With former Ohio State players littering the rosters of NFL teams, this weekend they got a taste of how they’re viewed in video game circles.
EA Sports’ Madden 24 is set to release later this year, and more than 60 former Buckeyes got their initial player ratings — the highest possible overall rating being a 99 — over the weekend.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa leads the charge with a 98 overall. The consensus Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, Bosa collected 18.5 sacks amongst his 51 tackles, with 19 additional tackles for loss. No other player who spent his collegiate days in Columbus earned a rating better than 93.
That 93 overall went to another defensive end, Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Heyward enters the 13th season of his NFL career still at the top of the heap at his position. He’s recorded at least eight sacks in five of the past six seasons.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is next up at a 93 overall, emerging as one of the better wideouts in football with a streak of three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons entering 2023.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore round out the list of former Ohio Staters with an overall rating of 90 or better, scoring at 91 and 90, respectively. Chargers center Corey Linsley and Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward each posted an 88 to be the next-highest not rated at 90 or better, and the only other ones rated better than 85.
Commanders defensive end Chase Young scored an 85, Saints receivers Chris Olave and Michael Thomas were given 84s alongside New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, Carolina Panthers safety Vonn Bell and Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker were handed an 83 overall.
Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored the highest of Ohio State’s rookies, starting his career as a 78 overall. Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. follows closely behind with a 77 while quarterback C.J. Stroud opens his career with the Houston Texans as a 73.
To view the full list of Ohio State Madden player ratings, visit here.
