Earlier this week, we discussed Wisconsin's 88 overall rating in the upcoming NCAA Football 14 videogame. Thursday, Operation Sports published videos of several teams' top 10 highest-rated players. Our bud @PlannedSickDays from Black Heart Gold Pants did some yeoman's work in screenshotting the ratings of several notable teams, including our dearly beloved Badgers.
The ratings are surefire conversation-starters, largely because they're usually quite crappy. EA Sports, quality/reputation issues aside, doesn't really care since it all gets us talking about the game. Presumably, that means we'll buy it. The game as a whole is relatively stable from year to year, though some changes pending for this latest edition seem kind of cool.
Experience a whole new game in NCAA Football 14 with the introduction of real-time physics and the Force Impact system. Gameplay has also been tuned with the college game in mind, with special attention paid to collegiate staples like the Spread Option offense.
The new and improved Infinity Engine 2 comes to NCAA Football, bringing with it renewed authenticity and enhanced realism.
Back to the ratings, Wisconsin's top 10 is generally what you'd expect -- until you get to about the middle. Wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, linebacker Chris Borland, running back James White and safety Dezmen Southward round out the top four, with ratings that are probably fair and relative to their individual standings on the team.
But, uhh, looks who comes next. Kicker Kyle French with an 88 overall? The fifth-highest rating goes to a guy who might not even start, and not even due to the presence of quality depth at the position. Then the punter, Drew Meyer? SMH.
Naturally, these things don't really matter. But they're fun to talk and gripe about for a few hours, serving to remind us that real football (the non-pixelated kind) isn't so far away anymore.
NAME* | OVERALL | SPEED | STRENGTH | AGILITY | ACCELERATION | AWARENESS | BREAK TACKLE |
WR Jared Abbrederis | 93 | 92 | 61 | 89 | 95 | 80 | 77 |
LB Chris Borland | 91 | 79 | 80 | 77 | 77 | 95 | 48 |
RB James White | 89 | 91 | 69 | 87 | 92 | 90 | 84 |
S Dezmen Southward | 88 | 89 | 67 | 87 | 93 | 96 | 75 |
K Kyle French | 88 | 56 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 80 | 37 |
P Drew Meyer | 88 | 66 | 64 | 65 | 71 | 72 | 34 |
DT Ethan Hemer | 87 | 70 | 88 | 73 | 79 | 82 | 42 |
TE Jacob Pedersen | 87 | 80 | 71 | 81 | 86 | 93 | 77 |
CB Peniel Jean | 86 | 93 | 57 | 90 | 89 | 84 | 59 |
RB Melvin Gordon | 86 | 88 | 68 | 87 | 92 | 75 | 83 |