Local NFL Rookies Receive Madden Ratings

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The highly popular video game “Madden” released the rookie ratings for the upcoming EA Sports Madden 20 video game, which will be released on August 2.

The first year NFL players were rated by their skill positions and their overall rating compared to 316 players that the Madden compiled.

The veterans’ ratings won’t be released until July 15.

Nine locals were drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent.

Former Utah kicker Matt Gay was the highest rated local among the rookies from the state of Utah. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker received a 70 overall rating, 52 Awareness, 66 speed, 76 accuracy, 59 agility and 41 strength. Gay was the No. 1 kicker out of the two first year kickers. He was taken in the fifth round, 145th overall in the draft.

BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki is the second on the list of locals to receive their ratings. His overall rating is with 64 awareness, 85 speed, 89 accuracy, 80 agility and 76 strength. Takitaki was the 61st highest rated rookie and the second highest left outside linebacker out of 9 players. He was taken in the third round, 80th overall by the Cleveland Browns.

How did rookie @STakitaki feel about his #Madden20 rating?

Actually pretty good.

More ratings » https://t.co/nDywGZ28Yi pic.twitter.com/1Gg0nZXtgq

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 4, 2019

Former Utah linebacker Cody Barton was just behind Takitaki among LOLB’s with a 68 overall rating to go with 65 awareness, 84 speed, 88 acceleration, 85 agility and 79 strength. Barton was the 87th highest rookie and third among left outside linebackers. He was drafted in the third round, 88th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

Utah All-American punter Mitch Wishnowsky was the fourth highest rated local at 68 overall, 49 awareness, 84 speed, 87 acceleration, 71 agility and 56 strength. He is the 104th highest overall rookie and the top punter out of 4 players. Wishnowsky was selected in the fourth round, 110th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.

Former Utah strong safety Marquise Blair is the fifth best local on the Madden ratings list with a 67 overall rating. The game gave him a 66 awareness, 90 speed, 91 acceleration, 87 agility and 60 strength rating. He is the 109th highest rookie and the fourth best rookie strong safety out of 9 players. Blair was drafted in the second round, 47th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

Utah State running back Darwin Thompson is the sixth highest local with 65 overall, 59 awareness, 88 speed, 91 acceleration, 85 agility and 71 strength. He was the 174th highest rookie and 20th running back out of 30 players. Thompson was taken in the sixth round, 214th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Former Cedar High School and Hawaii wide receiver John Ursua is No. 7 among the locals with 65 overall, 64 awareness, 87 speed, 90 acceleration, 89 agility and 59 strength. He was the 175th highest rookie and No. 29 wide receiver out of 41 players. Ursua was drafted in the seventh round, 236th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

Utah State tight end Dax Raymond comes in as the eighth highest rated local with a 63 overall, 56 awareness, 82 speed, 88 acceleration, 77 agility and 71 strength rating. He is No. 224 among all rookies and the 16th tight end out of 20 players. Raymond was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.

Former Utah left tackle Jackson Barton rounds out the local rookies to receive their Madden ratings. He was rated 54 overall, 52 awareness, 66 speed, 78 acceleration, 62 agility and 77 strength. He was the 308th highest player and the 11th left tackle out of 12 players. Barton was drafted in the seventh round, 240th overall by the Indianapolis Colts.