Alabama Roots: ‘Madden NFL 24’ picks the top players from acceleration to zone coverage
Published Jul. 21, 2023, 6:09 p.m.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is the fastest player in the NFL, according to the ratings for the “Madden NFL 24″ video game.
EA Sports completed its rollout of the ratings for this year’s game on Friday, and Hill had the only 99 – the highest possible score – for speed.
But Hill wasn’t the only ultra-fast player with Alabama football roots in the game. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (Alabama) were among the three players who got a 98 speed rating, and the three players at 97 included Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens). And right behind those speedsters with 96 ratings were Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (Auburn) at 96.
In addition to speed, Hill also had the top rating among all NFL players in the categories of acceleration, agility, ball-carrier vision, change of direction, deep-route running and juke move. Those superlatives translated to Hill being the top-rated player from an Alabama high school or college in the game and tied for the sixth-best overall.
The top 10 players from Alabama high schools and colleges in the “Madden NFL 24″ overall ratings are:
· 1. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama): 98
· 2. Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama): 95
· 3. Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama): 94
· 3. Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama): 94
· 5. Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama): 93
· 5. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama): 93
· 5. New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama): 93
· 8. Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (Alabama): 92
· 9. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama): 91
· 10. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama): 88
· 10. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama): 88
Henry was rated the best in the NFL in one category – stiff-arm.
Among this season’s rookies, Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) tied for the highest rating at 78 with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (Alabama), the first player chosen in the NFL Draft on April 27, had a 74 rating.
EA Sports’ “Madden NFL 24″ will be available worldwide on Aug. 18.
The top player with Alabama football roots in each of the game’s categories (with top 10 rankings noted) includes:
Acceleration: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 99. Hill is the only player with a 99 acceleration rating in the game.
Agility: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 98. Hill has the top ranking in this category. Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) is tied for second at 97.
Awareness: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), 99. Henry is one of 11 players with the top possible score in this category.
Ball-Carrier Vision: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 97. Hill is tied for first in this category.
Block Shedding: New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama), 90. Williams is tied for fifth in this category.
Break Sack: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama), 93. Hurts ranks fourth in this category.
Break Tackle: Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama), 97. Jacobs is second in this category.
Catching: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Alabama), 94.
Carrying: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (Alabama) and Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Alabama), 94.
Catch in Traffic: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama), 90.
Change of Direction: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 99. Hill is the only player with a 99 change-of-direction rating.
Deep-Route Running: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 98. Hill ranks first in this category.
Deep-Throw Accuracy: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama), 87. Hurts is tied for eighth in this category.
Finesse Moves: Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville), 84.
Hit Power: New York Jets middle linebacker C.J. Mosley (Alabama) and outside linebacker Quincy Williams (Wenonah), 89.
Impact Blocking: Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne High School, Samford), 91.
Injury: Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley High School, Alabama), 97. Payne is tied for fourth in this category.
Juke Move: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 98. Hill ranks first in this category.
Jumping: Dallas Cowboy cornerback Trevon Diggs (Alabama), 95.
Kick Accuracy: Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (Auburn), 91. Carlson is tied for fifth in this category.
Kick Power: Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (Auburn), Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne High School) and Los Angeles Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama), 95.
Kick Return: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 92. Hill is tied for fourth in this category.
Lead Block: Philadelphia Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama), 86.
Man Coverage: Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama), 96. Surtain is tied for third in this category.
Medium-Route Running: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 94. Hill ranks fifth in this category.
Medium-Throw Accuracy: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), 92. Tagovailoa is third in this category.
Pass Block: Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama), 83.
Pass-Block Finesse: Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State), Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson (Alabama) and Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama), 81.
Pass-Block Power: Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama), 86.
Play Action: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama), 87.
Play Recognition: New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Alabama), 96. Williams is tied for eighth in this category.
Power Moves: Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (Alabama), 93. Allen is seventh in this category.
Press: Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover High School, Alabama) and Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama), 94. Humphrey and Surtain are tied for third in this category.
Pursuit: Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith (Greenville High School), 91.
Release: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 95. Hill ranks fourth in this category.
Run Block: Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith (Auburn), 87.
Run-Block Finesse: Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith (Auburn), 90.
Run-Block Power: Philadelphia Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama) and Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith (Auburn), 84.
Short-Route Running: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 94. Hill is tied for fourth in this category.
Short-Throw Accuracy: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), 96. Tagovailoa is fourth in this category.
Spectacular Catch: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (Hoover), 92.
Speed: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 99. Hill is the only player with a 99 speed rating in the game.
Spin Move: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama), 86. Hill is tied for eighth in this category.
Stamina: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), 98. Henry is tied for second in this category.
Stiff-Arm: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), 99. Henry ranks first in this category.
Strength: Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley High School, Alabama), 95.
Tackle: Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (Alabama), 95. Allen is tied for fifth in this category.
Throw on the Run: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama), 91. Hurts is sixth in this category.
Throw Power: Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis (Auburn), 94. Willis is tied for fifth in this category.
Throw Under Pressure: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama), 89. Hurts is tied for fifth in this category.
Toughness: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), 97. Henry is tied for 10th in this category.
Trucking: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama) and Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama), 90. They are tied for fourth in this category.
Zone Coverage: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), 95. Fitzpatrick is tied for third in this category.
Courtesy of By Mark Inabinett |