EA Sports makes a star out of a former Potato Chucker

Last month, EA Sports announced that it would make former Boise State QB Jared Zabransky the face of NCAA Football 2008. This was a bit of a surprise considering the litany of household names that were expected to make the list over Zabransky. Brady Quinn, Calvin Johnson, Chris Leak, Ted Ginn Jr and Heisman landslide winner Troy Smith all could have made the cover. Any one of them has their merits and would have been a deserving cover boy. The fact that Zabransky made it over the other names indicates that EA is trying to market something different then the standard spoon fed media golden boys.

Zabransky, a former potato farm boy from Oregon, is exactly the kind of likeable, feel good player that college football epitomizes. At 6' 1'', 204 he has an average to small build, at least for a potential NFL Quarterback. He wasn't heavily recruited coming into college and it's possible he won't even hear his name called on draft weekend. He is currently ranked as the 12th best quarterback in the draft class by ESPN.

What Z does bring to the table is athleticism, moxie, leadership and a winner's attitude. He won 32 out of 37 games he started at Boise State and capped off his career with an amazing 43 - 42 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma in one of the most memorable games of last year. It is that type of energy, excitement and ability to conquer all odds that NCAA '08 is trying to promote.