Michigan football: Who would be the best Wolverine to play as in a video game?

It was announced on Wednesday that the forthcoming EA Sports college football game, set to hit shelves next summer, will feature authentic player names and licenses. This means your favorite Michigan Wolverines will soon appear on gaming consoles as playable assets in the game.

EA Sports has not made a college football game since 2013 with the final edition featuring Michigan star quarterback Denard Robinson on the cover. Users were able to import custom-made rosters into the game that used real player names and numbers, but it was not a default option. EA stopped making the game due to legal disputes regarding the use of player likenesses.

That will all change soon, though. The age of NIL reform and players being able to earn money for their likenesses have reopened the door for the game series to return. EA Sports is creating a new game from scratch and expects it to land on shelves in 2024 for PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X and other current gen consoles.

Several media reports emerged Wednesday saying that OneTeam Partners has been contracted to help facilitate deals for players being included in the game.

“We’ve wanted to feature collegiate athletes in a meaningful way from the start of our journey to bring an EA SPORTS college football experience back to our fans,” EA Sports said Wednesday in a statement. “We’re excited to have an agreement in place with OneTeam Partners that will enable us to include the names and likenesses of eligible collegiate football athletes at NCAA Division 1 Football Subdivision schools who opt-in to being featured in EA SPORTS College Football.”

Michigan players that might be the most fun to play as

Michigan will likely figure factor into the new game as one of the prominent brands in college football. While the game will not be out until next year, it is worth wondering what Wolverines would be the most fun to deploy in a video game setting.

Here are five candidates whose skillsets might be the most fun to deploy in a video game setting:

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy: He has already been described as having a “video game”-like offseason, so this is an obvious one. McCarthy’s dual-threat performance in the TCU game was essentially how a teenager would have deployed him with a controller in his hand. Throwing bombs down the field, using his legs in the run game, and a risky pass or two that leads to a turnover. The total package was still enough to potentially win Michigan the game on its own. That probably will not be the way his team uses him in real life, but the attributes would all be there.

Running back Blake Corum: Some that play football video games love to smash the football down their opponent’s throats, which is a little more accurate to Michigan’s style of play. Corum’s elite vision and burst in the open field speaks for itself.

Running back Donovan Edwards: If we are talking pure offensive weapons, Edwards would rank second only to McCarthy. Edwards can be deployed as a slot receiver or traditional running back, making him an Alvin Kamara-esque option on offense. The HB Angle play would be a bread-and-butter play in our hypothetical virtual Michigan offense.

Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins: As fun, as it is to rack up points in a video game, it can be equally as fun to blow up the other team’s offense. They call Jenkins “The Mutant” for a reason, and his fast step is as quick as any Michigan defensive tackle since Maurice Hurst. Having him stuff the run and get after the quarterback would make for a good time. Kenneth Grant would also be a candidate here given his sheer size (6-3, 355) and athleticism.

Cornerback Will Johnson: Michigan’s young cornerback is a former wide receiver and has some of the best ballhawk skills of any player his age. He’s advanced, and there is already so much more to unlock with him. Opposing teams can get pass-happy in the games, too, so you need a lockdown corner with the ability to take an interception to the house. Johnson is that guy.