EA Sports’ College Football 27 is almost here, and with the full ratings now out ahead of the July 9 worldwide launch, Oklahoma State’s roster gives us a pretty clear picture of who the game thinks can fly, who can bully people, and who already looks like a problem.
The Cowboys’ top-end talent shows up in a few obvious places. Caleb Hawkins leads the team at running back with a 91 overall, Wyatt Young is right behind him among the wideouts at 90, and Drew Mestemaker sits atop the quarterback room at 89. On the defensive side, Mo Horn is the highest-rated corner at 86, while James Williams leads the edge group at 84.
The highest-rated player at each spot paints a good snapshot of the roster turnover, too, with transfers filling a lot of the key roles. Hawkins, Mestemaker, Young, Donovan Green at tight end, Braydon Nelson at left tackle, Jacob Sexton at left guard, Tyler Mercer at center, Johnny Dickson III at right guard, Joseph Hanson at right tackle, James Williams at REDGE, Braylon Rigsby at LEDGE, Jerry Lawson at defensive tackle, Ethan Wesloski at WILL, Isaiah Chisom at MIKE, Bodnar at free safety, Evan Jackson at strong safety, Sam Keltner at kicker and Lachie Pozzobon at punter all show up as the top-rated options at their positions.
Speed is where the Cowboys really start to pop. Six players are tied for the team lead with a 91 speed rating: Hawkins, Chris Barnes, Miles Coleman, Mo Horn, Trudell Berry and Vincent Holmes.
Coleman and Horn also share the best acceleration mark in that group at 94, which means they get to that top gear quicker than the rest. Barnes might not stay where he is for long, either, since the expectation is that his numbers could climb once he has more film.
Strength tells a different story. Sexton owns the team’s best mark there at 95, and Ashton Lepo is right behind him at 93. On the defensive side, Lawson is the strongest player on the roster with an 88 strength rating.
There’s also a freshman worth noting. Jenks running back KD Jones is the highest-rated true freshman on the team at 75 overall, and his athletic numbers jump off the page: 89 speed, 93 acceleration, 87 agility and 87 change of direction.
Across the Big 12, the 90-overall club is a pretty exclusive group, and Oklahoma State has two names in it. Hawkins checks in at 91, while Young lands at 90.
The rest of that tier is loaded with familiar conference standouts, including Brice Pollock of Texas Tech at 93, Evan Tenesdahl of Cincinnati at 93, Shadre Hurst of Houston at 93, A.J. Holmes Jr. of Texas Tech at 92, LJ Martin of BYU at 92, Sheridan Wilson of Texas Tech at 92, Terrance Carter Jr. of Texas Tech at 92, Austin Romaine of Texas Tech at 91, Bruce Mitchell of BYU at 91, Cam Cook of West Virginia at 91, Danny Scudero of Colorado at 91, Amare Thomas of Houston at 90, Evan Johnson of BYU at 90, Faletau Satuala of BYU at 90, Howard Sampson of Texas Tech at 90, Jamel Johnson of TCU at 90, Noah Fifita of Arizona at 90 and Trey White of Texas Tech at 90.
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Thomas Sorber, meanwhile, has quietly put himself in the conversation for a roster spot if he gets to camp fully healthy. The draft slotting says Mara should have the edge, but Sorbers prior experience and practice time could make this a real competition for the fourth big-man job, and Oklahoma City has reason to watch closely as both players try to carve out a place. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Made A Lu Dort Call That Says Plenty
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For a club trying to balance talent, flexibility and the realities of the cap, this is a meaningful choice. Keeping Dort points to a willingness to live in second-apron territory for the time being, even if that posture could change later. If the Thunder ever decide to move him, it would likely say more about a shift in their cap approach than about Dort himself. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Face One Big Question About Their Title Chances
The Thunder spent the offseason making a few subtle but meaningful tweaks around the edges, dealing Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins for second-round picks and bringing in first-round prospects Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz. Even with those moves, the bigger picture in Oklahoma City still points to continuity, with Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort back in place as the club tries to stay firmly in the Western Conference contender mix.
What makes the conversation more interesting is how the rest of the West is shifting around them. San Antonio and the reigning champion New York Knicks are being cast as the primary threats in the title race, which means Oklahoma City cannot just rely on internal growth to keep pace. The Thunder still profile as one of the teams with the best path to another championship, but the margin for error is getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]