Admittedly, Dontavius Nash still has several items he’d like to scratch off his personal checklist before his college football career is through. No longer among those, however, is the opportunity to see his name, image and likeness in a video game.
The East Carolina junior defensive back and former Hunter Huss standout is one in a host of players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties featured in the College Football 25 video game.
“Feels good, man,” he said. “A dream come true to play the game as a kid and now myself in today’s time is a blessing.”
Players received access to the game on Monday, July 15, along with those who paid $100 to play four days prior to its worldwide release date. It is EA Sports’ first presentation of the video game since 2013.
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“From the moment we decided to make EA Sports College Football 25, the passionate college football fans out there were our team’s north star,” said EA Sports senior vice president and group general manager Daryl Holt in a prepared statement. “This game is for the fans, and the response we’ve seen from across the collegiate landscape, athletes, creators, celebrities and the core community has been nothing short of spectacular.”
All 134 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) schools are included, in addition to more than 11,000 players at the time of its initial launch. Each player featured is to receive $600 and a copy of College Football 25, thanks to an agreement by the NCAA, player representatives and EA Sports allowing for players’ name, image and likeness to appear in the game. The only exceptions are the game’s cover athletes, who will receive added compensation for appearing in the game.
Upon receiving his copy of College Football 25, Nash was most interested in finding out his overall rating in the game.
“I’m cool with the 78 they gave me,” Nash said. “I plan to end the year being a high 80s, close to 90s type guy.”
Nash isn’t the only area product featured in the game. Here’s a look at some of the area’s top-rated players, according to the College Football 25 video game.
Area’s top rated players in NCAA Football 25
Kendall Karr, Coastal Carolina
The Stuart Cramer grad is the area’s highest-rated player at 81. A redshirt senior, he caught 23 passes for 239 yards and five touchdowns for the Chanticleers last fall.
Prince Bemah, Charlotte
The Hunter Huss product is rated a 79 as a linebacker, characterized as a field general and a strong tackler. A redshirt senior, he had 48 tackles and 1.5 sacks last fall.
Travali Price, NC State
The North Lincoln alum is rated a 79 as a defensive end. He had 13 total tackles and a sack in 12 games last season.
Kobe Paysour, North Carolina
The former Kings Mountain standout is rated a 79 at wide receiver. Touted for his “sure hands,” Paysour caught 22 passes for 282 yards with three touchdowns through five games last fall before suffering a season-ending injury.
Malaki Hamrick, North Carolina
Hailing from Shelby High, the Tar Heel pass rusher is rated a 78. Hamrick is seeking a bounce back campaign after losing his 2023 season to injury.
Sullivan Absher, Notre Dame
The South Point product is rated a 76 as an offensive tackle. He made his varsity debut as a relief offensive lineman for the Fighting Irish’s 40-8 win in the 2023 Sun Bowl.
Deandre Walker, Virginia
The East Lincoln alum is rated a 76 as a defensive back. He had 11 total tackles last season, along with an interception and six passes defensed.
Dameon “Day-Day” Wilson, East Carolina
The Kings Mountain product is rated a 76 at linebacker. He transferred this offseason from Missouri, where he had 18 tackles and a fumble recovery in 20 career games.
Santana Hopper, Appalachian State
The Shelby product is rated a 75 as a defensive end. He played in 14 games last fall, tallying 34 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Nick Sharpe, Wake Forest
A former Hunter Huss standout, he is rated a 75 in the game with the ability to block at the second level. He started in two games last fall before he was sidelined due to injury.
Also among those from the tri-county area featured (with school and rating) in the College Football 25 video game include: Ashbrook product Trent Mitchell (NC State, 68); Crest’s Eli Hall (Liberty, 73) and Javarius Green (North Carolina, 66); East Lincoln’s Ben Cutter (West Virginia, 73); Kings Mountain’s Curtis Simpson (North Carolina, 67); Shelby’s Spencer Triplett (North Carolina, 57); and South Point’s Devon King (East Carolina, 74).
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gastonia, Shelby area’s top-rated players in College Football 25
The Gaston Gazette
