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.
January 24, 2008 at 10:49 am
DENNIS DIXON all the way baby and of thats not a posibillity then throw in McFadden on the cover these two players had great years Ducks went 8-1 under dixon and then fell apart when he hurt his knee agianst arizona
January 24, 2008 at 10:55 am
Im 15 and i think that if DENNIS DIXON is the greatest qb that Oregon has yet seen and he ran that spread like a God. God of football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 24, 2008 at 7:35 pm
your crazy im 16 brandon cox desrves the cover is it july yet im ready for this game war eagle
January 25, 2008 at 10:15 am
Dennis Dixon doubeled his stats in the 08 season with the spread offence what did “brandon cox do”
January 25, 2008 at 2:18 pm
he beat alabama did jonnie dixon no oh by the wat what do you say to oregon vs auburn in 2009 national title
January 25, 2008 at 3:02 pm
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.
January 26, 2008 at 9:48 am
its going to be matthew stafford i heard this from reliable sources
January 26, 2008 at 10:18 am
i hope its not mcfadden his backup had a better season than him.
heres my top 5
1. “Colt Brennan-Hawaii” – amazing stats not a lot of team to back him up. Hawaii needs a little bit more attention they did only have one loss but they played really hard during the regular season.
2.”Dennis Dixon-Oregon”- definately better than his teammates and they had a good season because of him.
3. “Andre Woodson-Kentucky”- had a great season and wouldnt be surprised to see him get on the cover. He has a great arm also.
4. “Desean Jackson- Cal”- is a great player and would be the second reciever ever to be on the cover behind Larry Fitzgerald. You never know Larry was on the cover and is a very good player. So could Jackson
5. “Tim Teebow- Florida” – should be on it after all he did win the heisman but no one remembers that by now. After he got heisman i barely heard about it. that is sad because he is a good player and deserved to win it.
i would really like to see another defensive player on there my #1 choice for defense would be “Antoine Cason – Arizona” Charles Woodson was an amazing college player and now an awesome pro.
One team that deserves credit for a good season is Air Force they had a decent regular season and in ther bowl they were winning 21-0 against cal before cal started to play and came back. Iowa hawkeyes also had a season that was pretty good but cut short by a dissapointing loss to western michigan to lose hope of a bowl. No one remembers this but Iowa actually beat illinois!!! yes the same illinois that went to the rose bowl. iowa beat them and deserves a bowl just for that.
January 27, 2008 at 8:24 am
believe me when i say mathhew stafford or knowshon moreno will get the cover and ea sports will ignore other desrving players such as john david booty glen dorsey daren mcfadden or tim tebow like in 2005 eli manning should have recieved the cover instead some pittsburg player did
January 28, 2008 at 3:12 am
“5. “Tim Teebow- Florida” – should be on it after all he did win the heisman but no one remembers that by now. After he got heisman i barely heard about it. that is sad because he is a good player and deserved to win it.”
When are you people going to learn that a player that is currently in college can’t grace the cover of an ncaa football game because it is an NCAA violation.
January 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Exactlly why dixon should have the cover hes going pro he had a FANTASTIC year and ill tip my hat to iowa they did beat illi
January 28, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Oh and the south florda bulls beat you in overtime we wooped there @$$ so bad that your auburn team looked as bad NCAA Football 98
January 28, 2008 at 12:12 pm
And Bring That National Championship 09 you know that if Roper is starting you saw what he did to the bulls and you know the same will come for your all mighty tigers ;(
January 28, 2008 at 1:45 pm
auburn will win in a nc in 09 unlike the bammers who think they can ressurect the bear with nick saban hey duck boy if auburn plays for the nc in 09 against oregon then youll hear 2 words tiger meat
January 29, 2008 at 10:00 am
Well lets hope we meet in the nc because all youll hear is OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH while were handing your tigers the biggest wooping your ever ever have GO DUCKS
DIXON FOR COVER
January 29, 2008 at 2:14 pm
i gotta idea lets start the countdown to ncaa 09 ive seen the realease date at gamestop and its july 15th
January 29, 2008 at 2:23 pm
ur all Wrong with a big W itll either be Dennis Dixon
or [J]onathan Stewart RB BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 29, 2008 at 4:46 pm
wrong it will be john david booty
January 29, 2008 at 4:47 pm
it would be cool to have coaches on the cover but i dont want les miles or bear bryant
January 30, 2008 at 9:55 am
Oregon will rise and all will fall
January 30, 2008 at 2:03 pm
how many days till it realeases i saw on gamestop it comes out july 15th
January 31, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Pat White baby !!!! He’s perfect.
January 31, 2008 at 9:45 pm
You better give it to Rutgers RB Ray Rice. If you watch him play more often, he can run really, really fast. So give it to him.
February 2, 2008 at 8:19 am
kodi burns war eagle
February 4, 2008 at 9:50 am
Dennis or Johnny Dixon or Stewart
February 6, 2008 at 11:51 pm
The Bear!
February 10, 2008 at 5:19 pm
kodi burns oh and ixsucks he really hrealy sucks
February 11, 2008 at 10:30 am
The world will com to an end and all you can talk about is a football game “Ahmen” and Go ducks
February 11, 2008 at 1:11 pm
EVERYBODY GOT THEIR OWN OPINIONS BUT FOR REAL DARREN MCFADDEN SHOULD BE ON THE COVER THEY BEEN DICKEN DAT MAN FOR TWO SEASONS ON THE HEISMAN THE LEAST THEY CAN DO IS PUT HIM THE COVER!!!!! JUS LIKE MADDEN NEED TO PUT ADRIAN PETERSON ON THE COVER NO NEED TO DISAGREE!!!!
February 11, 2008 at 3:08 pm
tim tebow gon make the cover of ncaa football 09 the heisman winner always get the cover
February 12, 2008 at 9:58 am
OK i see LET IT BE DIXON OR McFADDEN oh and daniel you are stupid no tim tebow im sorry but come on man And GOD said have a good DAY !!!!!!!!!!!
February 13, 2008 at 1:01 pm
It clearly should be McFadden, It cannot be a current player in college football, and McFadden is one of if not the best player coming out of the draft. I do however, like the idea of putting an App St. player on the cover due to the huge upset.
To all those who think Auburn will be in the national championship, you surely have to be kidding.
February 13, 2008 at 7:24 pm
and why wont auburn be in the national title the only problem is qb bama wont be baxck until bamers stop living in the clouds
February 14, 2008 at 1:08 am
auburn couldn’t even beat south florida last year.. and bearly beat clemson in their last game.. they had one of the worst recruiting classes in the SEC this season and i just see them fading out.
February 14, 2008 at 3:29 pm
now listen auburn whipped south florida until the refs cheated and didnt say he stepped out on that return usf cheated in overtime auburn recruiting class was great better than bamaers lammers auburn is stronger than ever oh by the way if any usf fans are listening guess what i did when orgeon beat usf i made a sign and said rest in peace jim leavit usf is burned to the ground itll teach to cheat against auburn
February 15, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I am a die-hard Auburn fan. I came across this site and saw these last posts. I am not here to argue, I would just like to say to all Auburn fans….Please learn how to type! It is getting annoying when I have to read over a post more than once, and it is also very embarrasing.
February 16, 2008 at 7:45 am
hey yea war eagle
February 17, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I know yall dont think so but i think Cory Boyd or Kenny Mckinley on the Gamecocks!!!!! Cory Boyd when he scored a touchdown against georgia when he is on one knee pointing up or when kenny mckinly took the go ahead touchdown against Clemson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 19, 2008 at 1:18 pm
probably will be john david booty
February 20, 2008 at 12:05 pm
my sources tell me that it will come down to 3 people glenn dorsey john david booty and darren mcfadden with john david booty winning because of reggie bush on the 07 cover and carson palmer on the 04 cover and john would make it 3 usc players to make the cover
February 20, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Colt not one of NCAA best QB’z he’s better then Matt Ryan
February 20, 2008 at 6:56 pm
well wait and see darren mcfaden and glenn dorsey will get a serious look before john david booty wins a darke hores to win it i would say is dennis dixon but dont be surprised if a player not even considered to make the cover makes it like on the 07 cover everyone thought it would be vince young but reggie bush beat him to it so if todd beckman leaves early for the draft he could make the cover
February 21, 2008 at 9:49 am
Come on guys, Tebow is a BEAST! He should be on the cover. Even if he isn’t, I think Ray Rice would be a fine candidate.
February 21, 2008 at 9:52 am
Dudes, come on, Ray Rice is definitely the right choice. Just watch him play for five minutes and you’ll agree with me.
February 21, 2008 at 12:26 pm
for the last time players still attending college cant make the cover because it would be a violation to the ncaa now once again the final candidates will probably be glenn dorsey darren mcfadden steve slaton john david booty or dark horse dennis dixon
February 21, 2008 at 6:17 pm
[quote comment="8279"]Every year it has always been a senior.
I am going with the quarterback of Missouri Chase Daniel or it could be USC’s quarterback John David Booty
We’ll see[/quote]
Chase Daniel is a Junior idiot
February 22, 2008 at 9:57 am
DENNIS DIXON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 22, 2008 at 11:18 am
Tim Tebow! The best QB/RB in all of college football. Don’t deny it!
February 23, 2008 at 3:04 pm
What about Rashard Mendenhall? His team got crushed by USC in the Rose Bowl, but is a freak and went on some gallops in the Rose Bowl.
February 24, 2008 at 10:43 am
Tim Tebow