We all miss the EA Sports NCAA football game. Not enough that my life is actually impacted but still I used to be interested in how certain Bulls would be rated. In lieu of the college offering and our current players I decided to see how Madden would treat our alumni.
Of course Khalil Mack gets treated well. The phenom and best player ever to come through UB finds himself rated at 91. It's a great rating. In fact he seems to have he best rating of any player on Oakland's roster.
There are a pair of UB running backs in the NFL who are at very different phases of their career. They never crossed paths at UB and yet after one season in the NFL the duo are very closely rated.
James Starks is the second back up in Green Bay. He won a Super Bowl his rookie season after being drafted in the 6th round. Since then he has had good seasons as part of a running back committee. Starks is rated at a 77.
The guy who broke a lot of Starks' college records, Branden Oliver, went undrafted and eked his way into the 4th running back slot in San Diego. After a slew of injuries thrust him onto the field BO had some amazing games and earned the love of Charger fans. He also earned a 76 rating in this year's edition of Madden.
After getting drafted in the 5th round Steven Means never really caught on with Tampa Bay. He is entering this season with Baltimore as a projected edge rushing linebacker. There has been some positive press so he may just make it through. Right now Means is rated a 69 by the game.
The newest alumnus in the NFL is Kristjan Sokoli. A defensive lineman at UB, Sokoli was a late draft choice by Seattle. The Seahawks are grooming Kristijan for their offensive line. If you put him on your line in Madden you get a guy rated at 60.
Who does Madden overlook?
Josh Thomas - Signed very late with Minnesota and may not make the cut. He played with Carolina a few years but has since become a journeyman player. Last season he was with the Panthers until the last cut. After being cut he did stints with New York, Seattle, and Detroit.
Jake Schum - Should have been the Jets punter last season but he was cut. He is camping with New York again but it will be hard for him to win the job.
