EA Sports College Football 25: Building All-Time College Football Roster

Reggie Bush, USC (97 overall)

The college football games have been blessed with plenty of elite choices at running back, including Darren McFadden, Mark Ingram, and Adrian Peterson. But the best running back ever in the game was Reggie Bush due to his outstanding speed and quickness.

He was also dynamic as a receiver, and using him in the screen game was nearly impossible to defend. Plus, he was the best kick returner in the game and just moved differently than anyone else in NCAA Football history. Bush remains one of the highest-rated running backs in NCAA Football history, and we doubt there will ever be a player who was more fun to play with than Bush back in 2005.

Wide Receiver

Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech (97 overall)

Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh (95 overall)

Percy Harvin, Florida (96 overall)

While Calvin Johnson (2006) and Larry Fitzgerald (2004) were in the early versions of the game, they were equally unstoppable. Their combination of size and speed made throwing deep a breeze. Johnson and Fitzgerald went on to have Hall of Fame careers in the NFL and are legends in the NCAA Football video games.

We included Percy Harvin on this list because he was one of the most unique receivers in the game. Throwing him screens or using him on jet-sweeps was a cheat code in Florida’s offense.

Tight End

Kellen Winslow Jr., Miami (FL), (97 overall)

There haven’t been a ton of tight ends in the history of the video game franchise to earn ratings in the upper 90s, but Winslow is one of them. Winslow was an elite receiver with the speed to make plays up the seam.

He was so much faster than all of the linebackers covering him, but his size was a problem for safeties. Winslow didn’t quite have the same success in the NFL as he did in college, but there will never be a more fun tight end in the video game than peak Kellen Winsow Jr.

Offensive Line: 

Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA Football 2012)

Rather than just listing five offensive linemen, we will list a unit. The Oklahoma Sooners from NCAA Football 2012 are the best group in the game's history. The Sooners had 10 offensive linemen with a rating of 82 or better and three in the 90s. Here is their rating breakdown from that year:

While none of these players ended up being stars in the NFL, you’ll never find a better and deeper unit than this. The 2011 Sooners were absolutely loaded on offense, and they get the nod at this spot.

Interior Defensive Line

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (99 overall)

Marcus Spears, LSU (99 overall)

You can make a strong case that Ndamukong Suh is the greatest defensive tackle to ever play college football. During his junior season at Nebraska, he racked up 16 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. He earned a 99 overall rating heading into NCAA Football 2010 and dominated that year with 20.5 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks. Suh was unblockable and was a one-man wrecking crew in the Big 12.

We are pairing Suh with Marcus Spears, who is one of the only other defensive tackles with a rating of 99 in NCAA Football history. Spears played both defensive end and tackle at LSU, making it impossible to run on them.

EDGE Rusher

Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina (99 overall)

Mathis Kiwanuka, Boston College (99 overall)

When you think of dominant defensive ends in college football, Jadeveon Clowney has to be among the first players to come to mind. There just aren’t many people who are as big as him (6-foot-5, 266 pounds) who are as explosive (4.53 40-yard dash). He was a 99 overall in the final version of the game, but his actual rating was much higher as he was elite in every area.

Another pass-rusher who should be mentioned is Mathis Kiwanuka, who is one of the only other 99 overall pass-rushers. While he wasn’t the size of Clowney, he was a highly explosive rusher with speed and quickness off the edge. Both players were elite rushers but got to the quarterback in different ways.

Linebacker

James Laurinitis, Ohio State (99 overall)

A.J. Hawk, Ohio State (97 overall)

We will stick with two Ohio State linebackers: James Laurinitis and A.J. Hawk. Both Buckeyes were fantastic in coverage, daring you never to throw into the middle of the field.

They could also lay the wood in the run game and were complete studs at the linebacker position. There are plenty of solid linebackers to choose from, but Laurinitis and Hawk are the top options in the franchise's history.

Cornerback

Antrell Rolle, Miami (FL) (97 overall)

Patrick Peterson, LSU (93 overall)

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU (93 overall)

The NCAA Football games have always ranked cornerbacks lower than the other positions, and it's rare to see them ranked in the 90s. However, one of the highest-graded cornerbacks ever was Antrell Rolle, who had safety size but cornerback athleticism.

Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu were both dynamic cornerbacks at LSU and were dangerous with the ball in their hands. Peterson was the prototypical cornerback with elite size (6-foot-1, 220 pounds), while Mathieu was the undersized ballhawk.

Mathieu was so much fun to play with because of his blitzing ability and his overall quickness.

Safety

LaRon Landry, LSU (99 overall

Taylor Mays, USC (99 overall)

Landry and Mays were two of the biggest and most physical defensive backs in college football history, and both earned 99 overall ratings in their final seasons in the game.

While neither player excelled in coverage, their size, speed, and hitting ability were terrifying in the game. But if you are looking for the best safety pairing from a singular school, look no further than the safety duo of Sean Taylor and Ed Reed in the 2002 version of the game.