Boise State QB nabs NCAA cover

With Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith of Ohio State and golden boy Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn both graduating this year, it was almost a sure bet that one of the two would grace the cover of the next edition of NCAA Football from Electronic Arts.

Then the Fiesta Bowl happened. The Boise State Broncos beat the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42 in one of the most thrilling college bowl games in memory. Leading the charge was Broncos QB Jared Zabransky, who ended the game with a modified version of the infamous Statue of Liberty play.

EA has selected the rugged Zabransky as the cover athlete for NCAA Football 08, which was formally announced today. The EA Tiburon-developed game will be released this summer on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, and Xbox 360.

Zabransky's knack for rallying his troops will be exhibited in the new leadership control feature in NCAA Football 08. Big plays made by big stars will now have an influence on other players, letting them step up their game by boosting their personal ratings. EA also promises a deeper recruiting system and an all-new campus legend mode.