Since Electronic Arts began its college football video game journey with Bill Walsh College Football in August of 1993, there have been at least 657 individual Ohio State players and a total of 1,518 Buckeyes with ratings over the decades of EA's epic NCAA College Football franchise.
I was a senior in high school when this transformative video game debuted, and I have played all 23 games in the series across six consoles: Genesis, PlayStation, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5.
In the early years, EA provided jersey numbers for our favorite Buckeyes with some ratings, but names and overall ratings were not part of the game. In the Bill Walsh versions, the first two in the series, I would abuse opponents (my friends) with go routes to No. 7 (Joey Galloway) and No. 83 (Terry Glenn). Galloway would be the receiver on the left side of the field and Glenn on the right. If either had single coverage, I'd tap the "A" or "C" button and watch as Galloway or Glenn would typically come down with the moon ball for a big gain, or break free for a touchdown.
If I wasn't abusing the defense with the air raid, No. 27 (Eddie George) picked up the tough yards up the middle, or by springing him to the outside – the jump button was your friend – and gash the defense for big gains or touchdowns. On defense, I would creep Lorenzo Styles or Craig Powell up to the line and come off the edge to wreck any plans the opposing offense had. The game didn't keep track of season sacks or tackles for loss, but if it had, Styles and Powell would have easily broken every record.
As the seasons ticked by, the graphics, gameplay, dynasty modes, stats, and ratings continued to improve. Today, we will use the ratings from the original Bill Walsh College Football through this year's EA Sports College Football 27 to identify EA's highest-rated Ohio State offensive players of all-time (we’ll look at the highest-rated defensive players next week). We will also identify some players who could have vied for the highest ratings during the 10 years when EA didn't have a game for the 2014 through 2023 seasons.
During the 2000s, EA also included classic Ohio State teams for players to select from. This provided us with the Buckeyes' ratings for the 1954 and 1968 seasons. EA also updated the 1996, 1998, and 2002 roster ratings, which allowed us to obtain overall ratings for players on the '96 and '98 teams that were previously missing.
Note: During the 2000s, EA also included classic Ohio State teams for players to select from. This provided us with the Buckeyes’ ratings for the 1954 and 1968 seasons. EA also updated the 1996, 1998, and 2002 roster ratings, allowing us to obtain overall ratings for players on the ’96 and ’98 teams that were previously missing. (Note: EA Sports did not begin assigning overall ratings to players until EA Sports College Football 2000.)
Player ratings were gathered from a combination of checking the ratings on the actual games and from the historical ratings database on TeamCrafters.net. We used the original ratings from the games whenever possible.
Quarterback
Some legendary players have lined up behind center for Ohio State in the video game era. Bobby Hoying got things started, but he played in the days when EA didn't provide overall player ratings. With that, Hoying was graded with an 86 for throwing power, but a criminally underrated score of 33 for throwing accuracy.
Four Ohio State quarterbacks have received overall ratings of 90 or higher: Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, and this year, Julian Sayin joined this elite club with an overall score of 94. Before revealing the QB above with the highest overall rating, let's take a look at some rating superlatives.
QB Superlatives
- Speed: 91 – Terrelle Pryor (EA 2011-12)
- Strength: 82 – Will Howard (2025)
- Agility: 92 – Braxton Miller (2014)
- COD/ACC: 97 – Terrelle Pryor (2011-12)
- Awareness: 92 – Julian Sayin (2027)
- Carry: 87 – Braxton Miller (2014)
- Break Tackle: 93 – Terrelle Pryor (2009, 10, 11)
- Throwing Power: 95 – Tavien St. Clair (2026)
- Throwing Accuracy: 95 – Julian Sayin (2027)
During the EA dark years, Ohio State had a few quarterbacks who could have had ratings high enough to make the superlative list above. Cardale Jones might have had a 95 or higher for throwing power, C.J. Stroud's accuracy and awareness were top-notch, and Justin Fields had plenty of speed, agility, and change of direction/acceleration.
Pryor is the only Ohio State quarterback to receive an overall rating of 90+ in two seasons. He had a 90 in EA '10 and a 94 in EA '11. This year, Sayin has a 94, and in EA 2007, Troy Smith checked in with an impressive 95. That leaves Braxton Miller, who had an overall rating of 96 in EA '14 as Ohio State's highest-rated quarterback in the EA franchise. Kind of makes sense that the player who made the game look like a video game has the highest rating for a video game.
Halfback
An Ohio State halfback has earned a 90+ overall rating 10 times, and eight different players have achieved that status. Dan Herron and Beanie Wells are the only Buckeye running backs to reach this level in two different games. Herron was a 92 in EA 11 and EA 12. Wells was a 91 in EA 08 and a 96 in EA 09. Of the eight players to earn a 90 or higher, Ohio State's only Heisman-winning running back during the EA Sports franchise run is not among them. Unfortunately, EA didn't have OVR ratings during George's playing days, so he doesn't have one. However, during his senior season, George had 80 speed, 73 strength, 66 agility, 80 awareness, and 73 catch.
The eight Buckeyes to get at least a 90 are Bo Jackson (90, EA 27), TreVeyon Henderson (93, EA 25), Quinshon Judkins (95, EA 25), Dan Herron (92, EA 11, 12), Brandon Saine (94, EA 11), Beanie Wells (91, 96; EA 08, 09), Maurice Clarett (95, EA 04), and Michael Wiley (90, EA 08).
Along with George, Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins, and Curtis Samuel are other Ohio State running backs who likely would have scored highly in EA's rating system. Zeke's numbers in the missing EA 16 game could have been off the charts following his epic stretch to end the 2014 season.
Some items to note: Clarett was in the 2004 game, but he didn't play for the Buckeyes for the 2003 season. Wiley was on the 1998 team, but EA didn't have overall ratings for the 1999 game. Wiley's 90 rating is from the 1998 classic roster in EA 08.
HB Superlatives
- Speed: 95 – Dontre Wilson (2014), Jaamal Berry (2010), Brandon Saine (2008)
- Strength: 88 – Beanie Wells (2009)
- Agility: 94 – Jordan Hall (2014), Jaamal Berry (2011-12)
- COD/ACC: 96 – Jordan Hall (2014), Jaamal Berry (2010, 12), Brandon Saine (2011)
- Carry: 98 – Quinshon Judkins (2025)
- Break Tackle: 98 – Beanie Wells (2009)
- Catch: 81 – Brandon Saine (2010)
- Awareness: 94 – Brandon Saine (2011)
Jaamal Berry topped the superlative list in three different categories, but his best overall rating was 86 in the 2012 game. Judkins and Saine were best in two categories each, which earned Judkins an OVR of 95 in EA 25 and Saine a 94 in EA 11.
With an overall rating of 96 in the 2009 game, Beanie Wells has Ohio State's highest rating among halfbacks.
Fullback
In today's game, the fullback is a dying breed. Two running backs or an extra tight end will typically see the field before a fullback. With that, 17 different Ohio State players received overall ratings at the fullback position, four of whom were 90 or better. Jamar Martin earned a 90 in EA 01, Brandon Schnittker had a 92 in EA 06, and Branden Joe earned a 96 in EA 05.
FB Superlatives
- Speed: 87 – Rod Smith (2014), Jermil Martin (2010)
- Strength: 79 – Zach Boren (2012-13)
- Agility: 83 – Rod Smith (2014), Adam Homan (2011), Jermil Martin (2010)
- COD/ACC: 92 – Rod Smith (2014)
- Carry: 92 – James Young (2008, 1954 classic roster)
- Break Tackle: 86 – James Young (2008, 1954 classic roster)
- Catch: 77 – Jesse Kline (2002)
- Awareness: 85 – Brandon Schnittker (2006)
However, the Buckeye FB with the highest rating is James Young from the 1954 classic roster with a 99. The 2008 version of the game has the 1954 classic roster, and the sophomore FB wearing No. 30 (James Young) is rated with the highest of honors. For those in the audience with a little knowledge of Buckeye history, you know that Heisman-winning running back Howard "Hopalong" Cassady was on this team. The people at EA gave Cassady an 84 for his overall rating. This has to be a mistake, but maybe the geniuses at EA know more about the skills of Cassady and Young than we do.
JJ = Cheat code @Jermiah_Smith1 | @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/1XvSJQe3tV
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 24, 2026
Wide Receiver
With Ohio State's recent performance in the NFL Draft, many refer to the program as Wide Receiver U, and EA agrees. 12 different Buckeye receivers have reached an overall rating of 90 or higher 17 times – the most for any Ohio State position group.
In EA 04, Michael Jenkins was the first Ohio State receiver to reach this status, receiving an OVR of 94. In the 2008 game, David Boston was given a 92 on both the 1996 and 1998 classic rosters, but technically that was after Jenkins, along with Santonio Holmes (92 in EA 06) and Ted Ginn Jr. (93 in EA 06, 07).
The other eight Buckeyes to earn an overall rating of 90 or higher: Brian Robiskie (91, EA 09), Dane Sanzenbacher (91, EA 11), DeVier Posey (93, EA 11, 12), Philly Brown (90, EA 14), Devin Smith (91, EA 14), Emeka Egbuka (93, EA 25), Carnell Tate (91, EA 26), and Jeremiah Smith 90, 98, and 99 in EA 25, 26, and 27.
As impressive as it is that Ohio State receivers have earned a 90+ overall rating 17 times, the program could have more players on the list. Terry Glenn and Joey Galloway are in the game, but during a time when overall ratings weren't given. We also missed out on playing with Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba during the blackout years of the game.
WR Superlatives
- Speed: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2006-07)
- Strength: 79 – Jeremiah Smith (2025, 26, 27)
- Agility: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2007)
- COD/ACC: 99 – Ted Ginn Jr. (2006-07), Philly Brown (2014), Chris Fields (2011-12)
- Catch: 97 – Jeremiah Smith (2027)
- Carry: 90 – DeVier Posey (2012)
- Break Tackle: 84 – Jeremiah Smith (2025, 26, 27)
- Awareness: 98 – Emeka Egbuka (2025)
In this year's version of the game, Jeremiah Smith became the first Ohio State wide receiver to earn an overall rating of 99. Yes, Chris Gamble had a 99 rating at CB in EA 04, but at receiver, he had a 72. Like Braxton Miller, Smith is like playing with a video game cheat code.
Tight End
Six Ohio State tight ends earned a 90 or higher from Electronic Arts: Ryan Hamby (90 and 91; EA 05, 06), Charles Aldrin (90, EA 08, 1968 classic roster), DJ Jones (91, EA 08, 1996 roster), John Lumpkin (94, EA 08, 1998 roster), Jake Stoneburner (90, EA 13), and 91 for Max Klare in EA 26.
Buckeye tight ends from the missing years of 2014-2023 who could have possibly earned at least a 90 are Jeff Heuerman, Nick Vannett, Marcus Baugh, Luke Farrell, and Cade Stover. Rickey Dudley also didn't have an overall rating in EA 96, and there is a strong chance the Raiders' first-round pick would have had at least an overall rating of 90 if the game had overall ratings that year.
TE Superlatives
- Speed: 88 – Jake Stoneburner (2010)
- Strength: 86 – R.J. Coleman (2006)
- Agility: 87 – Reid Fragel (2011-12)
- COD/ACC: 92 – Jake Stoneburner (2012-13)
- Catch: 91 – Jake Stoneburner (2013)
- Carry: 84 – Charles Aldrin, Nicholas Roman (2008, 1968 classic roster)
- Break Tackle: 84 – Nic DiLillo (2010-11)
- Awareness: 91 – Jake Stoneburner (2013)
The best Ohio State tight end according to EA's ratings is Lumpkin, whose overall rating was 94 on the classic roster in EA 08.
| POS | PLAYER | RATING |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Braxton Miller | 96 |
| RB | Beanie Wells | 96 |
| FB | Branden Joe | 96 |
| WR | Jeremiah Smith | 99 |
| WR | DeVier Posey | 95 |
| WR | Michael Jenkins | 94 |
| TE | John Lumpkin | 94 |
| C | Michael Brewster | 94 |
| OG | Luke Montgomery | 92 |
| OG | Donovan Jackson | 92 |
| OT | Orlando Pace | 99 |
| OT | Alex Boone | 94 |
Offensive Tackle
When people think of Ohio State's all-time offensive tackles in the last 40 years, Orlando Pace is typically the first Buckeye they recall. So, it's no surprise that Pace tops all Ohio State offensive tackles in EA's football franchise with an overall rating of 99 on the 1996 classic roster in EA 08.
Other tackles to top 90 or more on EA's overall rating scale were: Shane Olivea (90, EA 04), Rob Sims (91, EA 06), Kirk Barton (92, EA 08), Alex Boone (94, EA 08), JB Shugarts (91 and 92; EA 11, 12), Jack Mewhort (91, EA 14) and Josh Simmons (90, EA 25).
Had overall ratings been in the 1994 and 1995 versions of the game, Korey Stringer would have been another Buckeye tackle to earn a rating over 90, probably pushing 97, 98, or 99.
OT Superlatives
- Speed: 72 – Deontae Armstrong (2026)
- Strength: 100 – Orlando Pace (1996)
- Agility: 79 – Deontae Armstrong (2026)
- COD/ACC: 92 – Darryl Baldwin (2014)
- Awareness: 95 – William Urbanik (2008, 1968 classic roster)*
- Pass Blocking: 100 – Korey Stringer (1994)
- Run Blocking: 97 – Orlando Pace (1996)
*Urbanik wore No. 79 and was listed as a DT on Ohio State's 1968 roster. Rufus Mayes (No. 73) and David Foley (No. 70) were both first-round NFL draft picks, and either Mayes or Foley was likely the player meant for this ranking.
The only Ohio State offensive players in EA Sports' digital world to earn a 100 in a category are Orlando Pace and Korey Stringer. Electronic Arts recognized Pace's otherworldly strength and Stringer's ability to keep his quarterback clean.
Buckeye tackles who we didn't get the opportunity to see dominate the game during their prime years include Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Taylor Decker. Johnson and Jones would have been studs in EA 23, Petit-Frere in EA 22, and Decker (who had an 84 overall in EA 14) would have bullied defensive linemen in the 2015 and '16 versions of the game.
Offensive Guard
Nine Ohio State guards received an overall rating of 90 or better, with Justin Boren’s overall rating exceeding 90 twice. In this year's game, Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld will anchor the middle of your offensive line. Siereveld has an OVR rating of 90 and has a strong run-blocking grade of 93. Montgomery has a higher pass-blocking grade (93) and an overall rating of 92.
Montgomery's 92 OVR is tied with Adrien Clarke (2004), Justin Boren (2010, '11), Andrew Norwell (2014) and Donovan Jackson (2025) for the highest rating an Ohio State guard has received in the game.
Siereveld joins T.J. Downing 90 (2007), Steve Rehring 90 (2008), and Bryant Browning 91 (2011) as the other guards to break 90.
OG Superlatives
- Speed: 70 – Deontae Armstrong (2025), Donovan Jackson (2025)
- Strength: 96 – Donovan Jackson (2025), Andrew Norwell (2014)
- Agility: 79 – Deontae Armstrong (2025)
- COD/ACC: 90 – Andrew Norwell (2014)
- Awareness: 94 – Donovan Jackson (2025)
- Pass Blocking: 97 – Rob Murphy (1998)
- Run Blocking: 97 – Rob Murphy (1998)
Although EA gave Rob Murphy outstanding pass and run-blocking ratings in the 1998 version of the game, his overall rating on the 1998 classic roster in the 2008 game was a surprisingly paltry 76.
All-Americans Thayer Munford, Wyatt Davis and Billy Price are three guards – yes, Price could also be a center – who missed out on being part of the game. All three would likely have joined the list of Buckeye guards who earned overall ratings above 90.
Game Breakers
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 25, 2026
Six Buckeyes rank Top 10 at their position in @EASPORTSCollege pic.twitter.com/IQiMahiqO2
Center
Michael Brewster holds three of Ohio State's seven overall ratings of 90 or better at the center position. Brewster had a 90 in EA 10 and a 94 in EA 11 and EA 12. His score of 94 is the highest for any Buckeye center in the game.
LeCharles Bentley (91, EA 00), Alex Stepanovich (90, EA 04), Nick Mangoldd (90, EA 05) and Corey Linsley (90, EA 14) also reached the 90+ club.
C Superlatives
- Speed: 68 – Brian Bobek (2012)
- Strength: 94 – Michael Brewster (2011-12)
- Agility: 73 – Carson Hinzman (2025), Joshua Padilla (2025)
- COD/ACC: 87 – Jacoby Boren (2014)
- Awareness: 97 – Carson Hinzman (2027)
- Pass Blocking: 96 – Jim Cordle (2009)
- Run Blocking: 96 – Jim Cordle (2009)
Two years ago, Carson Hinzman and Joshua Padilla had high marks in agility. This year, EA dropped Hinzman down five spots to 68 and Padilla to 67.
Like Rob Murphy at the guard position, Jim Cordle holds Ohio State's best ratings for a center, with 96 ratings in both pass and run blocking. And, like Murphy, those strong blocking ratings did not translate into an overall rating of at least 90. For the 2009 game, Cordle's OVR was 86, likely due to a low awareness grade of 67. Today, it appears the Super Bowl-winning Cordle has made up for the lack of "awareness," as he is currently Ashland's assistant head coach and offensive line coach.
Pat Elflein (2017), Price (2018) and Michael Jordan (2019) are among the Buckeye centers who could have received high scores during the era in which EA did not produce a college football game.
Kicker
Three Ohio State kickers have received overall scores of 90 or higher, but it's been a few years since this has happened. Drew Basil was the last Buckeye kicker to earn a 90, doing so in the 2014 game. Devin Barclay also had a 90 in EA 2011.
One Ohio State kicker stands above the rest: Mike Nugent. The Centerville alum is the only Buckeye to ever earn a 99 rating on multiple rosters. In EA 2005, Nugent was a 99 on Ohio State's 2004 roster, and in the same game, he was a 99 on the 2002 classic roster. The All-American kicker also had a rating of 96 in the 2004 game.
FG Kicker Superlatives
- Speed: 74 – Ryan Pretorius (2007)
- Strength: 52 – Ryan Pretorius (2007)
- Agility: 74 – Ryan Pretorius (2007)
- Awareness: 95 – Mike Nugent (2005)
- Kick Power: 98 – Drew Basil (2014), Mike Nugent (2005)
- Kick Accuracy: 98 – Mike Nugent (2004)
Nugent not only dominated the overall ratings for the kickers, but EA also has him as the most aware kicker with the strongest and most accurate leg.
| GAME | PLAYER | RATING | PLAYER | RATING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA 27 | WR Jeremiah Smith | 99 | SS Kaden Gebhardt | 70 | |
| EA 26 | WR Jeremiah Smith | 98 | TE John Ferlmann | 56 | |
| EA 25 | FS Caleb Downs | 95 | TE John Ferlmann | 55 | |
| EA 14 | QB Braxton Miller | 96 | LB Tyler McIntosh | 69 | |
| EA 13 | DE John Simon | 92 |
CB Devan Bogard FS Tyvis Powell |
66 | |
| EA 12 | WR DeVier Posey | 95 | CB DerJuan Gambrell | 63 | |
| EA 11 | DE Cameron Heyward | 95 | DT Johnathan Hankins | 71 | |
| EA 10 | SS Kurt Coleman | 94 | QB Kenny Guiton | 74 | |
| EA 09 | LB James Laurinaitis | 98 | WR Jake Stoneburner | 74 | |
| EA 08 | LB James Laurinaitis | 95 | DE Solomon Thomas | 70 | |
| EA 07 | QB Troy Smith | 95 | OT Jon Skinner | 70 | |
| EA 06 | LB A.J. Hawk | 97 | FS Rob Harley | 65 | |
| EA 05 | K Mike Nugent | 99 | OT Kirk Barton | 62 | |
| EA 04 | CB Chris Gamble | 99 |
LB Jason Bond C Nick Mangold FS Brandon Mitchell |
68 | |
| EA 03 | SS Mike Doss | 98 | C Adam Olds | 66 | |
| EA 02 | TE Darnell Sanders | 87 | Player No. 51 | 66 | |
| EA 01 | C LeCharles Bentley | 91 | OT John McLaughlin | 68 |
For the most part, the list of Ohio State's highest-rated players for each year of the 21st century is a who's who of Buckeye greats. Every highest-rated player was in the 90s except for Darnell Sanders in the 2002 version of the game, which represented the 2001 team.
There have been at least 107 Ohio State players to earn a 90-plus overall rating, and that magic number has been reached by Buckeyes at least 138 times.
On the lowest-rated player list, John Ferlmann was placed at TE on the roster, but in real life, he was a long snapper during his time with Ryan Day's program.
