Utah Utes football: Brian Johnson lands on video game cover

How good a season did University of Utah quarterback Brian Johnson have? Good enough to land him on the cover of a best-selling video game.

In a press release today, Electronic Arts announced its cover athletes for the 2010 version of its popular NCAA football game, titled "NCAA Football 10." Johnson will be featured on the cover of the PlayStation 3 version.

Other featured athletes include Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech on the Xbox 360 version, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez on the PSP edition and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo on the PlayStation 2 cover.

Each of the athletes have ended their college football careers because of graduation or because they have entered the NFL draft.

"Each cover athlete led his team on a memorable run toward the BCS National Championship, helping to shape the competitive landscape of college football in 2008," the Electronic Arts press release said.

Johnson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Sugar Bowl, where his Utah team defeated Alabama and finished with a perfect 13-0 record, the only team in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision to go undefeated last season. Johnson is the first college athlete from a Utah school to be featured on the cover of a video game.

The game will be available in stores July 14.

On the Web: www.ncaafootball10.com

EMAIL: lc@desnews.com