EA Sports’ “NCAA College Football,” an extremely popular game for gaming consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox, became a victim of the legal imbroglio that engulfed college football and name, image and likeness. The game, discontinued in the fall of 2013 because of those legal issues, returns next week just in time for the run up to the college football season with some intriguing new features.
When the game was discontinued, it was among the most popular for any platform because of its attention to detail and the ability to customize play. Judging from early reports and reveals, EA Sports is launching “College Football 25” with a splash with significant enhancements, the most intriguing: the “Ultimate Team” feature.
This particular game mode allows players to select from an all-star roster of current and past college football greats to stack rosters. The days of playing predetermined teams exclusively are long gone. The appeal is obvious – allowing current NFL players such as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Nick (San Francisco 49ers) and Joey (Los Angeles Chargers) Bosa, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to shine on a virtual college gridiron. And, of course, there are Cleveland Browns who could and most likely should find themselves in EA Sports’ virtual world. Here’s who we’d like to play with in “College Football ’25:”
Nick Chubb (Georgia)
Chubb may be the best “risky” draft pick in Browns history. Despite a potentially career ending injury while a Bulldog, Chubb put up video game-like numbers, averaging 6.3 yards per carry during his college career.
Grant Delpit (LSU)
Delpit is just coming into his own as an NFL safety, but at LSU, he possessed the ability to shift a game’s momentum with a big play.
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Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
Drafted No. 1 overall in the 2017 NFL draft, he was a game dominator and changer while an Aggie. Nothing has changed.
David Njoku (Miami):
Njoku wasn’t even 21 when drafted by the Browns from the Hurricanes program, where his game-breaking potential was evident. He’s realizing that now as an NFL tight end.
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Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame)
Owusu-Koramoah’s reputation as the most versatile player on the field earned him his NFL shot. He delivered last year with a Pro Bowl season.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA)
Thompson-Robinson was extremely dangerous in the college game. His football future in the NFL still awaits him.
Denzel Ward (Ohio State)
Ward, drafted No. 4 overall in the 2018 draft, earned that status because he was a lockdown corner with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Nothing has changed for Ward as a pro.
Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
Although the jury is still out on his stint with the Browns, Watson was a beast in college, winning a national championship with the Tigers as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Cade York (LSU)
York has struggled as a pro being drafted by the Browns, released, then ultimately re-signed to the practice squad. He was worth a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft because he was the best kicker in college football that year.
Reach George M. Thomas at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com.