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The start of a new season is still two months away, but college football fans can begin a virtual campaign later this month with the upcoming release of EA Sports' College Football 27.
The latest edition of the video game comes out worldwide on July 9, but player ratings have already been posted on the EA Sports website. A pair of Big Ten stars in Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Indiana's Carter Smith are the highest-rated players.
Who are the best Arkansas football representatives in the game? Below are the top-10 rated Razorbacks, and there's no surprise in who tops the list.
Rhodes is a sure-fire NFL draft pick in 2027 and could develop into a first-round selection with another strong season this fall. In his first campaign as a full-time starter last year, Rhodes tallied 44 total tackles, including a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
EA Sports is showing some faith that Russell will mature into the type of running back Arkansas always forecasted when the in-state native signed as a four-star prospect in 2024. He's a bruiser that comes with an 88 speed rating and an 85 strength rating. Russell totaled 55 carries for 286 yards and five rushing touchdowns last season.
Hawkins is a Memphis transfer who hauled in 38 passes for 623 yards and two touchdowns. He is currently projected to be one of the Hogs' top-four wide receivers this fall, but it's to be determined just how big of a role he plays in the offense with competition from the likes of Chris Marshall, Ismael Cisse and CJ Brown.
Another Memphis transfer, Breland will be the starting left guard for the Razorbacks in 2026. He started all 12 games for the Tigers last season and posted a pass blocking grade of 79.6, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed one sack in 454 opportunities.
Make it three consecutive Memphis transfers and a second running back in the top 10. Sutton's one of the fastest players on the Arkansas roster in the video game with a 93 speed rating. He had a career year with the Tigers in 2025, running for 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries while adding 20 receptions for 109 yards.
Here's some evidence of EA Sports not doing enough research. The Colorado transfer primarily worked at the STAR position during the spring, which is essentially the slot cornerback. He was the backup to Khmori House during the early preseason. He played in eight games with the Buffaloes last year and finished with 38 total tackles, five pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
This is an interesting rating as Faupel appears to be in the second tier among Arkansas wide receivers. He primarily worked as a backup during spring football, but Faupel showed a good connection with quarterback AJ HIll. He brings production to the room with 61 catches for 661 yards and seven touchdowns at New Mexico State last year.
The Tulane transfer is a lock to start at one of the outside cornerback spots and is set to be a leader of the Arkansas defense. He helped the Green Wave reach the College Football Playoff in 2025 while racking up 42 tackles with one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and four interceptions. The game may have underrated Johnson.
The redshirt sophomore started 11 games a right guard for Arkansas in 2025 and will hold that same spot this fall. The Fort Smith native has a strength rating of 93, which is one of the highest on the roster.
Rounding out the top 10 is Shaw, a returning linebacker who made seven starts in 2025. The former four-star recruit posted 50 total tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble last season. He should become a full-time starter this fall.
EA Sports does not have a favorable opinion of the quarterback room.
The company is giving the edge to KJ Jackson, with the lefty holding a 74 overall rating. That's only slightly better than Hill's 72 rating.
The only SEC team with a lower-rated first-string quarterback in the game is Vanderbilt, but five-star freshman Jared Curtis is not currently in the ratings release.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Who are top-rated Arkansas players in EA Sports College Football 27?
Continue reading...
The latest edition of the video game comes out worldwide on July 9, but player ratings have already been posted on the EA Sports website. A pair of Big Ten stars in Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Indiana's Carter Smith are the highest-rated players.
Who are the best Arkansas football representatives in the game? Below are the top-10 rated Razorbacks, and there's no surprise in who tops the list.
Arkansas' top-rated players in EA College Football 27
LEDG Quincy Rhodes, 90 overall
Rhodes is a sure-fire NFL draft pick in 2027 and could develop into a first-round selection with another strong season this fall. In his first campaign as a full-time starter last year, Rhodes tallied 44 total tackles, including a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
RB Braylen Russell, 86 overall
EA Sports is showing some faith that Russell will mature into the type of running back Arkansas always forecasted when the in-state native signed as a four-star prospect in 2024. He's a bruiser that comes with an 88 speed rating and an 85 strength rating. Russell totaled 55 carries for 286 yards and five rushing touchdowns last season.
WR Jamari Hawkins, 85 overall
Hawkins is a Memphis transfer who hauled in 38 passes for 623 yards and two touchdowns. He is currently projected to be one of the Hogs' top-four wide receivers this fall, but it's to be determined just how big of a role he plays in the offense with competition from the likes of Chris Marshall, Ismael Cisse and CJ Brown.
OG Malachi Breland, 85 overall
Another Memphis transfer, Breland will be the starting left guard for the Razorbacks in 2026. He started all 12 games for the Tigers last season and posted a pass blocking grade of 79.6, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed one sack in 454 opportunities.
RB Sutton Smith, 85 overall
Make it three consecutive Memphis transfers and a second running back in the top 10. Sutton's one of the fastest players on the Arkansas roster in the video game with a 93 speed rating. He had a career year with the Tigers in 2025, running for 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries while adding 20 receptions for 109 yards.
FS Carter Stoutmire, 83 overall
Here's some evidence of EA Sports not doing enough research. The Colorado transfer primarily worked at the STAR position during the spring, which is essentially the slot cornerback. He was the backup to Khmori House during the early preseason. He played in eight games with the Buffaloes last year and finished with 38 total tackles, five pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
WR Donovan Faupel, 83 overall
This is an interesting rating as Faupel appears to be in the second tier among Arkansas wide receivers. He primarily worked as a backup during spring football, but Faupel showed a good connection with quarterback AJ HIll. He brings production to the room with 61 catches for 661 yards and seven touchdowns at New Mexico State last year.
CB Jahiem Johnson, 83 overall
The Tulane transfer is a lock to start at one of the outside cornerback spots and is set to be a leader of the Arkansas defense. He helped the Green Wave reach the College Football Playoff in 2025 while racking up 42 tackles with one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and four interceptions. The game may have underrated Johnson.
OG Kobe Branham, 82 overall
The redshirt sophomore started 11 games a right guard for Arkansas in 2025 and will hold that same spot this fall. The Fort Smith native has a strength rating of 93, which is one of the highest on the roster.
MIKE Bradley Shaw, 81 overall
Rounding out the top 10 is Shaw, a returning linebacker who made seven starts in 2025. The former four-star recruit posted 50 total tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble last season. He should become a full-time starter this fall.
What about the quarterbacks?
EA Sports does not have a favorable opinion of the quarterback room.
The company is giving the edge to KJ Jackson, with the lefty holding a 74 overall rating. That's only slightly better than Hill's 72 rating.
The only SEC team with a lower-rated first-string quarterback in the game is Vanderbilt, but five-star freshman Jared Curtis is not currently in the ratings release.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Who are top-rated Arkansas players in EA Sports College Football 27?
Continue reading...
