Four players from Livingston County are among the 11,000 included in the College Football 25 video game, which released its deluxe edition Tuesday and its standard edition Friday.
Former Howell standouts Mason Nelson and August Johanningsmeier are on the Western Michigan roster. Hartland has two players in the game, running back Joey Mattord of Eastern Michigan and kicker Nathan Dibert of Louisiana State.
This is the first edition of the popular EA Sports game since NCAA ’14 released in July 2013. The series was put on hold over legal issues pertaining to players not being compensated for their likenesses being in the game.
In past editions of the game, names weren’t used, but the jersey numbers and attributes aligned with real-life players. Players were rostered by their position and jersey number, so Nelson would have been DT#54 in past versions of NCAA Football.
To be included in the game, players had to opt in. They were compensated with $600 and a copy of the game, which is valued at $70. There are 134 teams in the game with 85-man rosters, an increase from 126 teams and 70-man rosters in NCAA ’14.
“I opted in,” Nelson said. “It was pretty easy. You just have to download an app and click one button and say, ‘Yeah, opt in.’ I’ll be in the game. It’s pretty cool. It’s going to be pretty awesome.”
Nelson is the highest-rated Livingston County player at 76 overall, which makes him the top-rated defensive tackle and ties him for 16th among all players at Western Michigan. He started in 11 of the Broncos’ 12 games last season, making 32 tackles, five for losses and three sacks.
Among his relevant attributes in the video game, he has 92 strength and 83 tackling ability.
Johanningsmeier said the game is already a hit among players on the Broncos.
“It’s great,” he said. “Me and my roommates just load up and we honestly do Western versus Western and play each other. It’s pretty fun. It’s pretty cool, especially to see your teammates like Mason and stuff.”
Johanningsmeier said he and his teammates used Western against the highest-rated team in the game, Georgia.
“We beat Georgia, obviously,” he said.
Johanningsmeier is listed ninth out of nine defensive ends on the Broncos’ roster at 55 overall with 66 speed, 84 strength and 70 tackling ability.
His biggest issue with the game is it lists him as a 235-pound defensive end.
“I’m 270 now and I’m a D-tackle,” he said. “That was a little disappointing. I just wish they got my weight down right.”
Mattord has a 61 overall rating, sixth among six halfbacks on Eastern Michigan’s roster. He has 88 speed, 92 acceleration and 54 tackle-breaking ability.
Dibert, who is LSU’s kickoff specialist, is one of three kickers on the Tigers’ roster. He rated third at 65 overall with 88 kicking power and 75 kicking accuracy.
Another difference from past versions of NCAA Football is that the hometowns are correct for players. Nelson and Johanningsmeier are listed from Howell, while Mattord and Dibert are listed from Hartland. In the past, players’ hometowns might be the nearest large town.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
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