Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams on cover of EA Sports College Football ’26
EA Sports chose Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama’s Ryan Williams to be on the cover of College Football ’26. We talk to the athletes about what this moment means to them.
- EA Sports’ College Football 26 video game has been released with updated graphics, players, and physics.
- 27 former Southwest Florida high school players are included in the game.
- More local players may be added in a future update.
College Football 26 has taken the country by storm once again, as the NIL era of collegiate athletics continues to forge ahead full steam.
This year’s version of the EA Sports video game was released last week, with enhanced graphics, more new players, and adjusted physics. Southwest Florida had 27 former high school players included in the game, with potentially more to be added in the first major update before the college football season commences.
Here are the top 12 area opt-ins as of release day, and those who have the highest overalls. Naples High is well represented.
SWFL locals in EA College Football 26
Kerry Brown, Minnesota, 85 OVR
The Golden Gopher took a redshirt early on but made a sizable impact as a freshman last year, posting 63 tackles (3 for loss), 2 interceptions, and 4 pass breakups. The Naples High grad leads the area with an 85 overall, after being an 81 overall a season ago.
Devin Moore, Florida, 84 OVR
Moore’s 2025 season was injury-plagued with the Gators, seeing action in seven games with six starts. In action, the Naples High grad recorded 17 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 pass breakups.
Isaiah Augustave, South Carolina, 84 OVR
Naples High is responsible for the top three players in College Football 26, along with four of the top six. Augustave is another standout and will make his return to the SEC with the Gamecocks after spending time at Arkansas as a freshman. At Colorado last season, he rushed 85 times for 384 yards with 4 touchdowns, adding 11 receptions for 62 yards.
Richard Young, Alabama, 83 OVR
The Lehigh alum rotated in seven games out of the backfield, rushing 27 times for 146 yards with a pair of scores. With Justice Haynes having transferred to Michigan, and Alabama having a pocket passer in Ty Simpson at quarterback, expect Young and Jam Miller to be the one-two punch in the backfield.
Aidan Gousby, Minnesota, 83 OVR
Gousby made 10 appearances with Minnesota last year, including eight starts for P.J. Fleck’s group. At defensive back, the Lehigh alum recorded 23 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup as a redshirt sophomore. His overall is unchanged from last season, sticking with an 83.
Kendrick Raphael, Cal, 82 OVR
The Naples alum will debut in new colors out west for the Golden Bears, but remains in the ACC. With N.C. State as a sophomore, he rushed 78 times for 425 yards with 3 touchdowns, adding 10 receptions for 41 yards. His best rushing effort came against Georgia Tech last year, where he rushed 9 times for 78 yards.
Myles Graham, Florida, 80 OVR
The former ECS product made an impact down the stretch for the Gators, logging 30 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception. Graham’s overall jumped up three points from a 77 to an 80, looking to be a key contributor on the defensive side of the ball in the fall.
Omarion Cooper, Memphis, 79 OVR
Cooper’s moved around during his career, starting at Florida State, transferring to Colorado, transferring back to Florida State, and is now at Memphis in what’s going to be his final season. The Lehigh alum made one appearance last season with the Seminoles against the Tigers, logging two tackles. At Colorado in 2023, he had a career-high 37 tackles, five pass breakups, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Chris Graves, Ole Miss, 78 OVR
Graves has found his footing in Oxford after transferring from Miami, coming off a 2024 season where he had 15 tackles in the secondary. The Bishop Verot product saw his overall hold firm at a 78 from last season.
Jadarius Green-McKnight, Marshall, 77 OVR
The oldest player among the crop in Southwest Florida, Green-McKnight has one final season with the Thundering Herd. For his career at Marshall from 2022-24, the Dunbar grad has logged 65 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Greg Delaine, Syracuse, 77 OVR
Delaine got a lot of experience as a redshirt sophomore down the stretch, playing in the Orange’s final 10 games. The Fort Myers alum had 6 tackles and two pass breakups. The redshirt junior saw his overall dip from last year’s game, going from an 80 to a 77.
Winston Watkins Jr., Ole Miss, 77 OVR
One of three freshmen with local ties in the game, Watkins is the highest. He’ll debut with Ole Miss and a 77 overall. During his time in high school, Watkins finished with 3,277 receiving yards and 44 receiving touchdowns during stints at Evangelical Christian, IMG Academy, First Baptist, and Venice.
Other SWFL locals in College Football 26
- Olsen Patt-Henry, Clemson, 76 OVR
- Jaheim Buchanon, FIU, 76 OVR
- Jaheim Clarke, Illinois, 76 OVR
- Jordan Church, Louisville, 76 OVR
- Malique Dieudonne, Western Michigan, 76 OVR
- Tavin Ward, USF, 75 OVR
- Carter Smith, Wisconsin, 74 OVR
- Kensley Faustin, Auburn, 72 OVR
- Tarvarish Dawson, FIU, 72 OVR
- TJ Abrams, Florida, 71 OVR
- Andre Devine, Jacksonville State, 71 OVR
- Jonas Duclona, USF, 70 OVR
- Leroy Roker, Ohio State, 66 OVR
- Eric Fletcher, Oklahoma State, 66 OVR
- Khari Bendolph, Jacksonville State, 60 OVR
Players we have yet to see
- Logan Bartley, Kansas State
- Jordan Bergeron, Western Kentucky
- Will Brockmeier, Army
- Jayce Cora, Kennesaw State
- Chris Crouch, Georgia Southern
- Tommy Cusick, Boston College
- Alex Gonzalez, Florida
- TJ Hedrick, Ole Miss
- Darrion Jones, Kansas
- Timmy Lawson, North Carolina
- James Little IV, Northern Illinois
- Bradley Martino, Minnesota
- Emrhe Pray, Army
- Laz Rogers, Northern Illinois
- Shawn Simeon, Toledo
- Peter Simmons III, UAB
- Brandon Torres, Florida State
- Madrid Tucker, North Carolina
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
