Top Ten Tuesday: Best Players In The ‘NCAA Football’ Video Game Series

Yesterday was the five-year anniversary of the last release of the EA Sports NCAA Football video game series, NCAA Football 14. Since its end, people have been clamoring for a new college football video game, which isn’t surprising because of the popularity of the sport along with the fact that Madden is a poor product each year. The NCAA video game series of course couldn’t use real player names, but they made it pretty obvious who each player was with generic names. These are ten of the best players from the NCAA Football games over the years. [NOTE: This list does not include legends that have been in the games.]

 

10. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (NCAA 10)

In Sam Bradford’s final season at Oklahoma, he was coming off a Heisman Trophy and an appearance in the national title game against Florida. The Sooners offense set a ton of records the previous season, and Bradford earned a 99-overall rating in NCAA Football 10. As he is in real life, Bradford was deadly-accurate in the game; and he was pretty mobile, too.

 

9. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee (NCAA 10)

The best players in NCAA Football are mostly offensive players, but former Tennessee two-time All-American safety Eric Berry was such a beast that he deserves to be on the list as the only defensive player. USC safety Taylor Mays, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney were also close to making the top ten, but Berry’s all-around ability along with his gamebreaking ability on interception returns made him a huge video-game weapon on defense.

 

8. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech (NCAA 09)

Michael Crabtree was only a 96 overall in NCAA Football 09, but his Heisman campaign was in full swing at the time. In the video game, Crabtree was the quintessential balanced, do-it-all receiver that could take the top off the defense as well as make physical plays with the ball in his hands. Playing in the wide-open Texas Tech offense certainly helped, too.

 

7. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (NCAA 08)

This top ten is filled with players that were rated 99 overall in their final year in the NCAA Football series, and former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden was one of them. In addition to being a great runner, McFadden—a former high-school quarterback—excelled at running the wildcat offense for the Razorbacks. The offense was in the game, and McFadden’s throwing ratings were boosted to make him really tough to stop.

 

6. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma (NCAA 07)

Before Darren McFadden was taking college football by storm as a running back, it was Adrian Peterson doing a ton of damage on Saturdays. Peterson’s 93 speed in NCAA 07 might have been a disservice to his actual ability, but he had 80 strength, 92 agility, 96 acceleration, and 98 break tackle. He was almost as much of a beast in the game as he was in real life.

 

5. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M (NCAA 14)

Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel’s throwing ability in NCAA 14 was solid with 90 throw power and 89 throw accuracy, and it was more than good enough to compliment his running ability in the game. Manziel had 91 speed, 93 agility, 95 acceleration, 91 elusiveness, 97 ball-carrier vision, and an 88 juke move after winning the Heisman Trophy.

 

4. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (NCAA 12)

Robert Griffin III was given better throwing ratings than Manziel, with 91 throw power and 90 throw accuracy, but there’s no question the rushing is what really made him unstoppable in NCAA 12. Griffin’s speed was underrated, but he was aptly given a 99 acceleration rating. If there was a roster update, RGIII might be as high as number two on the list. After his Baylor career, he would go on to be the cover star alongside Barry Sanders in NCAA 13.

 

3. Reggie Bush, RB, USC (NCAA 06)

USC was tough to beat in the middle part of the previous decade, and Reggie Bush was a big part of that. His real-life ability on the football field was almost a seamless transition to his video-game self, which had the same breakaway speed, crazy jukes, and unstoppable spin moves. Also, Bush was a threat to take it to the house on returns in the game.

 

2. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama (NCAA 11)

Coming off a Heisman Trophy win in 2009, Mark Ingram was made a beast in next year’s NCAA Football game. Ingram was the highest-rated player in NCAA 11, with a 98-overall rating. He was in the mid-90s for most of the important player ratings for a running back, which made him the perfect all-around video-game player that could get through the defense several different ways.

 

1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (NCAA 09 and NCAA 10)

Tim Tebow is arguably the greatest college football player of all-time, and he’s also right in that discussion for the best player in the NCAA Football series. After winning the Heisman Trophy as an underclassman (the first player to do so), Tebow was a 99 in NCAA 09 before returning to school for his senior season and again earning a 99 in NCAA 10. Tebow’s running ability, especially down by the goal line, translates perfectly to NCAA. The lefty delivery might have taken some getting used to, but Tebow was given an absolute cannon, with very good accuracy, in the game. The Gator great was a force in NCAA Football.