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Today we look at the QBs with the most to prove in 2024 and your picks as the Big 12’s dark horses.
First up…Video game news!
This is just in!
EA Sports College Football 25 Cover
It’s official. EA Sports has officially revealed the cover for its upcoming video game, College Football 25, scheduled for release on July 19th. Drumroll please…
Texas QB Quinn Ewers (left), Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter and Michigan RB Donovan Edwards are featured on the cover of EA Sports. (Courtesy of EA Sports)
Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter and Michigan RB Donovan Edwards There are 3 cover athletes.The deluxe edition cover leaked last week includes: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, Georgia QB Carson Beck and Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins A bullet was fired over his shoulder.
The most notable thing about the cover is that due to name, image, and likeness rules, for the first time in series history, an active player appears on the cover. Previously, only eligible players or former legends could be featured on the cover. charles woodson (1999), desmond howard (2006), reggie bush (2007), Tim Tebow (2011) and Denard Robinson Since there was no NIL rule in college sports previously, it was held in the final year before the hiatus (2014).
I like the direction EA Sports took with the new cover. It was important to feature current players as it will be a side of the game that has never been seen before. College players from all 134 FBS teams will have the option to participate in the game, and those who do will receive $600 and a copy of the game (valued at $70). This selection of cover athletes focuses on his three players with three unique skill sets. Plus, as Chris Vannini reported today, all three have memories of playing the game.
Stay tuned for the full game reveal on Friday!
dark horse of the big 12
It’s Iowa State’s time to shine.
In Tuesday’s newsletter, I asked readers to vote for the program they would choose as the Big 12’s dark horse in 2024. The results are as follows.
Responses were limited to teams other than the top four favorites to win the conference. According to BetMGM odds, those teams are Kansas State, Utah, Kansas State, and Arizona State.
So let’s take a look at the top dark horse candidates in the conference.
Iowa: A big plus for the Cyclones is that they give back the most production in the country (86%, ESPN’s Bill Connelly). The Athletic‘s Scott Doctorman details Iowa State’s future opportunities in an article worth reading today. The foundations seem to be in place for Iowa State to win in his 2024. Now it’s just a matter of avoiding slumps.
Why readers chose Cyclones: “Rocco Becht is arguably the most underrated QB in CFB despite having a great freshman year. Matt Campbell gets a bit of a bad rap, but he still led his team to a Big 12 Championship. He’s a great coach. All the pieces are there. They just have to put it together.”
West Virginia: Neil Brown got his first win in Morgantown last year when he needed it. The Mountaineers got a lot out of their nine-win team, including two-way quarterback Garrett Green. The Mountaineers have a packed schedule, but fans are hoping they can get off to a hot start with a big win in Week 1, as they will face many of their toughest opponents at home.
Why readers chose Mountaineers: “We have a lot of returners, especially on the O-line. We’ve plugged a lot of holes defensively. I don’t know if it’s going to work out, but if everything goes well. Be careful.”
“The most surprising thing about this season was that West Virginia beat Penn State (in Week 1) and then went on to go 6-6 and jeopardize Penn State’s 9-3 playoff return. Probably not.”
Oklahoma: I saw your reply that “Oklahoma State University is not a dark horse.” That’s a valid point. First and foremost, the Cowboys get back the nation’s top running back in Ollie Gordon II, who had 285 carries for 1,732 yards and 21 TDs in 2023. Gordon will be a mainstay in the offense, which will be led by seventh-year QB Alan Bowman. The Cowboys rank second to Iowa State in return production (85%).
Why readers chose the Cowboys:I would like to vote for Texas Tech, but last year many people called Texas Tech a dark horse, and I was disappointed. There’s no debating OSU’s consistency and Gundy’s ability to find ways to win. Gordon’s return should continue to terrify opponents. ”
“OSU shouldn’t be a dark horse, but it needs to prove itself to be a beneficiary of OU and UT moving to the SEC.”
2025 NFL Draft QB
Promising players and players with the potential for further promotion
After months of speculation about QBs in the 2024 class, six players have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., JJ McCarthy, and Bo Nix. Was chosen. There were also some surprises, such as Penix outperforming McCarthy and Nix not falling into the later rounds. So let’s turn the page to 2025.
Dane Brugler The AthleticNFL Draft analysts have three QBs selected in the first round in a mock draft for early 2025: Beck at No. 2, Ewers at No. 14 and Colorado’s Shedure Sanders at No. 22. Will university officials agree? Insider’s Bruce Feldman asked Coach to break down these three of his QBs, plus several others who could end up on draft boards if they have big years. I caught up.
- Beck: It feels like we don’t know much about Beck yet, and we don’t know why. He excelled in his first season as a starter, completing 72 percent of his passes and gaining 3,941 yards with a TD-to-INT ratio of 24 to 6. One veteran SEC coordinator told the Blues he thought Beck would be the “No. 1 overall pick,” while a DC from a Top 25 team said Beck “throws the ball deeper than Jaden Daniels.”
- Jug: Previously the highest-rated quarterback prospect ever on online recruiting services, Ewers still has a lot to prove heading into 2024. He had great weapons in Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell last season, so how he adapts going forward will be key. One database coach who played against Texas last year said Ewers was “overrated,” and a veteran Big 12 assistant said, “He’s still trying to figure things out.”
- Sanders: Colorado underperformed as a team last season, but Sanders’ talent was still evident. Although his offensive line didn’t give much of an advantage, he was pretty solid with 27 TDs and only 3 INTs in his first FBS season. “He’s an NFL guy,” one former Pac-12 head coach said. “Is he a No. 1 draft pick?” I don’t know, but I think he’s a real guy. ”
- Wild Card: Will Howard, Ohio State: The former Kansas State QB has all the help he needs to make it a memorable season in Columbus. “I think he’s going to have a great year,” the Big 12 defensive coach said.
quick snap
What is the role of the player in this new era of college football? NIL agent? Chris Kamrani shares his story.
of The ACC held its annual spring meeting this week. At Amelia Island, Florida. So yeah, it was a nice trip to the Sunshine State, where the dark clouds of legal drama hang over office conversations. How relaxing! The AthleticNicole Auerbach has more.
nebraska Last week, they acquired a contract from four-star QB TJ Lateef. He is from Southern California big ten program for the past few months. Antonio Morales talks more about recruiting trends.
After losing kandre lambert smith Why didn’t I transfer to the transfer portal? pennsylvania state university Will we get another WR in 2024? Nittany Lions beat writer Audrey Snyder answers that and more in today’s mailbag.
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(Top photo: Provided by EA Sports)
