Bonus 6th player because we all love defense in Madden…
Emmanuel Ogbah – Oklahoma State – Defensive End
It’s hard to get too excited on defense in Madden — we all want the ball. But if I had to pick one position I enjoy the most, it’s defensive end. And it doesn’t get more intriguing than Oklahoma State Defensive End Emmanuel Ogbah who notched at least one sack in every game except one this season. You can make the case for Ohio State's Joey Bosa, but he actually struggled getting to the quarterback this season. I love a good pass rush in Madden, and Ogbah finished the 2015 season with 61 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, three forced fumbles, and 13 sacks — an improvement from his breakout 2014 season which he managed 11 sacks, 49 tackles, 17 for a loss. The dude is a beast.
Ezekiel Elliott – Ohio State – Running Back
I swear I’m not an Ohio State homer. I went to UCF (Go 0-12 Knights!) and occasionally cheer for the Miami Hurricanes and FAU Owls — none of these teams are exactly winners. It’s just impossible to ignore the wealth of talent Urban Meyer has at the school (um, how did they not make the playoffs this year?). In any case, Ezekiel Elliott is one of the top running backs in college this season, rushing for 1,672 (6.4 average) yards and 19 touchdowns. He also tacked on 26 receptions for 176 yards. The dude is flat out talented, and who doesn’t want that in Madden?
Derrick Henry – Alabama – Running Back
Our first non-Ohio State player! This year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Alabama’s Derrick Henry amassed 1,986 yards on 339 carries (5.9 average) with a whopping 23 touchdowns. If T.J. Yeldon’s stats are any indication of what to expect from an Alabama running back, then we can expect good things from Henry. If you want to establish the run game in Madden next year, Henry will be a good player to start with. That is, if you can get over the fact he played for the devil himself.
Corey Coleman – Baylor – Wide Receiver
Madden is all about speed, and it doesn’t get much faster than Baylor’s Corey Coleman who constantly stretched the field using a combination of deadly speed and precise route-running to get separation from defensive backs. Coleman started off the 2015 season hot, amassing 20 TDs in just the first eight games. Unfortunately, an injury during the Oklahoma game put a damper on his season and he didn’t play in the Russell Athletic Bowl against North Carolina. But despite the injury, there’s no denying he’s one of the most talented wide receivers in this year’s draft.
As we enter the final week of the NFL season and the playoff field (mostly) figured out — save for the 10-game parlay Colts fans need to see their team’s season continue — it’s time to look ahead. For many of us, the offseason for our favorite team has already started. Out of the playoff mix, we now look forward to the NFL Draft, where there’s at least a glimmer of hope for the future (unless you’re a Browns fan). As the media begins to publish their weekly mock draft lifts, we decided to post our own — with players we can’t wait to play as in Madden NFL 17.
Remember, just because a player is expected to be drafted high in real life doesn’t mean they always make for the best athlete to play as in Madden. To that end, the most intriguing players for next year’s Madden aren’t necessarily participating in this year’s College Playoff. Without further ado, here are 5 NFL Draft prospects we can’t wait to play as in Madden 17.
Cardale Jones – Ohio State – Quarterback
Around the same time last year Cardale Jones was only starting to blip on the radar of NFL scouts. Jones not only proved an effective replacement at quarterback for the injured Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett, but he quickly rose to prominence, leading Ohio State to a National Championship victory.
Unfortunately for Jones, his follow-up season was a bit of a disappointment. Now a household name, Jones was unable to replicate his Cinderella story, throwing for only 1,460 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Some of the blame can be shouldered on Urban Meyer who was never able to settle on a starter.
Jones may not be projected as a top quarterback in this year’s draft, but he’s displayed a set of skills that make him an intriguing player for Madden. Let’s be honest, in Madden, you want the dual-threat at QB. Cardale has got a big arm, and while he might not be a “scrambling” quarterback — like the Michael Vick we all desperately want — he’s proven quite difficult to take down due to his huge size. He’s a physically gifted athlete that could be incredibly fun to play as in Madden 17. Of course, with such a small sample size, you’re probably going to have to develop him before he becomes effective.
Braxton Miller – Ohio State – Wide Receiver (Quarterback, Running back, Athlete)
What makes Braxton Miller so intriguing for Madden 17 isn’t necessarily his skill — although he is a gifted athlete — but rather his versatility. Miller started at Quarterback for Ohio State last year, but following a season-ending injury and the emergence of J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, Miller made the decision to switch positions to wide receiver. Surprisingly, he proved quite effective with 24 receptions, 329 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He also racked up 234 rushing yards on 40 attempts with 1 touchdown. Miller gets more intriguing the further back you go. As a QB in 2013 he threw for 2,094 yards and 24 TDs while rushing for 1,068 and 12 TDs. In 2012, he threw for 2,039 yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 1,271 and 13 TDs. Point being, Braxton Miller is incredibly versatile. Assuming his ratings in Madden reflect that, you could place him at wide receiver, running back, and possibly even quarterback.
