Guessing LSU defensive player ratings in EA College Football 26

The new College Football 26 video game is slated to be released on July 10, introducing a new game with a new crop of talent to LSU and college football fans. EA Sports released the initial trailer and details last week, further ramping up the excitement for the game.

LSU fans will be anxious to play with their new team in the game and have already started speculating the top players and who will be the players they need to use to get wins online. Here, we’re going to be taking our shot at guessing what EA Sports will rate LSU’s roster, this time going with the defense.

Check out the offense’s ratings here.

Note: These are my guesses as to what EA will rate LSU’s players, not what I would rate them.

Defensive tackle

Dominick McKinley 82  | Ahmad Breaux 82  | Jacobian Guillory 82 | Bernard Gooden 80  | Sydir Mitchell 77 | Shone Washington 77 | Walter Mathis 71 | Zion Williams 71 | Brandon Brown 71

This is a challenging group to rate because there is talent, but how much will EA project them to prove themselves this year? I think an 82 is fair to start the year for the top three players as McKinley and Breaux were rotation guys last year who will need to continue to develop. Guillory missed most of last season, but was an 81 in last year’s game to start the year.

Gooden was a highly rated transfer, which should get him into the 80s, but after that, I have no clue what they’ll do with Mitchell and Washington. A place in the high 70s should be fine, but neither has had much production in their career.

Defensive ends

Patrick Payton 86 | Jack Pyburn 83 | Gabriel Reliford 82 | Jimari Butler 82 | Dylan Carpenter 76 | Kolaj Cobbins 75 | CJ Jackson 75 | Damien Shanklin 73

Payton two years ago was probably playing at a 90+ level on an elite defense, but after a mediocre 2024 season, he’ll have to start a bit lower and work his way back up. Still, I expect EA to give him the benefit of the doubt and rate him 85+. Pyburn was a tackling machine at Florida last year and could be even higher than 83 on the game’s release.

Reliford is challenging to rate because he should be 80+ off of talent and projection, but Butler is an older player with multiple seasons starting at Nebraska. I’d personally have Reliford over Butler, but won’t be surprised to see it the other way. Carpenter, Cobbins, and Jackson will all get a bump into the mid 70s as they enter another year in LSU’s program.

Linebacker / STAR

Whit Weeks 89 | Harold Perkins 89 | West Weeks 79 | Davhon Keys 79 | Tylen Singleton 76 | Jaiden Braker 74 | Charles Ross 74 | CJ Jimcoily 71 | Zach Weeks 71 | Keylan Moses 71 | Austin Ausberry 

Weeks and Perkins should both be in the 88-90 range, with their speed and production. Deonte Lawson for Alabama was a 90 overall to start last year and Perkins was a 92. Weeks will be a preseason All-SEC selection, while Perkins still has some excitement despite coming off of an injury.

After that, it gets shaky. Keys and West Weeks should be around 80, but lack much top-end playmaking ability and proven production, having been reserve players last year. The rest are young guys who will have to prove themselves and make their marks early in the year, so they’ll start in the low 70s.

Cornerback

Mansoor Delane 86 | Ja’Keem Jackson 81 | DJ Pickett 79 | Ashton Stamps 78 | PJ Woodland 78 | Michael Turner 75 | Aidan Anding 71 | Wallace Foster 71

Delane was a third-team All-ACC selection and had a great year in 2024, but I’m curious to see how EA rates him. If they talk to anyone at LSU, he’ll get rave reviews and at least an 85. We’ve talked throughout this offseason how talented he is, so I anticipate a lofty rating.

Jackson started two games last year before injury which has to mean something, while Pickett will start in the high 70s as a true freshman and work his way up from there. Stamps, Woodland, and Turner all get good bumps into the high 70s as returners with good talent as well. It’s a much deeper room than LSU is used to having and these ratings will reflect that.

Safety

A.J. Haulcy 87 | Tamarcus Cooley 85 | Jardin Gilbert 81 | Javien Toviano 80 | Dashawn Spears  80 | Joel Rogers 78 | Jacob Bradford 73 | Jhase Thomas 73

Haulcy was an All Big-12 selection and one of the top players in the transfer portal, so putting him at 87 feels safe. I don’t think they’ll have him at 90 out of the gate, but I think he could get there if he has the year we hope. Cooley is similar as a talented and versatile player from NC State who will play an essential role in this defense. If EA talks to anyone in the building, these two should get lofty ratings.

Gilbert was rough last season for LSU, but I still think he starts in the 80s along with Toviano and Spears, two players ready for bigger roles in 2025. Rogers is another player who is returning that should get a bump into the high 70s, then you have two freshmen who were top 150 talents out of high school.