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I’M LEAVING ”Wide receiver Dalvin Smith accepted a $83.5million to Depart from wku…see more…..
For years, the Electronic Arts video game company has used the motto, ‘If it’s in the game, it’s in the game,’ to describe its line of popular sports games under the EA Sports moniker.
That motto has a different meaning for the WKU football team, which is getting the chance to be part of the game in ways that seemed impossible even a decade ago.
Earlier this month, EA Sports released College Football 25, the first incarnation of the popular sports franchise since 2014. Previously, the game featured generic players, but with the new NIL agreements in place, student athletes were given an option to appear in the game.
All athletes who agree to have their name, image and likeness appear will receive $600, plus a copy of the game. Up to 85 players per school are in the game, with more than 14,000 spanning all the teams currently in the game.
WKU kicker Lucas Carneiro said he immediately agreed when asked if he wanted to be in the game.
“It’s surreal,” Carneiro said. “I talked to my parents about it. To be in a video game is something I never thought about growing up. Now I am in one that many people across the country and the world play.”
Wide receiver Dalvin Smith agreed that it has been surreal to see himself in a video game.
“It’s exciting really,” Smith said. “Honestly, people that show me what they are doing with me on the game is ridiculous. Seeing that is a good feeling, to know that you are in the game.”
The game has already sparked some fun competitions in the locker room with different position rooms challenging each other. Smith said he’s not sure who is the best on WKU’s roster because he hasn’t played everyone yet.
“I will say there have been some texts in our receiver group chat,” wide receiver Easton Messer said. “It seems like Mike Mathison is the person to beat right now.”
Carneiro said he will play the game for a couple of hours following practices and meetings and has gone head-to-head a lot with punter Cole Maynard.
“We go at each other,” Carneiro said. “There are games where I will spank him. The next game I get killed.”
Early reaction to the game has included the overall assessment that kicking is perhaps the hardest part. Carneiro said it is harder in College Football 25 than an actual game.
“Kicking is really hard,” Carneiro said. “When you get further back, that thing is flying. I went 1-for-8 with myself the first day. I thought, ‘this is impossible.’ ”
He added he has started to get the hang of it, but it is still difficult.
“I’m starting to get the hang of it, especially when you are playing at those big schools,” Carneiro said. “Penn State is probably the hardest one to play at. You get back there and your routes are all wobbly. You go to kick a field goal and (the kick bar) is completely flying. You might as well just go for it at that point.”
As far as who is the best on the roster at the video game, Carneiro said he suspects it would likely be someone in the quarterback room.
“The thing with me is I don’t know how to read a defense or an offense,” Carneiro said. “I am sitting there like, hopefully the safety moves and I will throw it. If not, I will just run the ball because I can’t read anything to save my life.”
As far as the game itself, senior defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. is the highest rated WKU player with an 88 rating out of 100.
“The rating is the rating,” Johnson said. “It’s just a game, but I am happy about it.”
Fellow cornerback Upton Stout is second on the team with an 86 rating. Stout and Johnson are two of nine Conference USA players to receive an 85 or higher. Jacksonville State guard Clay Webb (92) is the highest rated player in the conference.
“I really am appreciative of everything as far as the game,” Johnson said. “I came from (Division II), so two or three years ago, I wasn’t even worried about being in a game. Everything is really like a surreal moment for me and I just enjoy it.”
Among other members of the WKU roster Caden Veltkamp and TJ Finley, currently in a battle for the starting quarterback spot, are tied with an 80 rating. Smith is the highest rated receiver with an 81.
As a team, WKU is an 80 overall – tied with defending champion Liberty.
While the game has led to some fun competition the last few weeks, offensive coordinator Will Friend said it’s probably time to put the controllers away for now and get ready for the actual season, which begins in one month at Alabama.
“We need to outlaw it during fall camp so these guys are getting some rest at night,” Friend said. “We are going to make everybody turn their games in.”
