For those of y\u2019all who grabbed early access today, what are your first impressions of Texas\u2019 roster?<\/p>\n
The game has only been live for a little while, so this is obviously just a first look. We all know roster updates are coming, freshmen will be added, position changes will happen, and ratings are going to change throughout the season.<\/p>\n
So instead of focusing on who\u2019s missing, I wanted to look at the players who are already in the game.<\/p>\n
Do y\u2019all agree with these ratings?<\/p>\n
Quarterbacks<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have many complaints here.<\/p>\n
Arch Manning<\/a> coming in as a 91 overall feels about right. The only thing that caught my eye was the 89 speed. After what we saw from him as a runner last season, I could definitely make an argument for bumping that up a point or two.<\/p>\n MJ Morris<\/a> and KJ Lacey<\/a> both checking in at 74 overall was interesting as well.<\/p>\n Obviously, Dia Bell<\/a> isn\u2019t on the roster yet, but that\u2019s one of those things that\u2019ll get corrected in a future roster update.<\/p>\n Running Backs<\/p>\n The running back room looks really nice.<\/p>\n Hollywood Smothers<\/a> at 89 and Raleek Brown<\/a> at 88 tell you EA thinks Texas has one of the better one-two punches in the country.<\/p>\n James Simon<\/a> coming in at an 83 overall was a bit of a head-scratcher. Simon barely saw the field last season, so that rating definitely caught my attention. Maybe EA is projecting his upside more than what he\u2019s put on tape so far.<\/p>\n One thing I thought was interesting, though, was EA added freshman Jett Walker<\/a> to the roster but left Derrek Cooper<\/a> off. If Cooper had been included, I\u2019d imagine his rating would\u2019ve been much closer to Smothers and Brown than the rest of the room.<\/p>\n Wide Receivers<\/p>\n This room is loaded.<\/p>\n Cam Coleman<\/a> at 92 makes perfect sense. He\u2019s one of the highest-rated receivers in the game because he\u2019s one of the best receivers in college football. That\u2019s one rating I don\u2019t think many Texas fans\u2014or college football fans in general\u2014are going to argue with.<\/p>\n Ryan Wingo<\/a> at 87 feels about right, but the number that really jumps off the page is his 97 speed. I actually think that lines up with what we saw on those bubble screens last season. Once Wingo gets a full head of steam, there aren\u2019t many defenders who are going to catch him in the open field.<\/p>\n Emmett Mosley V<\/a> (84) and Kaliq Lockett<\/a> (83) also have solid ratings.<\/p>\n Speaking of Lockett, he made a nice catch against Michigan in the Cheez-It Bowl, but an 83 overall feels like a healthy bump. Maybe EA is still factoring in that five-star pedigree coming out of high school.<\/p>\n The one rating that immediately stood out to me was Daylan McCutcheon<\/a>.<\/p>\n Personally, 77 overall feels too low. McCutcheon played meaningful snaps as a true freshman, and I\u2019d probably argue he and Lockett should be flipped.<\/p>\n Tight Ends<\/p>\n Nick Townsend<\/a> leading the room at 77 overall wasn\u2019t much of a surprise.<\/p>\n The one I\u2019d probably move up is Spencer Shannon<\/a>.<\/p>\n Maybe it\u2019s because of everything we\u2019ve seen and heard throughout the spring, but I think he\u2019s earned a better rating than a 71 overall.<\/p>\n Offensive Line<\/p>\n Overall, I think EA did a respectable job.<\/p>\n Trevor Goosby<\/a> at 94 overall? He might be the best left tackle in all of college football, and he\u2019s rated like it. No argument from me there.<\/p>\n Brandon Baker<\/a> getting bumped up to an 87 overall was nice to see. It shows EA believes he\u2019s ready to take another step this season.<\/p>\n One player that really caught my attention was Melvin Siani<\/a> at 86 overall.<\/p>\n That tells me EA thinks highly of him and has big expectations for what he could become this year. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if Siani lives up to that rating this fall.<\/p>\n Connor Robertson<\/a> checking in at 80 overall feels like a good baseline. I don\u2019t think he\u2019s underrated, and I don\u2019t think he\u2019s overrated. That feels like a fair starting point for a player expected to anchor the middle of Texas\u2019 offensive line.<\/p>\n Overall, I think EA did a solid job with this group.<\/p>\n Defensive Line<\/p>\n Colin Simmons<\/a> at a 95 overall?<\/p>\n I\u2019ll take it\u2026<\/p>\n But honestly?<\/p>\n He should be a 99.<\/p>\n The one thing that surprised me was Ian Geffrard\u2019s<\/a> 48 speed.<\/p>\n I understand he\u2019s a massive defensive tackle, but 48? Man, I don\u2019t know. I think he moves a little better than that.<\/p>\n Lance Jackson<\/a> also caught my eye.<\/p>\n Maybe it\u2019s just me, but I think Jackson is faster than the 82 speed EA gave him. He\u2019s a future 1st rounder people! <\/p>\n Linebackers<\/p>\n Rasheem Biles<\/a> checking in at 92 overall tells you exactly how highly EA thinks of him.<\/p>\n Ty\u2019Anthony Smith<\/a> at 82 also feels about right. He\u2019ll get a bump on rankings throughout the season. <\/p>\n Overall, I don\u2019t have many complaints with this group. Those two standout the most and rated higher tan everyone else. <\/p>\n Secondary<\/p>\n This might be my favorite position group on the entire roster.<\/p>\n Texas\u2019 defensive back room is loaded. From the corners to the safeties, this group has size, length, athleticism and speed. Honestly, it lines up with everything we\u2019ve been hearing heading into fall camp.<\/p>\n At strong safety, Jelani McDonald<\/a> leads the way with a 90 overall, followed by Derek Williams Jr.<\/a> (79) and Jonah Williams<\/a> (79).<\/p>\n At free safety, Xavier Filsaime<\/a> checks in at an 80 overall, while Jordan Johnson-Rubell<\/a> comes in at 76. We\u2019ve heard throughout the offseason that Filsaime could spend plenty of time at STAR\/Nickel, which is essentially another corner position. EA doesn\u2019t have that role in the game, so he\u2019s listed at free safety.<\/p>\n The cornerback room is just as impressive.<\/p>\n Bo Mascoe<\/a> (89), Graceson Littleton<\/a> (86), Kade Phillips<\/a> (84), Kobe Black<\/a> (81), Warren Roberson<\/a> (79), Samari Matthews<\/a> (78) and Wardell Mack<\/a> (76) give Texas one of the deepest groups in the country.<\/p>\n Of course, there are still a few names missing that should eventually be added through roster updates, but one thing immediately stands out\u2014everybody in this room can run.<\/p>\n The only thing I\u2019d question is a couple of the speed ratings.<\/p>\n I think Matthews is quite a bit faster than an 88 speed, and I\u2019d probably say the same thing about Roberson\u2019s 90 speed. Those are really my only nitpicks.<\/p>\n Overall, though, I think EA nailed this room.<\/p>\n Texas has one of the deepest secondaries in the game, and honestly, I think that\u2019s going to be true in real life too. It lines up almost perfectly with everything we\u2019ve been hearing throughout the offseason. This has a chance to be one of the strengths of the football team in 2026.<\/p>\n Final Thoughts<\/p>\n Overall, I think EA Sports did a pretty good job with Texas\u2019 launch roster.<\/p>\n Outside of the obvious freshmen and a few players still waiting to be added, there aren\u2019t many ratings that completely shocked me. There are definitely a few I\u2019d tweak, but that\u2019s part of the fun this time of year.<\/p>\n Now I\u2019m curious what y\u2019all think.<\/p>\n Who is rated too high?<\/p>\n Who is rated too low?<\/p>\n Which speed rating surprised you the most?<\/p>\n If you could change one rating today, who would it be?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For those of y\u2019all who grabbed early access today, what are your first impressions of Texas\u2019 roster? 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