The revered EA Sports NCAA Football video game is set to make its much-anticipated return when it is released on July 19. It is likely not an over exaggeration when I say that this may be the most important day of any of our lives. I know that I personally will be taking that day off from work due to an unforeseen illness.
What is the history of the college football video game?
College football video games were released yearly from 1994 to 2014, when the series was halted due to the use of player likeness and the lack of player compensation. But now that college athletes are allowed to earn money through NIL while maintaining their amateur status, EA Sports and the NCAA were able to reach an agreement that allowed the game to return.
Throughout the history of the game, several of the athletes that graced the cover starred at SEC schools. That is set to continue is Texas' Quinn Ewers will be one of the three cover athletes for the newest edition.
Each of these cover athletes enjoyed immense success in college and many went on to have successful careers in the NFL. No matter how their football career panned out, the accomplishment of video game cover immortality can never be taken away (which is why it is immortal).
Now for the record, this not a literal "where are they now", as none of the seven or so other patrons in this Texas coffee shop right now appear to be former cover athletes. If you want to know where any of these athletes are right now, at this very moment, you may need to reach out to them personally.
Where past SEC NCAA Football video game cover athletes are now
Danny Wuerffel - NCAA Football 98
Danny Wuerffel's athletic success: Heisman Trophy winning QB and Florida Gator legend Danny Wuerffel was the first SEC athlete to grace this famous cover. After winning the Heisman and the National Championship in 1996, Wuerffel was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints.
Wuerffel spent six seasons in the NFL as a part of four different teams, but was never able to find his footing as a solid starter. He retired following the 2003 season after being cut by the Washington Redskins.
Danny Wuerffel today: According to dannywuerffel.com, Danny currently resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife and three children. He is the Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, a nonprofit that aids underserved and impoverished communities throughout the southeast.
Danny fittingly founded this ministry when he was a member of the Saints, and I assume he was at least partially inspired by the team name.
Since 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy has been given annually to a college football player who has made a big impact through their community service. The 2023 recipient was UGA WR Ladd McConkey.
Shaun Alexander - NCAA Football 2001
Shaun Alexander's on-field success: Following his record-setting career at Alabama, Shaun Alexander was selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Alexander enjoyed a very successful career in the NFL, highlighted by his 2005 season in which he was named NFL MVP while leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
Although the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alexander was rewarded with a contract extension which at the time made him the highest paid Running Back in league history. He was also chosen to be the cover athlete of Madden NFL 2007, becoming the first athlete to be featured on both the covers of Madden and NCAA Football.
Although his production decreased drastically from 2005 until his retirement in 2008, he still finished his career with over 9,000 rushing yards and exactly 100 rushing touchdowns, which ranks eighth all-time in NFL history.
Because of Alexander's incredible freshman season with Alabama, the Shaun Alexander Award is now given annually the best Freshman player in College Football. In 2023, the award was given to another former Crimson Tide player in stand-out Safety Caleb Downs, who has since transferred to Ohio State.
Where is Shaun Alexander now? According to shaunalexander.com, Shaun and his wife currently reside in Virginia and have had an astounding 12 children together. Shaun also does charity work and has partnered with some powerful brands such as Powerade, Nike, and CarMax.
Darren McFadden - NCAA Football 09
Darren McFadden's success in college: Darren McFadden was an absolute menace during his time as a Running Back for the Arkansas Razorbacks, twice finishing as a Heisman finalist. His illustrious college career earned him the cover for NCAA Football 09 on the XBOX 360, which real ones know was the best console. Desean Jackson and Matt Ryan were the cover athletes for the PS2 and PS3 versions, respectively.
Darren Mcfadden's NFL career: McFadden was drafted fourth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and enjoyed a 10 year career in the league. McFadden had two 1,000 yard rushing seasons, one with the Raiders and one with the Cowboys, en route to accumulating over 5,000 career rushing yards.
Mcfadden-Vick lawsuit: Since his retirement from football in 2017, his life could best be described as "interesting." In 2016, McFadden filed a $15 million lawsuit against one Michael Vick (not the former QB) who was his longtime Manager. The lawsuit stated the Vick misused McFadden's personal funds for business ventures.
McFadden arrested: In January of 2019, McFadden was arrested in a Whataburger parking lot after falling asleep behind the wheel of his car. McFadden was charged with DWI and resisting arrest and wound up serving four days in jail after pleading guilty to the DWI.
What a burger indeed.
Tim Tebow - NCAA Football 11
Tim Tebow's accolades: One of the greatest college football players of all time, Tim Tebow received his highest honor when he was chosen to be the cover athlete of the famed NCAA Football 11 game. The Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion was the easy choice once his college career ended following the 2009 season.
Tim Tebow's NFL career: Tebow was selected late in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, after concerns over his throwing mechanics caused him to drop following an historic career. His NFL career was much less storied, although it was highlighted by his thrilling overtime playoff win against the Steelers.
Shortly after that, the Broncos added Peyton Manning (ever heard of him?), meaning that Tebow's time in the Rockies was up. He then had short stints with the Jets, Patriots, and Eagles before leaving football in 2015.
Tim Tebow's baseball career: Tebow took a page out of the GOAT's playbook and gave professional baseball a try, spending five seasons in the New York Mets organization. Tebow-Mania was all the rage as spectators filled stadiums to watch his minor league games.
Tebow rose all the way to the AAA level and was, in theory, one player away from making it to the show. Although he was never called up to the big leagues, he can hold his thick, perfectly-groomed head high knowing that he gave it a shot.
Shortly after that, he returned to football and gave Tight End a go with the Jacksonville Jaguars, although he was released just a few pre-season games in.
Tim Tebow stays active: Even though he is now officially retired as an athlete, Tebow is still absolutely jacked and is still heavily involved in college football as an analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network. He can be seen every gameday morning on SEC Network's SEC Nation, the SEC version of College Gameday that travels to the campus of an SEC school each football Saturday.
Tim Tebow Foundation: As great as his college football career was, Tebow has made an even larger impact off the field. The Tim Tebow Foundation has helped thousands of those in need since it was formed in 2010, including building a children's hospital in the Philippines.
Tebow has been married to the love of his life (I hope) since 2020, and the couple currently resides in Florida with their cute and cuddly puppy dogs.
Mark Ingram - NCAA Football 12
Mark Ingram wins the Heisman Trophy: The first-ever Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Alabama, Mark Ingram was the offensive driving force behind Nick Saban's first national title with the school in 2009. Ingram barely edged Stanford RB Toby Gerhart in the closest every Heisman vote.
After a down Junior season in 2010, Ingram declared for the NFL draft, where he was selected in the first round by the New Orleans Saints. I am sure that Saints fans that were also LSU fans were conflicted over this.
Mark Ingram's NFL career: Ingram spent eight productive seasons with the Saints, including two seasons where he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens prior to the 2019 season in which he was selected to his third career Pro Bowl.
Following a brief half season with the Houston Texans, Ingram returned to the Saints for the final season of his career in 2020. Overall, he rushed for over 8,000 yards in his12-year NFL career.
Ingram joins Big Noon Kickoff: Lasts season, Ingram joined FOX Sports' Big Noon Kickoff show, FOX Sports' rival to ESPN's College Gameday. He sits alongside fellow Heisman winners Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Charles Woodson, as well as former Utah Head Coach Urban Meyer.
Ingram and his wife Chelsea have five children and currently reside somewhere within the continental United States, I assume. He is also a part of the ownership group for the MLS club D.C. United.