In EA Sports College Football 27, speed isn’t just a nice bonus - it’s the trait that can flip a snap into a touchdown before the defense even gets set. And when you sort through the rosters, a handful of programs jump off the screen because they don’t just have one burner. They have waves of them.
Using roster data, plus help from Bleacher Report’s Adam Kramer and CFB Labs’ player ratings database, five teams separate themselves from the pack as fall camp nears. Three players in the game carry 99 speed: Oregon WR Gatlin Bair, South Carolina WR Nyck Harbor and UCLA CB Rodrick Pleasant. Only Oregon lands among the fastest teams overall.
The countdown starts with Texas, which checks in at No. 5.
The Longhorns have 22 players at 90 speed or better, and eight of them are at 93 or higher. That kind of depth shows up all over the roster, especially in the passing game and the backfield.
Ryan Wingo brings a 97 speed rating after an 854-yard, seven-touchdown season. Raleek Brown, who transferred from Arizona State, has 95 speed, and safety Xavier Filsaime gives the secondary another high-end athlete.
Steve Sarkisian summed up the payoff this spring: "Our ability to create explosive plays is showing up."
Miami comes in at No. 4 after reaching a national championship game appearance and returning with 23 players rated 90 speed or higher. Five of those players are at 92 or above, giving Mario Cristobal plenty of options to stretch the field.
Malachi Toney, whom I ranked the No. 2 WR in college football earlier this year, earned a 93 speed rating and elite agility marks.
Freshman Vance Spafford leads the incoming class with 94 speed, and Girard Pringle Jr. also posted 94 speed after making explosive plays during the team’s postseason run. Cooper Barkate, the incoming receiver transfer from Duke, brings 90 speed, and Mark Fletcher Jr. also sits at 90.
Ole Miss lands at No. 3 with 24 players at 90 speed or higher after reaching the College Football Playoff semifinal without Lane Kiffin. Nine Rebels hit 92 speed or better, and that kind of top-end burst has carried over into Pete Golding’s transition.
Kewan Lacy tied the Ole Miss record with 1,567 rushing yards and set the program mark with 24 rushing touchdowns, good for a 93 speed rating. Cameron Miller, who transferred from Kentucky, has 94 speed, and Caleb Cunningham arrives as one of the most coveted recruits in the 2025 class.
Lacy’s production in the trenches gives Golding’s offense the kind of physical edge it needs in the SEC.
Oregon takes the No. 2 spot, and the Ducks are loaded. They have 26 players rated 90 speed or higher, tied with Texas A&M for the most in the country, and 10 of them are at 92 or above.
Dan Lanning’s roster is packed with playmakers on the perimeter. Gatlin Bair is one of only three players nationally with 99 speed.
Dakorien Moore checks in at 96, and Evan Stewart returned from injury with a 94 speed rating. Dante Moore stayed in Eugene after passing on the NFL Draft, and he explained why: "After that last game, seeing the tears on my teammates’ faces, it felt like that couldn't be my last journey with them," Moore said about his return.
At No. 1, Texas A&M owns the speed crown.
The Aggies also have 26 players at 90 speed or higher, tied with Oregon, but they separate themselves with the elite numbers: three players are at 96 speed or better, and 17 are at 92 or above. Julio Humphrey’s 98 speed is the fastest rating for a defensive back in the game, and Brandon Arrington matches that elite tier with 96 speed.
On offense, Mario Craver brings 94 speed, while Jayden Warren is at 96. The bigger edge, though, comes on defense.
Mike Elko’s third team has speed built into that side of the ball first, with cornerbacks Dezz Ricks, Rickey Gibson III, Bravon Rodgers and Adonyss Currie all rated at 93 speed.
In Other News...
Former Miami Target Jalen Brown Is Back In The Spotlight
Jalen Brown is back in the transfer portal after a winding college path that has already taken him from LSU to Florida State and then to Arkansas. For Miami fans, his name still carries some familiarity, since he was once a Hurricanes recruiting target before ultimately landing elsewhere, and his latest move puts him back on the market at a time when receivers with proven Power Four experience tend to draw attention quickly.
Browns Arkansas stint never really got the chance to settle in. He started five games last season before a leg injury ended his year, leaving the Razorbacks with only a brief look at what he could bring on the field. Now, with his next stop to be determined, the intrigue is less about where he has been and more about which program is willing to bet on a fresh start. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Is Locked In A High-Stakes Battle For A Blue-Chip EDGE
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For Miami, the race carries a little extra edge because of the familiar recruiting overlap with Oregon, and Tillmans profile makes the competition worth watching. The Ducks are trying to strengthen their future pass rush, while Miami has been in on him longer, and the next step in his process could say plenty about which staff makes the stronger impression when the visits start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Mario Cristobal Has Miami Owning ACC Recruiting In A Big Way
Miamis 2027 recruiting momentum has turned into something more than a hot stretch. Rivals latest ACC rankings put the Hurricanes in a commanding spot, with seven of the conferences top 10 commits and the top five players all headed to Coral Gables. It is the kind of early-cycle dominance that reinforces why Mario Cristobals staff has been able to keep landing elite talent while building a class that already sits No. 4 nationally with 20 commitments.
The broader picture is just as striking because Miami is not only stacking blue-chip talent, it is also winning key battles against other power programs. The class includes multiple five-star and four-star prospects, and several of those additions were the result of flips that changed the shape of the recruiting board. For a program trying to stay ahead of the curve in the ACC, the only real question now is how long Miami can keep this pace before the rest of the league starts pushing back harder. [Read more 🡒]