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🏈 Khalil Jacobs leads Panhandle players with an 83 overall rating in NCAA Football 26, showcasing defensive prowess at Missouri.
⚡ Devin Voisin and Dramarian McNutty stand out as top offensive and defensive talents from Crestview and Niceville respectively.
🎮 Local stars from Choctaw, Milton, South Walton, and Fort Walton Beach also feature prominently, representing the region in the latest college football game.
As sports fans everywhere push through the last month of summer before football returns, the first glimmer of hope for fans worldwide is the release of the now-annual college football game.
On July 10, or July 8 for us with $95 burning a hole in our pocket, EA Sports NCAA Football 26 was released, a virtual world where all 130+ Division 1 FBS schools are represented.
With a staggering number of schools, it’s also safe to say there are thousands of players who comprise each roster, some from our local area.
So after putting in the hard work of playing…..I mean, researching every roster to find local players. Below is a list of the most notable.
If we missed one, and I’m sure we did, email me at collin@midbaynews.com, and we can add it to the list.
Khalil Jacobs – Niceville
We begin our list with the highest-rated defensive player from the Panhandle in College Football 26: Khalil Jacobs, a hard-hitting middle linebacker now entering his second season at Missouri.
Jacobs sees his overall rating jump from 79 to 83 in this year’s game, making him one of the top-rated defenders in the SEC. He also earns two special abilities in-game:
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The Fort Walton Beach native has established a reputation as a disruptive presence across multiple programs. After transferring from South Alabama, Jacobs played in six games during the 2024 season before suffering a season-ending injury.
In those appearances, he logged 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and two quarterback pressures. His lone start came in a win over UMass. Notably, Missouri went 5-1 in games he played, with the only loss of the season (a 41-10 defeat at Texas A&M) coming without him on the field.
Across his college career, Jacobs has appeared in 30 games with four starts, totaling 74 tackles, 11.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and six quarterback pressures.
His standout performances include a career-best eight tackles against both Southern Mississippi and Louisiana in 2023, as well as a 3.5-TFL game against Southern Miss that same year. He’s also forced fumbles in matchups against Tulane, Texas State, and Southern Miss.
Before joining Missouri, Jacobs played two seasons at South Alabama, where he appeared in 24 games and posted 60 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and three sacks.
Jacobs played high school ball at Niceville, where he helped the Eagles reach back-to-back playoff appearances and compiled 90 tackles, 22 TFL, 10 sacks, and two defensive touchdowns over his final two seasons. He was a three-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports, ranked as the No. 150 player in Florida.
Devin Voisin – Crestview
Former Crestview Bulldog and current South Alabama wide receiver Devon Voisin is the highest-rated offensive player on our list, coming in at an impressive 81 overall.
Voisin gained two points from last year’s game.
A decorated prep athlete, Voisin racked up 974 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Crestview High, while earning all-state honors and contributing to a 10–3 playoff run. He also showcased his versatility with strong defensive stats, as well as impressive punt and kickoff returns, and helped lead his basketball team to a state 7A title.
At South Alabama, Voisin has steadily climbed the depth chart. In 2022 alone, he emerged as a key offensive weapon, hauling in 64 catches for 867 yards and five touchdowns, earning All‑Sun Belt honorable mention.
In 2023, injuries limited Voisin’s season, but his two games saw him catch five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown before a season-ending injury. Now a redshirt senior, he bounced back in 2024, starting 10 of South’s 13 games, recording 34 catches for 407 yards, averaging nearly 12 yards per reception.
Voisin also holds two special abilities in NCAA 26:
Dramarian McNutty – Niceville
Eastern Michigan defensive back and Niceville alum Dramarian McNutty is the highest-rated defensive player on the Eagles’ roster with a 77 overall rating.
McNutty started all 10 games last season for the Eagles, finishing with 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble, one interception and two pass breakups. He was also named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team for his academic performance.
Before landing at EMU, McNutty played two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he totaled 75 tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 17 games. He also showed big-play ability with 103 return yards off interceptions, averaging over 34 yards per return.
McNutty began his college career with a brief stop at Western Carolina but didn’t see game action. A Niceville High School graduate, he was a two-way standout under head coach Grant Thompson.
As a senior, he helped lead the Eagles to a 12-1 record, catching 24 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns on offense while contributing 20 tackles and four pass breakups on defense.
Cole Tabb – Choctaw
After impressive showings in his first year, former Choctaw standout and current Stanford Cardinal, Cole Tabb, sits with a respectable 77 overall in NCAA 26, an eight-point jump from the previous year.
Tabb, known in-game as an “East/West Playmaker,” appeared in three games for the Cardinal, making two starts while maintaining his redshirt eligibility. He finished the year with 130 rushing yards on 27 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.
He burst onto the scene in his collegiate debut against NC State, rushing 11 times for 72 yards — the most carries by a Stanford first-year student in a debut since Toby Gerhart in 2006. His 72 all-purpose yards also marked the most in a debut since Christian McCaffrey in 2014.
He earned his first start in Stanford’s upset win over No. 22 Louisville and caught his first two passes in a road start against San Jose State to close the season.
A four-star recruit out of Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Tabb racked up more than 5,100 career rushing yards and 55 touchdowns, including a school-record 365-yard game.
He finished second in the state in rushing in 2022 and ninth in 2023, earning First Team All-State honors and being named the Northwest Florida Daily News Male Athlete of the Year.
Emory Williams – Milton
Former Milton High School quarterback Emory Williams checks into College Football 26 with a 74 overall rating, reflecting flashes of promise through two seasons at Miami.
Williams saw limited action in 2024 after recovering from an arm injury, playing in two games and throwing for 187 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 16-of-26 passing. He was nearly perfect in a September win over Ball State, going 11-for-12 for 161 yards and a touchdown, including a 40-yard strike. He also appeared in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State.
As a true freshman in 2023, Williams played in five games and made two starts, completing 44 of 71 passes (62%) for 470 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception.
He made a name for himself in a double-overtime win over Clemson, throwing 24-for-33 for 151 yards and a touchdown in his first career start. He added two more touchdowns and 175 passing yards against Florida State before suffering a season-ending injury.
A former four-star prospect by ESPN, Williams starred at Milton High School, where he threw for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior.
Brian Grant – Choctaw
Choctawhatchee High alum Brian Grant, now entering his fourth season at Tennessee, has been assigned a 74 overall rating in NCAA 26.
Standing at 6‑foot‑8 and 337 pounds, Grant has logged action in 16 career games, primarily on field goal and PAT units, while also seeing limited offensive snaps.
A redshirt sophomore in 2024, he played in all four non‑conference wins—against Chattanooga, NC State, Kent State and UTEP—logging 37 offensive snaps without allowing a pressure or committing a penalty.
His season‑high came in the opener versus Chattanooga with 17 snaps at left guard. In 2023, Grant appeared in the first 11 games, contributing 33 snaps on offense and seeing time at both left and right tackle. He made his collegiate debut in 2022’s win over UT Martin, playing 12 snaps before preserving his redshirt status.
Off the field, Grant is a three‑time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, earning academic recognition in 2022 (First‑Year), and again in fall 2023 and fall 2024.
The Fort Walton Beach native was a consensus three‑star recruit out of Choctawhatchee High, ranked No. 108 in Florida by 247Sports, No. 97 by On3, and No. 69 among offensive tackle prospects nationally by ESPN.
A multi‑sport standout, he earned a spot on the 2021 Northwest Florida Daily News “Dandy Dozen,” excelling in football, basketball, track, and even throwing shot put and discus.
Joe Hanson – Niceville
Former Niceville High standout Joe Hanson now anchors part of the offensive line for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, with a 72 overall rating.
Hanson appeared in nine games during the 2024 season and made his first career start at left tackle against Georgia Southern on Sept. 30. His contributions up front helped Coastal finish 24th nationally in sacks allowed and lead the Sun Belt in passing yards per attempt (8.49).
The Chanticleers also ranked third in the conference in yards per play (6.33) and sacks allowed (16), while quarterback Grayson McCall became the program’s all-time passing leader behind Hanson and the offensive line.
A product of Niceville High School, Hanson was a three-year starter under head coach Grant Thompson and earned second-team all-state honors as a senior. He was also selected for the 2023 FACA All-Star Game, named to the All-Panhandle/Big Bend team, and recognized twice as MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Year for the Eagles.
He helped lead a dominant rushing attack that piled up over 2,000 rushing yards in each of his final two seasons, culminating in a 9-2 record and a district title in 2022.
Kemper Hodges – South Walton
Former South Walton High School standout Kemper Hodges checks into College Football 26 with a 71 overall rating and currently bolsters the running back room at the Air Force Academy.
Hodges appeared in 11 games in 2024, logging 21 carries for 70 yards and scoring his first career touchdown on an 11-yard run at New Mexico.
He added valuable reps against Wyoming and Baylor, including a combined 43 rushing yards on 13 carries. After redshirting in 2023, Hodges made his debut against San Jose State and steadily earned a role in Air Force’s run-heavy, option-based offense.
A graduate of South Walton High, Hodges was a two-time first-team all-state selection and served as a team captain during both his junior and senior seasons under head coach Phil Tisa. He earned four varsity letters in football and was also a multi-sport athlete, lettering in lacrosse and basketball, and playing midfield on the lacrosse field.
Cade Roberts – South Walton
Former South Walton High School star Cade Roberts enters College Football 26 with a 69 overall rating.
Roberts has seen limited action at the college level so far, appearing in one game in 2024 and two games on special teams in 2023. He redshirted in 2022 and continues to develop in a crowded receiver room.
At South Walton High, Roberts built a legendary prep résumé, graduating as Florida’s all-time leader in receptions with 261 career catches. As a senior, he hauled in 80 receptions for 1,048 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the Seahawks to a 10–2 season. He broke the state record that year, following a junior campaign in which he posted 88 catches for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Robert was a three-star recruit according to 247 Sports.
Zavier Hamilton – Fort Walton Beach
One of the Panhandle’s top prep defenders, Zavier Hamilton, enters College Football 26 with a 69 overall rating.
Hamilton transferred from Navarre to Fort Walton Beach High School for his senior season, where he anchored the defense with 87 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks, an interception, and four pass breakups. He was named Player of the Game six times during his final season and finished his high school career with 140 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 10 sacks, three interceptions, and seven pass deflections.
While known for his defensive impact, Hamilton also contributed on offense, rushing for 214 yards and three touchdowns while adding nine receptions for 109 yards over his career. A multi-sport athlete, he competed in track and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Hamilton was a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports and Rivals.
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