6 college players who would be perfect cover stars for an NCAA Football game

What if EA was still able to make an NCAA Football game? We take a look five college stars who would be perfect as the cover athlete.

It’s officially college football season. While the Gators-Hurricanes game last weekend technically opened up the season, the rest of the college teams kick off this weekend (with many having already done so on Thursday).

But with the start of a new season comes the painful reminder that we still don’t have an NCAA Football game. EA’s beloved college football franchise was nixed in 2013 following uncertainties stemming from lawsuits involving the use of player likenesses in-game.

It’s uncertain if we’ll ever get a new NCAA Football game, although there have been certain events that give fans hope. One of those was the inclusion of ten officially licensed Division I teams in this year’s Madden 20 as part of the new Face of the Franchise: QB1 mode. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to spark the ol’ fire.

Which got me thinking, who would be the perfect cover athlete if EA were to bring back NCAA Football?

CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 29: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers warms up prior to the start of the Tigers’ football game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Memorial Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

Trevor Lawrence – QB, Clemson

Is there a more obvious candidate than Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence? Lawrence is already the face of college football, having led the Clemson Tigers to the College Football Playoff National Championship as a freshman, so it only makes sense for him to also be the face of an NCAA Football game.

He’s got the look. He’s got the skill. He’s got the charisma. Trevor Lawrence would be the perfect NCAA Football cover athlete. Some have already crowned him the greatest of all time.

SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide attempts a pass against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Tua Tagovailoa – QB, Alabama

If not for Trevor Lawrence, there’s a good chance Tua Tagovailoa would be picked as a cover athlete for an NCAA Football game. He’s the starting quarterback for the perennial powerhouse Alabama. More importantly, he’s got the skill, stats and personality to back it up.

Like Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa helped his team win the CFP National Championship as a true freshman. He replaced Jalen Hurts in the second half of the Championship and threw the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lead Alabama to a 26-23 victory over Georgia.

He followed up his freshman year with another solid season as a sophomore in which he finished with over 3,900 passing yards and 43 touchdowns — both records for Alabama. Unfortunately, he came up short in the CFP National Championship against, yep, Trevor Lawrence and Clemson. But that doesn’t take away from everything he has accomplished, and he would certainly be worthy of the cover of an NCAA Football game.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Jake Fromm #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs drops bak to pass against the Texas Longhorns during the first half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Jake Fromm – QB, Georgia

It’s hard to believe that the starting quarterback for Georgia can be underrated, but that’s exactly what Jake Fromm is. Sure, he’s a Heisman candidate who has put up impressive numbers over two seasons as the starter (5,364 yards, 54 touchdowns), but he’s often overshadowed by Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa.

He wouldn’t be the first choice, clearly, but I could see the Bulldogs’ leader as a worthy cover candidate.

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Rondale Moore #4 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball and tries to fight off Jahsen Wint #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Rondale Moore – WR, Purdue

Rondale Moore is a dark horse Heisman candidate and also a dark horse cover athlete candidate. He doesn’t play for a flashy Power 5 school and he doesn’t play quarterback. But he is an incredibly talented wide receiver.

As a freshman last season, Moore led the Big 10 in receiving yards (1,258) and touchdowns (14). And while under the brightest lights — in a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes — Moore shined brighter with 170 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a Boilermakers’ 49-20 win.

If we’re looking for something other than a quarterback for the cover of an NCAA Football game, Moore is a good choice.

MADISON, WI – OCTOBER 06: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball in the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Jonathan Taylor – RB, Wisconsin

In two years at Wisconsin, Jonathan Taylor has racked up a whopping 4,171 rushing yards. He’s easily the best running back in the nation and would’ve likely been a Heisman Finalist last year if not for even stronger competition.

Like his Heisman run, Taylor would face a similar uphill battle to land on the cover of an NCAA Football game. But he’s an interesting choice nonetheless. He is a dominant running back at a name brand, Power 5 school.

Similar to Rondale Moore, Jonathan Taylor would provide some variety for an NCAA Football game cover.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights gets sacked by Cortez Broughton #96 of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first quarter on November 17, 2018 at spectrum stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

McKenzie Milton – QB, UCF

This one is a stretch and admittedly I’m biased as I went to UCF. As a Knights alum, I think quarterback McKenzie Milton would’ve made an interesting choice as a cover candidate because of what he stands for: hope, determination and willpower.

Watching McKenzie Milton at quarterback was like playing a video game. He was that exciting and fun. I would’ve loved to see what he could do as a senior but unfortunately, he suffered a horrific, potentially career-ending injury last season.

He’s working towards a comeback, though, and should he accomplish that, I think he would instantly earn a spot on the cover of an NCAA Football game.

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