Which Tar Heel has the Best Chance to Make the NCAA 2014 Cover?
Anyone a fan of the NCAA Football video games that come out every year? I know I sure am. The developers and publishers at EA Sports and EA Tiburon never cease to amaze me. Every year, the game play and authenticity reaches new heights. I think my favorite thing about the games though is seeing who EA Sports has deemed with the ultimate honor of gracing the game’s cover. Typically, the glory and prestige that the cover brings is awarded to a recent college stand out and current NFL rookie. About 75% of the time the player on the cover is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but there is no guarantee that will be the case on a yearly basis. I can only imagine the thrill it must be for the athlete who gets chosen to represent college football for an entire year on a game that’s played world wide. Unfortunately, no Tar Heel has ever been awarded the cover of the NCAA series, but it’s always fun to speculate who could or should be in consideration for the 2014 model.
Since returning college players aren’t allowed on the cover, I’m only considering Senior players. It’s highly possible some Junior players could leave early, but it’s too early to assume that type of thing. After careful consideration, I believe if a UNC football player landed on the NCAA cover, it would come down to two players.
Kevin Reddick: I actually went to high school with Kevin back in New Bern. He was a year behind me and was introduced to New Bern High School’s varsity roster as a Sophomore. Guess what position he played? If you guessed fullback, you’d be correct. Kevin eventually made the transition to defense and is now heading into his final season at UNC voted as the ACC’s best linebacker.
A member of the preseason All ACC team and is on the preseason Bednarik Award watch list which is given to the nation’s top defensive player. At 6’3″ and 240 pounds, Reddick is the Tar Heels best pro prospect and considered an early pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Even though UNC will face the repercussions of the NCAA’s sanctions against them this season, Kevin will have to be a major contributor if the Tar Heels want to be good. He will be required to build off of his 71 tackle season a season ago and become the primary leader of a defense he’s shared the spotlight with for so long. Only two defensive players in the history of the NCAA Football series have ever made it onto the cover (Charles Woodson, Michigan & Brian Orakpo, Texas).
Eric Highsmith: Like Reddick, Erik Highsmith is a Craven County boy that’s taken his talents to Chapel Hill and is entering into his final season for the Tar Heels. Unlike Kevin, Erik isn’t coming in with all of the preseason accolades even though he did finish fourth in the voting for wide receivers to make the All ACC preseason team.
Erik, however, does do something Kevin Reddick doesn’t. He plays offense. I mentioned before that only two defensive players have made the cover, the advantage cannot be overlooked. Let’s face it, offensive players get the headlines by scoring all of the touchdowns and with Dwight Jones graduated, this could be Erik’s breakout season. Highsmith has improved every year he’s played. Last year, he accumulate 51 cathes for 726 yards and five touchdowns. With Erik likely being the main target for quarterback Bryn Renner, he could really see those totals take a dramatic rise. The list of receivers to have made the cover is short and consists of three current NFL players in Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Crabtree and DeSean Jackson. Needless to say, the list would be tough to get on, but if UNC has a breakout season under new coach Larry Fedora, Highsmith will undoubtedly have to be a factor. Hey, there isn’t a formula for the cover decision so if Erik has a huge year, then why not him?
Obviously, this speculation is nothing more than just that. The season hasn’t started yet and there is a lot of uncertainty of how the new look Heels will play in a different system. One thing is for sure though and that is that Kevin Reddick and Erik Highsmith are big time players and Carolina will need every bit of them for a run at a successful season. Who knows? Maybe if UNC exceeds all expectations, someone will get lucky enough to join the cover fraternity. It’d be pretty cool to say the least.