Former College Football Players Who Missed Out On Being Cover Athletes
Eleven years ago NCAA Football 14 dropped and little did fans know they would have to wait over a decade for the next one, but that wait is over. College Football 25 was released over a week ago and has seen more than 700,000 concurrent players.
Every time players load up College Football 25 they see Quinn Ewers, Travis Hunter, and Donovan Edwards on the cover. Eleven years in between games people have missed some great athletes who could have been displayed. Below is a list of five college football athletes who would have made the best covers for the game.
Top Five College Football Cover Athletes
5. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford RB (2017 Cover)
Christian McCaffrey was dangerous whether running the ball out of the backfield, playing a role in the passing game, or returning kicks and punts. As a sophomore at Stanford, he was already the best player on his team and had opponents game-planning to stop him specifically.
In his 2015 campaign, he had 3,864 all-purpose yards and 15 total touchdowns which was good enough to come in second place for the Heisman award. His 3,864 all-purpose yards broke Barry Sanders’ record that stood for 26 years.
4. Derrick Henry, Alabama RB (2017 Cover)
McCaffrey would have made a great cover for 2017, but Derrick Henry would have been even better. Henry edged out McCaffrey in the Heisman race in 2015 after an incredible 2,219 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns that season.
Henry was a force to be reckoned with. Pounding the rock had a whole new meaning when Henry was in the backfield. His size and strength mixed with his 4.54 40-yard dash time was a big reason for his 28 house calls and a National Title in Tuscaloosa.
3. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M QB (2015 Cover)
Johnny Manziel was one of the most electrifying college athletes of all time. He was the first freshman to win the Heisman in 2012 and continued to put the college world on notice throughout his sophomore year. Whether he was on the field or off the field, Manziel was putting on a show for people.
Manziel concluded his 2013 season with 4,873 total yards and 46 total touchdowns
2. 2019 LSU Tigers (2021 Cover)
The cover could be solely Joe Burrow, but including Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson will make the cover better and can encompass how great the 2019 LSU Tigers team was.
The Tigers went a perfect 15-0 and capped off their historic season with a 42-25 rout over the Clemson Tigers for the National Title.
Burrow finished the year with one of the greatest statistical seasons by a quarterback. He had 6,001 total yards and 65 total touchdowns and claimed the Heisman Trophy. Burrow had a two-headed monster to throw to with Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase who combined for 195 catches, 3,320 receiving yards, and 38 touchdowns.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB (2018 Cover)
Lamar Jackson was a human joystick in 2016 and had defenders on skates constantly. He was lethal in the passing game, but even more dangerous anytime he pulled the ball down and escaped the pocket. If there was an NCAA Football game during Jackson’s run at Louisville everyone would have been trying to play as the Cardinals. It would have been like playing with Michael Vick in Madden, an absolute cheat code.
Jackson closed out his impressive 2016 season with a Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushing for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns.
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