Donovan Edwards may be on the cover, but what will his overall be?
A decade has passed since the last EA Sports college football video game, and while so much has changed on the field for the Michigan Wolverines, not much has changed with the cover of the popular video game.
The highly anticipated video game is set to be released on July 19, and the Michigan Wolverines will be front and center once again with senior running back Donovan Edwards gracing the cover . Edwards is joined on the cover by Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
Michigan also had the last cover athlete — Denard Robinson — for the video game franchise back in 2014, the last edition of the game until this year.
With less than two months away from the release, it’s time to start predicting which Wolverines deserve a 90-overall+ in the game.
Will Johnson
Johnson should be Michigan’s highest rated player in the game, as he’s bound to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft . According to PFF , Johnson is projected to go in the top-five next season, and his talent and usage definitely back that projection up.
He has been incredible in Ann Arbor, shutting down some of the best receivers in the country. Johnson earned an 86.3 single-coverage grade over the last two years, totaling 27 tackles in 2023 with four interceptions and four pass breakups. As the No. 1 cornerback for the defending National Champions, he should be rewarded with a rating between 94-97 in the video game.
Prediction: 96 Overall
Mason Graham
Graham won’t be far behind Johnson as another premiere defensive player in the game.
The 6-foot-3, 318-pound defensive tackle was a second-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten selection and Rose Bowl Defensive MVP last season. In 13 games, he made 36 tackles including 7.5 for loss and 3.0 sacks with three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was also one of only two interior defensive linemen in college football to finish with top-10 grades as both a pass rusher and run defender in 2023 (T’Vondre Sweat was the other).
As for the game, Graham’s power and strength rating should be very high, driving up his overall grade. His versatility along the interior defensive line makes him extremely difficult to stop.
Prediction: 93 Overall
Colston Loveland
Loveland finished 2023 with the 10th-best receiving grade, per PFF, and the fifth-most receiving yards in college football by a tight end. He was the safety blanket for J.J. McCarthy the past two seasons, combining his catching abilities with his speed and agility after the catch.
In 2023, Loveland earned a first-team All-Big Ten selection, catching 45 passes for 649 yards and four touchdowns, placing second on the team in yards and receiving touchdowns. He returns as Michigan’s top receiving threat and should see plenty of targets.
I see Loveland placing in the 90 category because of the receiving threat he poses. Very few tight ends are as talented and productive as Loveland, and I see EA Sports rewarding him with a top tight end grade.
Prediction: 91 Overall
Donovan Edwards
A lot of honor comes with gracing the front of a video game. Even more so when the game hasn’t been around for 10 years. Though Edwards hasn’t had the same season-long success as Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard or Robinson (past cover athletes), his highlights rival anyone’s.
Edwards has sat behind Blake Corum the previous three seasons, but he definitely made his mark on college football. He scored twice in the 2024 CFP National Championship Game, becoming the first player with multiple 40-plus-yard touchdowns in the CFP National Championship. He also ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a top-five battle against the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022, breaking off touchdown runs of 75 and 85 yards. Finally, he even threw a touchdown pass to help Michigan win a drought-breaking Big Ten title in 2021 against the Iowa Hawkeyes .
Edwards’ big play ability and explosive speed make him an intriguing player for the Wolverines. While he had an inconsistent season in 2023, he came through in the biggest moment to lead the Wolverines to the national championship. I think EA Sports will mirror his overall grade with their expectations for him in 2024.
Prediction: 90 Overall