Top NCAA Football 09 cover candidates
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With EA already teasing the cover announcement, it is time to look over the top candidates to grace the cover of NCAA Football 09.
Historically EA has gone for the most popular and dynamic player entering the draft. The are a couple exceptions though such as when they went retro with Desmond Howard in 06 and chose Jared Zabransky for 08 based less off the success of him as an individual and more on the overall excitement around the Boise State team. The cover also generally goes to an offensive player as the only defensive player to ever get it was Charles Woodson in 1999. The breakdown for the series has been six QBs, three RBs, one WR, and one CB.
This year there are two good defensive candidates, with one in particular having the name recognition that could make a difference. There is the obvious player who everyone would expect to get the cover. There are some sleepers that could be in the running if they declare for the draft. And there are also a handful of QBs and those would have to be considered since the NCAA Football series has slanted towards them in the past.
Top Contenders
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: It would come as no surprise to anyone if McFadden was announced as the cover athlete. He is a natural fit. The most recognizable name in the draft even though he didn’t win the Heisman. Great potential to have a big impact in the mold of Adrian Peterson in his rookie season in the NFL. Almost seems too perfect for the cover.
Chris Long, DE, Virginia: As stated earlier defensive players don’t get much consideration when it comes to the cover. However the difference here is in the name. Chris Long is the son of former Raiders great and current Fox studio analyst Howie Long. He is expected to go at the top of the draft and could potentially even be the first pick.
QBs
Matt Ryan, Boston College: With the success of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Boston College would it really be a surprise to see Ryan on the cover? He led BC to some great late-game comebacks and started to get his name mentioned throughout the country when they were in the national title hunt.
Dennis Dixon, Oregon: An exciting dynamic player that may have won the Heisman and led his team to a National Championship had he not gotten injured late in the season. He was riding a wave of momentum prior to that and his name is known on a national stage because of that.
Brian Brohm, Louisville: Went into the year expecting to be the top pick or at least top QB taken going into the draft but may not end up even being that. Louisville had a bad season though mostly based on their atrocious defense.
Colt Brennan, Hawaii: Last year it was Zabransky after helping underdog Boise State to an undefeated season and amazing Fiesta Bowl win that got him the cover. This year Colt Brennan is in the same situation heading into the Sugar Bowl only he has far better numbers and is a better pro prospect.
Andre Woodson, Kentucky: Another top quality QB that is expected to go early in the draft possibly in the top 10.
RBs
Jonathan Stewart, Oregon: An underclassman that if he declares (which most seem to expect he will) almost certainly will be the next back taken after McFadden. If they don’t go McFadden they probably won’t go RB and Stewart isn’t as recognizable as teammate Dixon.
Mike Hart, Michigan: After the disappointing season they had Hart probably won’t get much consideration. But he is the top senior RB so his name should be out there.
Felix Jones, Arkansas: A fantastic back that was overshadowed by McFadden. For that reason alone he has no shot of getting the cover as everyone would assume that it was McFadden anyway. Unless that was what EA had in mind. Clever idea actually.
WRs
DeSean Jackson, California: The receiver group for this year doesn’t really provide much hope for grabbing the cover. Of them Jackson appears to be the best fit due to the excitement he brings to the field.
Defense
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU: At this point Dorsey seems to be the name mentioned the most as going first in the draft. For that reason alone his name deserves to be out there when talking about the cover, but the chances of him being put on are minimal. Outside of hardcore football fans no one would recognize him.
February 24, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Glenn Dorsey DT of LSU
February 24, 2008 at 5:53 pm
hey how about west virginia steve slaton
March 3, 2008 at 7:58 am
Without a doubt, Todd Reesing with Mark Mangino standing behind him, arms crossed and winking to the camera.
I’d love to see a cartoon-style “callout” cloud next to Mark that says, “Get in my belllllyyy!”
March 3, 2008 at 12:21 pm
it could be tebow nah john david booty
March 3, 2008 at 12:38 pm
TIM TEABOW ALL THE WAY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 5, 2008 at 2:57 pm
[quote comment="8467"]what about the greatest qb of all time…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..TIM TEBOW BABY. he won the hiemen as a sophmore and broke not just school records but NCAA RECORDS. that;s amazing so put him on the cover.[/quote]
tebow is just great but its not his time cause you can not be in college still and be on the cover. the same reason that they dont have names on the jerseyes. just wait 2011 is his year! p.s. 3 time heisman!!!
March 5, 2008 at 3:02 pm
[quote comment="9861"]The cover athlete should be Troy Smith of Ohio State since he won the Heisman last year and got screwed over and didnt make the cover.[/quote]
troy smith are you kiddin me. tim tebow had better stats in the championship and didnt ever start! 83 pass yrds hes horrible and the worst heisman ever!
March 5, 2008 at 3:05 pm
[quote comment="9062"]The outline looks like Tim Tebow or possibly McFadden, notice i believe the helmet is a revolution and the last few years the outline is the outline of the exact picture so figure in who the formation of the kid looks like and that could give you your answer possibly….[/quote]
it dosent look like tebow. he is way more swolled up than that! and by the way it cant be him cause he is still in college and they get paid to be on the cover
March 6, 2008 at 7:05 pm
if ya look at it real close it looks like darren macfadden but look at it again it looks like steve slaton
March 8, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Sam Bradford. That dude that hurt Sam is a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Sam should be on the cover. I like it when he throws to me.
March 8, 2008 at 6:40 pm
by the way tim tebow is retarded he doesn’t even know how to throw the ball he just has good wide recivers
March 9, 2008 at 4:53 am
I SUPPOSE TEBOW DOESNT KNOW HOW TO RUN EITHER HUH? HEISMAN WINNERS USUALLY DONT KNOW HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL PERIOD. WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?
March 11, 2008 at 9:55 pm
there needs to be an lsu player on the cover because LSU won the championship! it is just been usc this and usc that. also other schools. give LSU a chance and other schools that havenot HAVE NOT been on the cover~!!
March 17, 2008 at 9:36 pm
The player on 05 wasnt just some pitt. player it was Larry Fitzgerald, tard.
March 17, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Round 1. Picked 3rd by Arizona
March 20, 2008 at 7:04 am
[quote comment="9674"]What about that Moreno Kid from Georgia he is only a sophmore and he already has great potential….[/quote]
last year, moreno was a red shirt freshman, he definatly has what it takes, but give it to dixon, or McFaden this year
March 23, 2008 at 9:28 pm
How about Aqib Talib from Kansas University.
March 25, 2008 at 12:04 pm
has ea sports forum started talkoing about the game yet oh by the way dont be surprised if chris long gets the cover for the ps2 or ps3 version
March 27, 2008 at 2:41 pm
hey lsu you wanna sit there and brag about winning national titles and say auburn injured glenn dorsey and send death threts to chaz ramsey and his family well you little cry babys come down to auburn september 20th and after auburn beats lsu like yesterdays newspaper you’ll think twice before threating an auburn tiger and im sure all of you cajuns remember the story of old yellow and dont mean to be mocking shawn michaels about what he said monday about ric falir but lsu when you come to jordan hare stadium auburn is gonna take you behind the woodshed and put you out of your misery
April 18, 2008 at 12:09 am
micheal simms is delusional if he thinks Auburn can beat LSU! Even with the refs cheating for you, you won’t have a snowballs chance in hell of coming close. p.s. the REAL tigers will bring home the W for me on my B_Day. GEAUX TIGERS
April 19, 2008 at 11:17 am
your a dumbass, we will kick ya’ll’s ass.
April 22, 2008 at 10:45 am
AUBURN IS GONNA WIN NATIONAL TITLES WERE ON THE RISE ALABAMAS CLASS IS A FLUUUUUUUUUUUKE
April 22, 2008 at 3:23 pm
it is confirmed that it will be derek mcfadden
April 23, 2008 at 6:26 pm
FOR PS2 OR PS3 COVER ANYWAY D MAC IS ON THE X BOX 360 COVER
April 24, 2008 at 8:52 am
The WII cover will be Sparty and The PS3 cover will be my boy the gutsy Matt Ryan. Who reminds all of us up here in Boston of Tom Brady…
April 28, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I hope McFadden kicks ass in the NFL, I’m a Tennessee fan (We kicked Arkansas ass) but he’s awesome.
May 14, 2008 at 12:22 am
first of all if felix jones would not have got hurt that tenn. game would have been alot closer than it was. and dmac will be on the cover for sure
May 14, 2008 at 3:35 pm
This game needs to have Steve Slaton from WVU to be on the cover. He was the most underated player in the NCAA last season. He got in the 3rd round? whats up with that. put him on the cover
August 8, 2008 at 12:05 pm
it should be rey maualuga, for christ sakes his father died before the rose bowl! and he was defensive player of the game!! and u people didnt put him on the cover! that sucks!!! the samoan linebacker from USC should be on the cover!