OS Talks to NCAA 10 Cover Athletes Crabtree, Johnson & Orakpo - BlyGilmore's Blog

BlyGilmore's Blog

OS Talks to NCAA 10 Cover Athletes Crabtree, Johnson & Orakpo

Posted on April 25, 2009 at 08:13 PM.

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Operation Sports recently got a chance to sit down and talk with some of the newly announced NCAA cover athletes about the NFL Draft, video games and what it is like to see their likenesses on the cover of a video game.

Operation Sports: What is like - not only having seen yourself in a video game - but also to now be one of a handful of athletes to grace the cover of a video game?

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: It�s amazing. I�m just having so much fun here in New York. It so amazing to see something you�ve dreamed of since you were little.

Brian Johnson, QB, Utah: It's an absolute unbelievable experience. It's something you always dream about as kid. It's just a blessing and I�m really excited.

Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: This is just a dream come true. I�ve been playing the game for so many years, and I�m just happy to be in the game and now I�m actually on the cover representing the game. It�s a huge accomplishment for myself and all those defensive guys �- defensive guys don�t get a lot of publicity as far as being cover guys.

Crabtree will soon be making Madden defenses miserable.

OS: What�s your favorite sports video game?

Crabtree: I like NCAA. I really don�t play too much, but when I do, I�m an NCAA guy. NCAA Basketball. That�s one of my favorites. That�s the game right there.

Johnson: I�ve been a big Madden fan since the Sega Genesis -� I used to play on my uncle's Sega Genesis. So I�ve played Madden each and every year. I�m probably the best at that, but I�m not top shabby at NCAA either.

Orakpo: I play NCAA all the time, so it has to be that. NCAA, Madden and I like any NBA game -� 2K, Live, doesn�t matter.

Johnson plays a plethora of sports video games. He would fit right in with the OS crowd.

OS: What about non-sports games?

Crabtree: Nah. I play some boxing games. Knockout Kings back in the day.

Johnson: For non-sports games I�ve dabbled in some Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and a couple of shooting games, but for the most part I really only play the sports games.

Orakpo: Oh yeah. Halo. I�m a huge Halo guy. I love Halo Wars. That�s my big game right now.

The question is, does Orakpo use the UNSC or the Covenant in Halo Wars?

OS: If you had the ear of the Madden 10 developers right now, what is the one thing you would make sure they got right about you as a player?

Crabtree: I can�t call it. That�s their job. If something goes wrong then they did a bad job.

Johnson: Awareness. That�s the key for QBs in Madden. I think with your accuracy and throwing power you�re fine, but awareness �- I think it makes your overall rating so much better.

Orakpo: My speed. Just because I play defensive end it doesn�t mean I�m a slow guy. I see that all the time �- guys who are fast in real life but they still get a slow speed. I want my speed to be the same as a linebacker.

OS: Come Monday when you�re on the other side of the Draft�s craziness, what is the one thing you�re looking forward to?

Crabtree: I�m looking forward to being comfortable where I�m at �- being picked by somebody who wants me, somebody who needs me. And I�m looking forward to making them a winning program �- being the best I can be.

Johnson: A little bit of certainty. Knowing where I�m going to be and that this is my opportunity. So much has been up in the air and it�s become kind of hectic. So getting into a stable situation where I know what�s going on.

Orakpo: Just getting down to the city, knowing where I�m at and getting everything settled. Knowing where I�m going to live. Little stuff like that. I�ll be working on that immediately.