After an 11-year hiatus, EA Sports activities is again on the faculty soccer scene. “School Soccer 25” shall be launched this summer time, and it will be intriguing to see who will grace the duvet of one of the extremely anticipated video video games in fairly a while.
EA Sports activities has a number of viable choices with regards to deciding its subsequent cowl star, however listed here are 5 candidates who ought to be on the shortlist to earn the dignity.
5. Former Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
We have seen numerous stars cross via the collegiate ranks since EA Sports activities launched “NCAA Soccer 14,” so naming a former participant who wasn’t in earlier school soccer video games as this yr’s cowl athlete is smart. Jackson, who was a standout at Louisville from 2015-17, undoubtedly would have been among the best gamers within the sequence’ historical past if EA had developed a sport when he was at school.
The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner cemented himself as one of many biggest dual-threat quarterbacks in school soccer historical past throughout his time with the Cardinals. Over his three seasons, Jackson threw for 9,043 yards and 69 touchdowns whereas including 4,132 yards and 50 scores on the bottom in that span. Even so, Jackson is available in at No. 5 on this record since he already appeared on the duvet of “Madden NFL 21.”Â
4. Â Former LSU QB Jayden Daniels
Ought to EA choose to characteristic a participant coming into the 2024 NFL Draft as the duvet athlete, Daniels ought to get the nod over presumed No. 1 decide Caleb Williams since he was the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. Daniels showcased a few of the most spectacular speeding prowess by a quarterback since Jackson dominated the ACC. In 12 video games this season, Daniels accrued 4,946 yards of complete offense (3,812 passing, 1,134 speeding) with 50 touchdowns, the second-most in school soccer.
It took time for Daniels, an Arizona State switch, to blossom into the participant he’s at present. His laborious work and perseverance are qualities that followers can relate to as they work their means up the depth chart in “Highway to Glory” mode, the place they will take management of their very own custom-made gamers.
3. Former LSU QB Joe Burrow
One other throwback possibility, the present Cincinnati Bengals star loved the best particular person season of any participant since “NCAA Soccer 14” got here out, if not of all time. Burrow completed 25-3 as LSU’s beginning quarterback, main the Tigers to an ideal 15-0 report and a nationwide championship victory throughout his record-breaking 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning season. That yr, Burrow set FBS single-season information in landing passes (60), touchdowns chargeable for (65), factors chargeable for (392) and complete yards of offense (6,039).Â
2. Â Texas QB Quinn EwersÂ
Having a present school soccer star grace the duvet of “School Soccer 25” looks as if one of the seemingly outcomes. Whereas Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders can be a compelling selection, the Buffaloes aren’t near being the caliber of staff that the Longhorns are. To not point out that Ewers is arguably the highest quarterback returning to varsity soccer subsequent season.Â
Since transferring from Ohio State in December 2021, Ewers has performed as much as his five-star billing, throwing for five,656 yards and 37 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Placing the previous Buckeye on the duvet can be an efficient technique to promote the realignment of the SEC and the sport’s new switch portal characteristic.Â
1. Former Alabama HC Nick SabanÂ
A coach hasn’t appeared on the duvet of an EA Sports activities-developed school soccer online game since Invoice Walsh, however Saban can be the proper option to usher within the subsequent period of the sequence. The 72-year-old surprisingly retired because the Crimson Tide’s head coach final month, wrapping up a 28-year school teaching profession that included seven nationwide championships and 0 shedding seasons.
Throughout Saban’s 17 seasons at Alabama, the Tide went 206-29 (together with 5 wins vacated by the NCAA), made eight journeys to the School Soccer Playoff, gained six nationwide titles and noticed 4 gamers win the Heisman Trophy. Moreover, a report 49 gamers (and counting) who performed underneath Saban in his head-coaching profession went on to be NFL first-round draft picks.Â
As arguably probably the most recognizable and revered determine in school soccer historical past, it is a somewhat easy determination to call Saban as the duvet star of “School Soccer 25.” Nonetheless, given his illustrious resume, maybe Saban is extra deserving of being on the duvet of a deluxe version copy of the sport.Â
