They’re not in the game, but NSU, HU and W&M players are enjoying EA Sports College Football

EA Sports College Football 25 has been available to play for two weeks now and the first college football video game has taken the world by storm.

The game broke records 5 million unique players in the first week of availability after its release on July 19 and reportedly made more than $500 million for EA since its early release date three days before.

College football fans aren’t the only players getting in on the action, and the athletes themselves get in on the action as well. Players from the respective football teams of Norfolk State, Hampton and William & Mary are among them.

“I play almost every day,” Norfolk State linebacker Daylan Long said, laughing.

Hampton quarterback Chris Zellous told The Pilot on Thursday that he logged nearly a day and a half of total playing time during the first week he played in the game.

“I think the first week I logged 35 hours,” Zellous said. “Now we were still in OTAs, so I had a lot more time on my hands. (It’s been 10-15) years, it’s kind of hard for me not to play.”

You can play as any of the 134 FBS schools in the game, but none of the 129 FCS teams – including Norfolk State, Hampton and William & Mary – are in the game.

The last time fans were able to play as real FCS teams on all platforms was in 2005, when NCAA Football 06 was released. Since then, options have been limited to generic FCS teams.

This has resulted in athletes at Norfolk State, Hampton and William & Mary often playing as their favorite childhood teams or using teams they have a connection with.

“It’s not as fun not being able to play with our team against Richmond or something,” William & Mary quarterback George White said. “But it’s not a big deal. I play with Duke or Wake (Forest) a lot. Top-notch academic schools!

Long, being an Ohio native, said he plays more for Ohio State and Norfolk State linebacker AJ Richardson, a North Carolina native, would rather play for UNC or NC State. Zellous and Hampton running back Elijah Burris said they tend to play with teams that have high school teammates or family members on the roster.

EA brought back its Team Builder feature in this year’s iteration of the game, allowing players to create colleges and customize their stadiums, uniforms, and lineups. While some took the opportunity to create fictional teams, others used it to bring FCS schools into the game.

Some teams, including the state of Tennessee, created their image in the game. Even the conferences came into play, like the Southland Conference, which took to Twitter on launch day to announce that they have added their 10 members to the game.

Burris said he used Team Builder to get Hampton into the game as a member of Conference USA and found success with the Pirates on the virtual FBS stage.

Team Builder lineups often don’t reflect the team’s actual lineups, but that hasn’t stopped White from playing as The Tribe.

“(The lineup) doesn’t have our names, but it does have our numbers, which is really cool,” White said. “It’s fun to take the tribe to Death Valley and see what happens.”

Long hasn’t used Team Builder yet, but said fans have asked for input on the details of Norfolk State’s roster while creating the Spartans in the game.

William & Mary wide receiver Hollis Mathis, among others, said he wasn’t surprised that FCS teams weren’t included in the game, but that didn’t stop him from having fun.

“I initially started my love for football with the series,” Mathis said. “So it’s cool that it’s back and, hopefully, inspiring again.”

The game’s release generated a lot of friendly competition between teammates in the first two weeks the game was available. Now that fall camps are underway, his focus is returning to real football.

“With camp now you don’t have a lot of time,” Long said. “But before I played a good six, seven, nine hours straight. I lost track of time.”

While everyone wishes they could have attended the first college football game in over a decade, the consensus among FCS players at Hampton Roads schools is that they are happy to be able to play EA Sports College Football 25.

“That’s the dream, to be able to play as yourself in a video game,” Zellous said. “But you know, for me, it was fun and exciting and a blessing to be here when everything came back. I’m happy we have the game and can play it.”

Marty O’Brien contributed to the reporting of this story

Michael Sauls, (757) 803-5774, michael.sauls@virginamedia.com