The former Walk-On’s huge ratings grow in a new update

Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter rose to 97 overall in the latest EA College Football 25 ratings update, but there’s a lesser-known player who had the biggest jump.

If you haven’t heard of Buffalo Bulls cornerback Marquis Cooper before, EA Sports is making it a little easier to get to know the Queens native.

In the latest ratings update, Cooper saw the most significant jump in his overall rating of anyone in the country. Cooper jumped from 53 overall to 80 after a strong start with the Bulls.

Cooper has 23 solo tackles in five games, two for a loss, a blocked field goal and an interception. The choice is what attracted the most attention. Cooper took a pass from UMass QB Taisun Phommachanh and returned it 100 yards for a TD.

With all due respect to Cooper, who showed great speed and desire to take it home, Phommachanh’s decision to throw this pass and not keep it himself or simply throw it out of bounds is one of the most worst QB I’ve seen at any level all year.

In case you missed it, here’s a look at the show.

Cooper, a redshirt junior who transferred from Colgate and had to move on to get his chance, has played well overall. We’ll see if he can continue his ascension during his senior year and end up on an NFL roster.

It would be a great story. Several others have made big strides in the latest ratings update. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson jumped from 74 to 87. The junior has been on an absolute tear this season.

Johnson is averaging an insane 8.4 yards per carry.

He has nine TDs and has had a run of at least 39 yards in all four of the Hawkeyes’ games this year. I wonder if plus-13 was enough to capture how good Johnson has been.

Here’s a look at all the ratings adjustments ranked from biggest risers to fallers. Florida State Seminoles LT Darius Washington dropped four points to 85 overall.

This decline could also be a window into senior draft stock.

• Marquis Cooper, Buffalo, CB – 80 (+27)
• Kaleb Johnson, Iowa, RB – 87 (+13)
• Tre Watson, Texas A&M, TE – 80 (+11)
• Terry Moore, Duke, S — 86 (+10)
• Skyler Bell, UConn, WR – 82 (+10)
• Dylan Stewart, South Carolina, EDGE – 87 (+9)
• Kani Walker, Oklahoma, CB – 85 (+9)
• Chris Adams, Memphis, LT – 80 (+9)
• Gunnar Helm, Texas, TE – 85 (+8)
• Gus Zilinskas, Rutgers, C — 86 (+7)
• Eli Heidenreich, Navy, RB – 85 (+7)
• Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, LB – 89 (+7)
• Kalel Mullings, Michigan, RB – 87 (+6)
• Devonte Ross, Troy, WR – 84 (+6)
• Jordan Turner, Michigan State, LB – 84 (+5)
• Thomas Castellanos, Boston College, QB – 84 (+5)
• Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB – 96 (+4)
• Jihaad Campbell, Alabama, LB — 89 (+4)
• Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma, S — 85 (+4)
• Damari Alston, Auburn, RB – 80 (+4)
• Jerrick Gibson, Texas, RB – 80 (+4)
• Kevin Jennings, SMU, QB – 84 (+4)
• Kyle Kennard, South Carolina, EDGE – 87 (+3)
• Tai Felton, Maryland, WR – 89 (+3)
• Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee, WR – 84 (+3)
• Dylan Sampson, Tennessee, RB – 88 (+3)
• Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska, WR – 85 (+3)
• Cam Ward, Miami, QB – 91 (+2)
• Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee, QB – 88 (+2)
• Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, QB — 87 (+2)
• Marcus Bryant, Missouri, LT – 84 (+2)
• AJ Harris, Penn State, CB – 84 (+2)
• Mishael Powell, Miami, S — 84 (+2)
• Zabien Brown, Alabama, CB – 81 (+2)
• Dylan Raiola, Nebraska, QB – 82 (+2)
• Maalik Murphy, Duke, QB – 83 (+2)
• Travis Hunter, Colorado, DB – 97 (+2)
• DJ Lagway, Florida, QB – 81 (+1)
• Ryan Wingo, Texas, WR – 81 (+1)
• Luke Altmyer, Illinois, QB – 82 (+1)
• Ryan Williams, Alabama, WR – 82 (+1)
• Elijah Herring, Memphis, LB – 84 (+1)
• Mario Anderson, Memphis, RB – 85 (+1)
• Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame, RB – 86 (+1)
• Kyle McCord, Syracuse, QB – 86 (+1)
• Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State, QB – 81 (-1)
• Donovan Edwards, Michigan, RB – 90 (-1)
• Silas Bolden, Texas, WR – 85 (-1)
• Conner Weigman, Texas A&M, QB — 87 (-1)
• Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State, RB – 95 (-1)
• DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State, QB — 84 (-1)
• Grayson McCall, NC State, QB — 86 (-2)
• Jalon Daniels, Kansas, QB – 88 (-2)
• Patrick Payton, Florida State, EDGE – 88 (-2)
• Andrew Mukuba, Texas, S — 87 (-2)
• Roydell Williams, Florida State, RB – 83 (-2)
• Preston Stone, SMU, QB — 84 (-3)
• Darius Washington, Florida State, LT – 85 (-4)