Madden 17 ratings for the Ole Miss rookies are whack|Ole Miss Hot Topics|Team BattleGround|College BattleGround

Ah yes, the annual release of the Madden rookie ratings, that time when folks across the internet get #madonline because the star running back from their alma mater got a 76 spin move and AIN’T GETTIN NO DAMN RESPECT. In fairness, the impossibility of the task–crafting precise numerical ratings across an expanse of intricate skills categories for a group of players who have never taken a snap in the NFL–inevitably leads to some head scratching numbers.

This year is no different.

Let’s start by taking a look at the overall ratings for each of the first-round selections, including the Ole Miss trio of Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche.

(The ratings in this post come from two places: this sortable database at EASports.com and this spreadsheet created by some internet hero with way too much time on his hands.)

While the ratings aren’t tied directly to draft order, that does appear to have been a big factor. How else is Tunsil, who could very well have been the No. 1 overall pick and dropped to No. 13 only because of a certain gas mask video, ranked behind Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin? At least in Stanley’s case there were rumors that some teams favored him over Tunsil; there’s no damn way Conklin has any business rating higher.

A similar argument could be made for Big Rob, who is near-unanimously considered a top-10 talent but was dragged down the board by his off-field troubles. Unless there’s a Drunken Decision Making rating I don’t know about, he should be higher than 75 overall.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the former Rebels.

Hold up, hold up… an 88 strength?

Um…

Those 34 reps of 225 pounds at the Ole Miss pro day would have tied Tunsil for the most of any player at the Combine, regardless of position.

But the biggest travesty is his 26 catching and 19 route running. CHECK THE TAPE, MADDEN.

That 77 speed (earned after Big Rob’s 4.87 40 tied for the best time among D-linemen weighing over 280 pounds) is respectable enough and would rank him sixth among all defensive tackles if he was listed as such. But 81 in strength? That’s behind Vernon Davis, Eddie Lacy, Alfred Morris and, wait for it… Ben Roethlisberger. And the 76 power moves is just silly.

Oh and how does a dude who fell out of a hotel window AND WALKED IT OFF only get an 85 in toughness?

I just hope Madden lets you put him in the offensive backfield (Bruce Arians plans to).

Treadwell’s ratings certainly fit the media perception of him coming into the draft: with 88 speed (which seems about right after his 4.64 40 time at pro day), 88 acceleration and 72 route running, he’s going to struggle to get separation in the video game. The good news is that his 73 strength, 94 jumping (interesting given his disappointing 33-inch vertical at the Combine) and 86 catch in traffic is going to make him a beast in the red zone. Just play action to AP and toss it into the corner for Quon…

Unfortunately, the Madden crew must have only had access to his quarterback tape from his freshman and sophomore seasons.

This has to get him at least into the 50s for throw power:

The rest of the Ole Miss rookies

(These three are the only other guys in the Madden database.)

For a rundown of all NFL Rebels, check out this post at OleMissSports.com.