For the past decade, college football fans have been without a video game. Finally, that's about to change.
On Friday, EA Sports revealed the trailer for EA Sports College Football 25, which will be released on July 19. Micah Parsons reacted like many of us did:
Micah, we have you covered.
We set forth on the impossible task of listing 15 players from the last decade who we wish were in the College Football 25 video game. Any player who finished their career before the 2014 season was not eligible.
With all due respect to defensive players and offensive linemen, this list is almost entirely skill-position players, as they are the most exciting for gamers to use.
Some players who just missed the cut include Marcus Mariota, Ezekiel Elliott, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Bryce Young and Bijan Robinson—though we certainly wouldn't mind having their avatars causing pixelated havoc either.
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama
Derrick Henry was a real-life cheat code for Alabama in 2015. He seemed to break at least one tackle on every run, which isn't a surprise considering he was bigger than some linebackers yet also somehow ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at 6'3", 247 pounds.
Imagine how fun using the truck stick would be with Henry against college defenders.
The Alabama RB rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Trophy and helping the Crimson Tide secure a national championship.
RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
Christian McCaffrey had 2,664 yards from scrimmage as a sophomore in 2015, cementing his status as the one the greatest all-around running backs in college football history.
How many RB screen passes should you call in a CFB video game with McCaffrey? There's only one correct answer.
McCaffrey also had 1,070 kick return yards in 2015 and this ridiculous punt return touchdown in the Rose Bowl. He'd probably be the most fun player to use except for the next guy on this list.
QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Michael Vick is often considered the most fun player to use in football video games. Lamar Jackson would give him a run for his money.
What made Vick so enjoyable was his combination of speed and arm strength. Jackson excels in both of those areas as well, but what makes him different is his power. Jackson can run between the tackles and run over linebackers to gain tough yards.
Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy by passing for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushing for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns.
RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
For my money, Saquon Barkley is the most explosive player on this list. He ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at 233 pounds, which should be illegal.
Over Barkley's last two seasons at Penn State, he had 3,801 yards from scrimmage and 43 touchdowns.
Line him up in the slot and send him on a go route. Ask Michigan if that's a good idea.
QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Kyler Murray is the shiftiest player on this list. At 5'10", he's able to change directions quickly, making him extremely difficult to tackle.
He also has great arm strength. Just look at how effortless this 49-yard TD pass was.
Murray had 4,361 passing yards, 1,001 rushing yards and 54 total touchdowns in his 2018 Heisman-winning season.
RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Jonathan Taylor was another NFL combine phenom, running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 226 pounds.
He showed his power and long speed over three outrageously productive seasons at Wisconsin, recording 6,174 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns from scrimmage.
Taylor is the only player on this list with three top-10 finishes in the Heisman voting.
QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja'Marr Chase and WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
It's only fair that the greatest offensive trio in college football history is a package deal.
Joe Burrow set a CFB record with 60 touchdown passes en route to winning the 2019 Heisman Trophy. He threw 20 of those TDs to Ja'Marr Chase and 18 of them to Justin Jefferson. Chase had 221 yards and two scores in the national championship game, and Jefferson had 227 yards and four scores in the national semifinals.
How many points could you drop on your friends using the 2019 LSU offense?
WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
DeVonta Smith is the only non-quarterback Heisman winner since Derrick Henry took the award in 2015.
Smith had 1,856 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns from scrimmage in 13 games, leading Alabama to a national championship in 2021. He also had a punt return for a TD.
Scoring 25 touchdowns in 13 games...that feels like video game numbers, so Smith would fit right in.
DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Playing offense is the most fun aspect of football video games, but getting five sacks with your favorite pass-rusher is entertaining too, which is why I wanted to include one sack-artist.
Aidan Hutchinson gets the nod.
He had 62 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss for 14 sacks in 2021 for Michigan. And he had an amazing 94.5 PFF grade, which was higher than that of Will Anderson Jr., who would have been the next pass-rusher on this list.
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Brock Bowers is an elite tight end prospect whose strengths are tailor made for a video game. That is, he's fast and excellent after the catch due to his strength and contact balance.
That TE screen you normally never call? That would be a top option with Bowers.
But so would traditional TE routes, like this seam pass he took 78 yards for a score.
QB Caleb Williams, USC
No quarterback in recent college football history has more jaw-dropping throws than Caleb Williams.
If you're looking for great throws under pressure, there's this. If you're looking for pure arm strength, check out this dart. The throw here is the least impressive part, as this time it was all about his ability to extend the play with his legs.
Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy with USC, throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns while also rushing for 10 touchdowns.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. had 29 touchdowns in 25 games over his last two seasons at Ohio State, which is nothing to scoff at.
But if we're being honest, he should have had a lot more.
The Buckeyes didn't target him enough. For a player of his caliber, 144 catches in 25 games is too low.
In a CFB video game, you could show Ryan Day and his staff what kind of production Harrison could have had.
QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
If you're wondering whether Jayden Daniels deserves to make the cut for this list, just ask Florida fans.
In November, Daniels had 606 total yards and five touchdowns against the Gators in a 52-35 LSU victory.
This 85-yard TD run showed long speed that is rare for a QB.
Daniels finished his 2023 Heisman campaign throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns and running for 1,134 yards and 10 scores.
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