It's that time of the year for the annual release of Madden, the popular NFL video game that been around since 1990.
Every year, fans wait not only for the opportunity to play as their preferred teams but also to see how their favorite players are ranked. For college football fans, you hope that you follow a program that has tons of alumni scattered across the league, as some might even start a franchise to get all those guys on one team.
For the UNC football program, many alumni are featured in this year's game. On launch day, which was August 13, there were 28 Tar Heels on active rosters, showcasing how UNC is currently well-represented in the pros.
So, you must be wondering: how did Madden rank the former Tar Heels?
Don't worry, we got you covered!
Rankings for the former Tar Heels featured in Madden 27
As expected, Drake Maye (now with the New England Patriots) leads the way with a 92 overall ranking. Four Tar Heels (including Maye) have an 80+ overall ranking, while 12 are ranked above 70 overall.
Here's the official rankings:
Drake Maye 92
Javonte Williams 86
Omarion Hampton 81
Josh Downs 80
Cedric Gray 78
Mack Hollins 76
Cole Holcomb 75
Dyami Brown 74
Ty Chandler 72
Michael Carter 71
Devontez Walker 71
MJ Stewart 70
British Brooks 68
Sam Howell 65
Mitchell Trubisky 65
Josh Ezeudu 64
Charlie Heck 64
Alijah Huzzie 64
Asim Richards 64
Kaimon Rucker 64
Chazz Surratt 64
Tomon Fox 63
Smith Vilbert 63
Marcus Allen 62
Willie Lampkin 61
Bryson Nesbit 60
Amari Gainer 59
Austin Blaske 57
After an incredible sophomore season in the NFL, one that saw him competing for a Super Bowl title, no one should be surprised that Maye is ranked among the best quarterbacks in the game. Both Javonte Williams (coming off a career year in Dallas) and Omarion Hampton (whose rookie season was hampered a bit due to injury) are also expected to be highly productive players this upcoming season.
When looking at this list, you have to wonder: which players could see an increase in ranking by the time the season comes to a close?
For starters, Josh Downs could be one of those guys.
An 80 overall at launch, Downs is coming off a down year with the Indianapolis Colts. With Michael Pittman traded this offseason, the opportunity is there for Downs to be a bigger factor in the team's offense, which could lead him to be ranked higher in just a few months.
UNC football newcomer projected to make an immediate impact for the Tar Heels
Cedric Gray is another, as his 78 overall ranking feels a bit low for the former Tar Heel. Coming off a year in which he recorded 164 tackles (97 solo), Gray could very well be on the verge of becoming one of the more consistent linebackers in the sport and should be an integral part of Robert Saleh's defensive unit moving forward.
Of course, the hope is that every Tar Heel on the list outplays their initial rankings. Some of the younger guys on the list have the ability to prove their worth when their number is called, hoping to show the world what they are capable of on the football field.
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