David Pollack feels EA Sports cover with Ryan Williams, Jeremiah Smith 'made the most sense'

College football analyst David Pollack felt the new edition of EA Sports College Football 26 had the right cover athletes in Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith. The two star wide receivers are arguably the best in the sport.

Both broke out as true freshmen last season, which led to big success for their teams. Smith, in particular, helped Ohio State win the national championship last year and is considered NFL-ready despite having to play two more collegiate seasons.

Williams burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old freshman for Alabama and some were obsessed over his age. Safe to say, he has plenty of development left.

“It made the most sense,” Pollack said of the cover on See Ball Get Ball. “I think Jeremiah Smith obviously finished the season with a bang. Ryan Williams started the season last year with a bang. And everybody was ‘17 year old, 17 year old.’ I think people look at Jeremiah Smith in a tier of his own in college football, which he’s earned the right to be there to make what he wants. 

“Ryan Williams with a QB that’s really, really good is going to be right there, close to that tier one. Like, he is that kind of good. You get a guy that is on schedule, because he can contort his body better than anybody, anybody I’ve ever seen, for going as fast as he goes. He’s little. He’s more DeVonta Smith than he is, you know, big, huge AJ Brown type like Jeremiah Smith is, but Ryan Williams is a freak show and he’s going to put on the show this college football season.”

As a freshman, Williams put up 48 catches for 865 yards, eight touchdowns and 18 yards per catch. Smith meanwhile, had 76 catches, 1,315 yards, 15 touchdowns and 17.3 yards per catch.

Both were elite prospects coming into college football. Williams and Smith made sure to prove the scouts right in 2024.

As a member of the Class of 2024, Williams was a five-star-plus recruit out of Saraland (Ala.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 2 overall prospect in the state, the No. 3 wide receiver in the class and the No. 5 overall prospect in the class.

As a member of the Class of 2024, Smith was a five-star-plus recruit out of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 1 wide receiver in the class and the No. 1 overall prospect in the class.