured by wins in big games. And while Allar has shown flashes of being elite, he's still missing that one signature moment that etches your name in Beaver Stadium history forever. This final year is his chance to grab it. The bar is high. This offense is stacked. Running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are each back, much to the delight of head coach James Franklin. The O-line is experienced. Tight ends are deep. Wide receivers are quietly underrated. And now, Andy Kotelnicki is running the offense — someone who knows how to put his QB in a position to dominate. Allar isn't being asked to 'manage' games. He's being asked to take over. To lead 75-yard drives with the clock ticking. To put the team on his back in Columbus. To turn potential into production when it matters most. That comes with pressure — but Allar's built for it. He's never been the loudest guy in the room, but when it's time to deliver, he's got that calm, commanding presence every top QB needs. To be remembered as one of the Penn State greats, it's simple: win big games. That means beating Ohio State. That means staying composed on the road. That means getting to Indy and finally breaking through in the Big Ten. It doesn't mean he has to win the Heisman or throw for 4,500 yards. It just means leading. Making throws when it matters. Being the reason Penn State gets over the hump. This is the most stable and experienced team Franklin has had in years. That gives Allar the platform — now it's up to him to deliver. If he can take this team to another playoff run — or even better, a Big Ten title — there's no debate. He'll go down as one of the most important quarterbacks in Penn State history. But if things fall short again? If the offense stalls or he fades in big moments? People will ask what could've been. Drew Allar has one last ride in Happy Valley. And what he does with it will define how he's remembered forever.

Checking in with the Oregon Ducks LB room ahead of the 2025 season
Checking in with the Oregon Ducks LB room ahead of the 2025 season

USA Today

time6 hours ago

  • USA Today

Checking in with the Oregon Ducks LB room ahead of the 2025 season

We are less than 50 days away from the start of the 2025 college football season, and fewer than two weeks stand between us and the beginning of the Oregon Ducks' fall camp getting off the ground in Eugene. While coaches and players wrap up their final couple of offseason weeks, we're ready to jump back into things and take a deep dive into what's set to take place at Autzen Stadium this year. The Ducks are coming off of an incredible season that saw a 12-0 regular season, a Big Ten Championship, and the No. 1 seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The offseason brought significant roster turnover as Oregon sent a program record 10 players into the 2025 NFL draft; however, those players have been replaced by a young yet incredibly talented group of players ready to uphold the standard in Eugene. Will they be able to complete the job? Expectations are high, but it won't be an easy task. Over the next few weeks, many questions will be asked, and a significant number of them will be answered. Once we get a look at things during fall camp, we will be able to predict more accurately how things shape up. However, we already have our depth chart projections for offense and defense from spring. As we continue our preview of the 2025 season, leading up to the kick-off vs. Montana State on August 30, let's take a deep dive, position by position. Previous Position Previews Now let's take a closer look at the linebackers as we prepare for fall camp. Overall Oregon Ducks Linebacker Check-In When it comes to departing production, the linebackers lost quite a bit this past offseason with both Jeffrey Bassa and Jestin Jacobs graduating. Fortunately, Bryce Boettcher was granted another year of eligibility, so he will return as one of the top LBs in the conference, but alongside him, there is a big need for players to step up. Guys like Devon Jackson, Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, Jerry Mixon, and Kamar Mothudi all have a great opportunity to have breakout seasons, but they've got some pressure resting on their shoulders. After the spring football season, many thought that Oregon could dip into the transfer portal to add an LB, but Dan Lanning squashed that idea by stating in no uncertain terms that the Ducks would not be adding to the room. Now it's time for his players to back that decision up. Departing Oregon Ducks Linebackers Oregon Career Stats: 55 games, 236 tackles, 14 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 1 pick six, 2 forced fumbles Analysis: When Tyler Shough's errant pass magnetized its way into Jeffrey Bassa's hands in September 2023, sealing the Ducks' win in Lubbock. Bassa was immortalized in Oregon legend forever, but his impact on this program began long before that. As skilled as he is, Bassa's eyes and voice are just as powerful, and for the last two seasons, he's served as the nexus of the Ducks defense. Oregon Career Stats: 21 games, 61 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT Analysis: Jestin Jacobs spent just two years at Oregon, and injuries made those two seasons even shorter, but in the time he was able to play, Jacobs was a key player for the Ducks. In 2023, Jacobs' midseason debut gave Oregon much needed solidty in the middle of the field, and in 2024, Jacobs size helped the Ducks craft one of the toughest defenses in conference lauded for its physicality. Returning Oregon Ducks Linebackers Oregon Career Stats: 40 games, 133 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery Analysis: The most exciting news in the linebacker room this offseason is that Bryce Boettcher will be back for the Ducks in 2025. Boettcher, who has come a long way from his days as a walk-on linebacker coming from the Oregon baseball team, was granted an eligibility waiver by the NCAA since he's only played three seasons of football (he's out of baseball eligibility). Last season, Boettcher blossomed into one of the best all-around linebackers and athletes in college football, and don't expect his improvement to fall off next season, because I don't think we've glimpsed his ceiling yet. Oregon Career Stats: 31 games, 65 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble Analysis: Boettcher was the Ducks' best linebacker last year, but the most improved was certainly Devon Jackson. In his third season last fall, the game seemed to slow down for Jackson, which let him use his incomprehensible speed and strength to his massive advantage, becoming a top linebacker in the blink of an eye. With a full year of first-team reps under his belt, expect Jackson to be even better in 2025. Oregon Career Stats: 19 games, 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack Analysis: Besides Boettcher and Jackson, Jerry Mixon is the most experienced inside linebacker on Oregon's defense, and although he hasn't played much in his two college years, expect to see much more of him next fall. Like Jackson, Mixon is incredibly athletic, and he's honed his football skills to become a solid all-around backer. Oregon Career Stats: N/A Analysis: Now we're getting into the developmental side of the Ducks' ILB room, but Dylan Williams, and the guys who follow him on this list, could already be Power 5 starters elsewhere. Williams was a freshman last fall, after coming to the Ducks as one of many 4-star linebacker commits in the class of 2024. Williams preserved his redshirt last year, so expect him to see some action this year, but the starting lineup is unlikely. Oregon Career Stats: N/A Analysis: After redshirting as a freshman in 2024, Kamar Mothudi is returning to Oregon after coming to the Ducks as a 4-star recruit a year ago. If that analysis sounds familiar, it's because Mothudi and Williams are in a very similar spot in their careers: talented but not quite out of the developmental stage yet. Oregon Career Stats: Analysis: I might as well just copy and paste the last two paragraphs, because Brayden Platt is in the same spot as Mothudi and Williams: 4-star, class of 2024, and very talented. This likely won't be his year to shine either, but all three of these guys will be difference makers for Oregon down the road. Incoming Oregon Ducks Linebackers 247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star, No. 20 LB, No. 226 overall Analysis: The Oregon Ducks' sole linebacker addition is Gavin Nix, a 4-star 2025 recruit from IMG Academy, who at 6 feet, 225 pounds, could make an impact for the Ducks' defense as early as next year. He won't be starting, but Nix is good enough already to see some game time, affording us a preview of what lies down the road for Oregon's defense. Projecting Oregon Ducks Starting Linebackers Projected Starters: Bryce Boettcher and Devon Jackson Boettcher will undoubtedly be a starter for the Ducks, and assuming that Jackson is healthy, he should slot in there as well. Behind them, I expect guys like Mixon, Platt, and Williams to get into the rotation frequently. Overall Oregon Ducks Linebacker Outlook The Ducks have had some solid production at this position over the past couple of years, but it hasn't been their strongest point. There have been a couple of misses on the recruiting trail at LB this cycle as well, so it will be interesting to see how this group develops into the future. For this season, at the very least, though, there should be some confidence that they can hold their own and be a strong point of the defense. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store