NCAA Video Game Ratings for Top Players for 2016 Season
One of the most-beloved annual traditions of the college football offseason used to be the July release of the latest EA Sports' NCAA Football video game. The key phrase in that statement, of course, is "used to be."
EA Sports and the NCAA ended their partnership three years ago, between the release of NCAA Football 14 and what would've been NCAA Football 15, in the face of lawsuits and potential problems with paying players for their likenesses.
The move was heartbreaking for many fans. In the time since the last edition of NCAA came out, the video game world has moved onto new consoles, leaving those still wanting to play the series clinging to last-gen technology. Communities at sites such as Operation Sports have tried to step into the gap by creating their own updated rosters, but it's just not quite the same as the new coat of paint fans formerly got each year.
In each of the last two years, Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer has written a popular piece on how he thought the top 50 players would be rated in NCAA Football if it came out for the upcoming season. This year, I'm taking the torch from Kramer and leading my fellow fans into the wilderness of a third season without NCAA for producing fantasy ratings for NCAA Football 17.
I sorted out what I believed would be the top 50 players in college football for 2016 using the 100-point scale from the franchise, which valued physical attributes and certain skills above others. My picks are based on last year's production and potential for 2016. As Kramer would say, it's not an exercise that will make the game come back to our lives, but it can be a fun way to pass the time in the final stretch of the offseason.
My ratings are sure to generate a firestorm in the comments below. You will think some players are rated too highly. You will think others are too low. You will think Player X and Player Y on your favorite team should've been on there. That's natural, and it's the exact same thing we all used to do when EA Sports still made the real thing. So let's have some hypothetical fun together, shall we?
50-41. It's an Arms Race
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Four of the 10 players listed below are quarterbacks, and they each bring something different to the virtual table.
Houston's Greg Ward Jr. is the second coming of Braxton Miller the quarterback, who was a nightmare for opponents in older NCAA Football games. Texas Tech's exciting signal-caller Patrick Mahomes makes the cut thanks to what would be a 99 arm strength rating.
UCLA's Josh Rosen is the prototype pocket passer with tremendous upside. Louisville's Lamar Jackson, No. 50, would just be so much fun to play with now that he has a stronger arm to go with his Michael Vick-like moves. Imagine starting a dynasty with either Louisville or UCLA.
Others who made the cut include game-changing tight ends Jake Butt and O.J. Howard. Stat-stuffing machines Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Anthony Walker represent the linebackers with Louisville pass-rushing menace Devonte Fields, while Washington star Budda Baker locks things down in the secondary.
50. Louisville QB Lamar Jackson: 92
49. Michigan TE Jake Butt: 92
48. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes: 92
47. Louisville LB Devonte Fields: 92
46. UCLA QB Josh Rosen: 92
45. Tennessee LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 92
44. Alabama TE O.J. Howard: 92
43. Houston QB Greg Ward Jr.: 93
42. Washington S Budda Baker: 93
41. Northwestern LB Anthony Walker: 93
40-31. A Slew of Southeastern Stars
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There's just something about the southeastern section of the United States that produces unreal college football talent. That fact is well-represented in this section, with many names from the SEC and ACC making the cut.
Jamal Adams is an All-American candidate who leads a LSU secondary that would be filled with players in the low-to-mid 90s. Christian Kirk is the type of weapon who would make players boil down their offensive strategies to "just get him the ball." Jarrad Davis and Tim Williams are elite SEC linebackers who might deserve much higher ratings by the end of the 2016 season.
The South is also represented by Cameron Sutton, the nation's best punt returner from a season ago and a lockdown cornerback for Tennessee. Brad Kaaya would be one of the best all-around arms in the game, and Carlos Watkins would be problematic for any team facing Clemson in the trenches.
Other stars from outside that geographic footprint shine here, including Ohio State defensive leader Raekwon McMillan, who just happens to be a Georgia native. USC's gargantuan Zach Banner grabs one of the best offensive line ratings, and Western Michigan wideout Corey Davis makes an appearance here that may surprise some. Don't sleep on him—Davis is the most productive returning wideout in the country and a legitimate early-round NFL prospect.
40. Clemson DT Carlos Watkins: 93
39. Alabama LB Tim Williams: 93
38. Tennessee CB Cameron Sutton: 93
37. Western Michigan WR Corey Davis: 93
36. USC OT Zach Banner: 94
35. Florida LB Jarrad Davis: 94
34. Miami QB Brad Kaaya: 94
33. Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk: 94
32. Ohio State LB Raekwon McMillan: 94
31. LSU S Jamal Adams: 94
30-21. No One Group Should Have All That Power
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If you're looking for strength, you've come to the right place. This section of potential video game stars includes two of the nation's best offensive linemen—Ohio State's Pat Elflein and Florida State's Roderick Johnson—as well as Michigan State's menace in the middle, Malik McDowell.
That power continues with Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson, who has top-five NFL draft potential despite a high number of injuries so far in his college career. The beauty of this exercise, though, is that Lawson will be 100 percent from the time the console is powered on. He's joined by Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, who looks like the next in a long line of star Tide defenders at the next level.
This section also includes the strong arms and strong wills of quarterbacks Chad Kelly and Seth Russell, who are no strangers to putting up video-game numbers in real life. Florida's Marcus Maye, one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the country, brings even more power to this lineup.
A pair of star wide receivers also make the cut here. Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley, with his all-around game, has the potential to follow in the footsteps of former Heisman finalist Amari Cooper. Clemson's Mike Williams, fresh off a recovery from a scary neck injury, might be the most talented receiver in the country at full health.
30. Michigan State DT Malik McDowell: 94
29. Florida S Marcus Maye: 94
28. Alabama WR Calvin Ridley: 94
27. Alabama LB Reuben Foster: 95
26. Clemson WR Mike Williams: 95
25. Auburn DE Carl Lawson: 95
24. Ohio State C Pat Elflein: 95
23. Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly: 95
22. Florida State OT Roderick Johnson: 95
21. Baylor QB Seth Russell: 95
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20-11. The League of Extraordinary Athletes
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The theme of this list just outside the Top 10—and believe me, these were excruciatingly tough calls to make on both sides—is freakish athleticism. Those physical gifts tend to create high video-game ratings, and these players would be among the best of the best.
Georgia running back Nick Chubb, when 100 percent healthy, rattles off 100-yard games and eight yards per carry marks like they're no big deal. Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is a precise passer and an extremely dangerous runner who is perfect for anyone looking for a dual-threat to lead their video-game offense.
Florida State's Derwin James and Michigan's Jabrill Peppers represent the "so scary and still so young" section of athletic college football stars. Adoree' Jackson's three-way skills would raise his overall rating to elite levels. Royce Freeman is a massive power punch in Oregon's speed-obsessed offense, and Samaje Perine is the perfect blend of strength and speed in a stout package.
SEC defense is also well-represented by sack masters Jonathan Allen and Derek Barnett, who are leaders for the two programs picked to make it to Atlanta this December. Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor outperformed teammate Vernon Hargreaves III last season, and he would've been one of the highest-rated players in a hypothetical NCAA Football 16.
20. USC CB Adoree' Jackson: 95
19. Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine: 95
18. Tennessee DE Derek Barnett: 95
17. Michigan LB Jabrill Peppers: 95
16. Florida CB Jalen Tabor: 96
15. Florida State S Derwin James: 96
14. Oregon RB Royce Freeman: 96
13. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett: 96
12. Alabama DE Jonathan Allen: 96
11. Georgia RB Nick Chubb: 96
10. USC WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: 97
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College football doesn't have a huge number of returning stars at wide receiver this season. The best of them, without a doubt, is USC superstar JuJu Smith-Schuster, who averaged 103.9 yards per game last season and found the end zone 10 times for a Trojans team that was in flux.
Smith-Schuster is a video game dream receiver because of his size (6'2" and 215 pounds) and love for getting physical with defensive backs. Whether it's his high catch in traffic rating or his face mask-shaking stiff arm—perfectly demonstrated in the above picture—Smith-Schuster would be hard to lock down and even harder to stop once he got the ball in his hands.
The USC star had 52 more receptions than the second-best receiver on his team last season. He's one of those video game wide receivers that you can throw to time and time again, and the defense just has to deal with it. He has great speed, excellent route-running abilities and hands that didn't seem to take a hit after he underwent surgery last season.
Smith-Schuster is the best of both worlds for elite wide receivers: tough to cover and tough to bring down. His tremendous worth to the USC offense and his amazing skill set make him a worthy recipient of a Top 10 rating here.
9. Alabama OT Cam Robinson: 97
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For an offensive tackle to be elite in the NCAA Football series, all he needed was high numbers in just a handful of attributes—pass blocking, run blocking, impact blocking, strength and awareness. Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson has all those tools at an elite level.
As a sophomore last season, Robinson was a menace on the left side of Alabama's offensive line, dominating defenders in the run game and paving the way for Derrick Henry to win the Heisman Trophy. He got stronger in pass protection as the season went on, and enters 2016 as a nearly unanimous pick for best offensive tackle in college football.
"Robinson is the ultimate power left tackle," Bleacher Report's Matt Miller wrote. "He brings a toughness and mean streak to the field and doesn't rely 100 percent on athleticism to beat defenders in the run and pass game. He's big (6'5", 326 lbs) and powerful but also has quick feet and elite movement skills in his pass-protection asks."
Robinson is a dominant offensive lineman, and he has even more room to grow as a player this fall. That's bad news for anyone who has to face the defending national champions in 2016.
8. Michigan CB Jourdan Lewis: 97
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Jourdan Lewis didn't get all of the awards, accolades and attention that other defensive backs in the Big Ten received last season. However, the numbers speak for themselves—Lewis is a shutdown cornerback with few peers in college football.
Lewis was the key coverage man on a Michigan defensive unit that led the nation in average yards allowed per attempt, completion percentage and opposing quarterback rating. He had the third-most pass breakups in the entire country, and he was strong in run support as well for the Wolverines.
In the latest edition of the B/R CFB 250, no one had a better coverage rating than Lewis. He didn't get as many attention-grabbing interceptions as other top defensive backs, but he was an obvious game-changer. According to Bryson Vesnaver of Pro Football Focus, Lewis was targeted 90 times last season and allowed just 33 catches and one touchdown.
Lewis might not be the biggest household name on his own defense, but he's still one of the best players in college football. He was the cornerstone of the nation's most-feared pass defense in 2015. That would translate well in NCAA Football.
7. Iowa CB Desmond King: 97
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Desmond King was the best defensive back in college football last season, and he has the Thorpe Award to prove it. The Iowa cornerback was key in getting the Hawkeyes off to a 12-0 start and a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game. His impact on the virtual field would definitely be recognizable from the first snap.
King finished tied for second nationally in interceptions last season with eight, giving him 11 in his last two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He also broke up 13 additional passes, giving him one of the best marks in passes defensed for the entire country. His coverage and all-important catch ratings would be massive.
That's not all King brings to the table, though. The Iowa cornerback is quite dangerous with the ball in his hands, as he returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown last season, giving him two pick-sixes in his career. He also ranked seventh nationally in punt return average, showing plenty of speed and agility in the open field.
He's not the same type of all-around weapon as an Adoree' Jackson or a Jabrill Peppers, but King can inflict plenty of damage on both defense and special teams. This All-American cornerback is clearly locked into one of the top 10 spots here.
6. Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield: 97
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When given a choice between a prototypical pocket passer or a dual-threat QB with a strong arm, the average NCAA Football player is going to go with the second option. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield's game is perfect for the now-canceled series, as he is even more dangerous when things get crazy in the backfield.
Mayfield is a big-play passer with extreme precision in the pocket and on the run. He was tied for second nationally last season in yards per attempt, third in quarterback rating and fourth in completion percentage. Give him enough time to operate in the pocket, and he will pick you apart.
When he's forced to move around or take off for a run, Mayfield is one of the best around. He scored seven touchdowns last season and averaged nearly 11 carries per game last season. Even though he won't hit opponents for many huge runs, he's slippery and can find a way to move the chains in tough spots.
Mayfield's style of play is so much fun to watch, and it's perfect for a video game. He can keep plays alive in the backfield and make something incredible happen.
5. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett: 97
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If one was building the ideal defensive end for a video game, Myles Garrett would be the blueprint. As Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports notes, Garrett is 6'5" and 262 pounds with "the chiseled physique of a DB — a huge DB." He's a freak of a football player, which is perfect for the virtual gridiron.
Garrett's physical gifts are mesmerizing. He has the elite strength needed to muscle his way through plenty of the tough double teams he faces in the SEC, and his speed and agility are scary for a player of his size. He told Feldman his fastest 40 time at Texas A&M was a blistering 4.45 seconds.
The production matches the physical tools, too. No other returning player in college football for 2016 had as many sacks as Garrett had last season (12.5). He also had 19.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles, both of which led the SEC. Garrett would be at least close to maxed out in the power moves, finesse moves and block shedding attributes on NCAA.
Garrett is the most dominant edge defender in college football for the 2016 season, and those pass-rushers are usually among some of the highest-rated players in any football game. He could be in for a special campaign in College Station.
4. Florida State RB Dalvin Cook: 97
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Dalvin Cook is the type of running back who can change a game on any carry. The majority of his rushing yards last season came on carries of 10 or more yards, and he led the nation in several big-play categories for running backs.
Putting that level of explosiveness into one running back would be a video game delight. Cook's extremely high acceleration rating would make sure he could get to top speed in no time. One quick press of the right trigger would spring him into a sprint toward the end zone with most of the defense trailing—and it would be a race he would win more often than not.
Cook's numbers with a nagging hamstring injury were absurd. He averaged 7.38 yards per carry and scored 19 times while missing all of one game and almost all of another one. Free from any injury issues, the NCAA Football version of Cook would be absolutely terrifying for defenses.
His ability to power through tackles is somewhat overlooked in comparison to his breakaway speed, adding another top-tier attribute to Cook's hypothetical in-game makeup. The FSU star would have opponents on high alert every time it saw him take the handoff from the Seminoles' quarterback.
3. LSU RB Leonard Fournette: 98
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In NCAA Football 08, former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden—or "HB #5"—was virtually unstoppable. McFadden undoubtedly caused the destruction of many controllers across the country, because he would leave even the best players in the dust. He couldn't be tackled at times, and when he was "in the zone," defenses shouldn't have even bothered trying.
There's a good chance LSU running back Leonard Fournette would be the exact same way in a hypothetical NCAA Football 17 game. His highlight tape from the majority of the 2015 season looks like the Tigers "impact player" was constantly "in the zone," reeling off moves that warranted old-school slow-mo cuts.
Fournette's "break tackle" rating in NCAA could warrant a break in the cap of 99. According to Jeff Dooley of Pro Football Focus, Fournette broke 95 tackles last season, which was the most of any player in all of college football. The strength and the speed are practically unfair, and that's before you get to his elite football skills such as ballcarrier vision and carrying.
Real-life Fournette slowed down late last season after running into the teeth of the Alabama defensive front. But it would take a monster effort like that to keep him down in a video game. Every other time, he would most likely cause opponents to break things.
2. Clemson QB Deshaun Watson: 98
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The NCAA Football series loved its star quarterbacks, and Deshaun Watson would be the latest in a long line of star players with nearly perfect overall ratings under center. The Clemson signal-caller is the ideal NCAA quarterback in that he can dismantle defenses with his arm, but he also has the ability to make them pay on the ground.
Watson was the first player in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 more. That level of dual-threat excellence warrants one of the highest possible ratings. He can make any kind of throw necessary with great arm strength and accuracy, and his awareness attribute would be one of the best around as well.
The Clemson star lived up to the hype and then some in his first full season as a starting quarterback, and there's a great chance he could be even better in 2016. His supporting cast is loaded with talent, which would make Clemson a candidate to be banned by friends and roommates wanting to square off in "Play Now" games.
According to Travis Haney of ESPN.com, Alabama head coach Nick Saban called Watson "the best player in college football since Cam Newton." Watson isn't quite No. 1 on this countdown, but he's as close as one can get to the top spot, which is held by an all-time record-holder and a virtual cheat code of a player.
1. Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey: 99
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Christian McCaffrey would be the ultimate weapon in an NCAA Football game. The way he broke Barry Sanders' all-time single-season record for all-purpose yardage was video game-like in its speed and efficiency.
McCaffrey was the real-life version of the star player on an NCAA dynasty mode on which you build your entire offense. He ran the ball 24 times per game. He averaged 14 yards per reception, often lining up wide for the Cardinal. He had two touchdown passes. He was one of the nation's best in both kick and punt returns.
The physical attributes for McCaffrey—speed, acceleration, agility and especially stamina—would be off the charts in a video game. He could get the ball time and time again and not slow down. The real Heisman Trophy voters didn't give him the trophy last season, but the virtual ones in a dynasty mode would have to respect his unreal statistics.
There are plenty of offensive superstars coming back in college football for the 2016 season. All of them have incredible talent tailor-made for video game greatness. But none are quite at McCaffrey's level when it comes to physical gifts and a wider range of football skills.
Stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Justin Ferguson is a national college football analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
