Madden 27’s ratings give North Carolina fans plenty to track this season, with 28 former Tar Heels on active NFL rosters and a strong showing when the game launched on August 13.
Drake Maye sits at the top of the UNC group with a 92 overall, and he’s joined by three more Tar Heels in the 80s: Javonte Williams at 86, Omarion Hampton at 81 and Josh Downs at 80. In all, 12 former UNC players landed above 70 overall.
Here’s the full list of former Tar Heels in Madden 27:
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
Maye’s placement is no surprise after an incredible sophomore season in the NFL, a year that ended with him competing for a Super Bowl title. Williams, meanwhile, is coming off a career year in Dallas, while Hampton enters the season after a rookie year that was slowed a bit by injury.
Downs and Gray are two names that could move up as the year goes on. Downs, who checked in at 80, is coming off a down season with the Indianapolis Colts, but Michael Pittman’s trade this offseason opens the door for him to take on a bigger role in the offense. Gray’s 78 feels low after he piled up 164 tackles, including 97 solo, and he looks positioned to become one of the more steady linebackers in the league as part of Robert Saleh’s defensive unit.
The hope, of course, is that every former Tar Heel beats the number Madden gave him at launch. And for the younger names on the list, there’s a real chance to turn those ratings into something bigger once the season starts.
In Other News...
North Carolinas New Backcourt Is Already Fueling An ACC Debate
North Carolinas backcourt makeover has become one of the sharper talking points around the ACC as teams size up the leagues guard play for the coming season. Under Michael Malone, the Tar Heels have rebuilt quickly, and the new look has drawn attention not just because of who arrived, but because of how the roster now stacks up against the conferences other headline groups. Duke has continuity and fresh talent, Louisville leaned into transfer additions, and Virginias mix of returners and newcomers gives the league a little of everything.
For Carolina, the intrigue is less about whether the talent is there and more about how soon it can all settle into place. Early evaluations already have the Tar Heels in the mix near the top of the ACC backcourt conversation, which is a significant shift for a program that needed a reset in that area. The ranking debate will follow them until the games start, and it will say plenty about how quickly this revamped group can turn projection into production. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Got A Lot More Pressure In Demarcus Henrys Recruitment
North Carolinas pursuit of five-star small forward Demarcus Henry just got a little more complicated. Henry had already trimmed his list to eight schools, with the Tar Heels among the programs still in the mix, but the recruiting picture tightened again when another blueblood entered the chase and raised the level of competition around one of the countrys top prospects.
The Tar Heels are still battling a crowded field that also features Ohio State, BYU, Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville and UConn, and the Buckeyes remain a real factor because of family ties. For UNC, the challenge now is not just staying in range with a highly coveted wing, but doing it while one more heavyweight tries to make a late push in a recruitment that already had plenty of pressure attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Shaq McRoy Could Decide How Fast UNCs New Offense Clicks
North Carolina spent the offseason reshaping its offensive line, and the arrival of tackle Shaq McRoy is part of that push. The Tar Heels have been looking to add depth and sturdiness up front as they get ready to install Bobby Petrinos new offensive scheme, a change that puts a premium on quicker communication and cleaner protection from the first snap of camp.
Bill Belichick has already pointed to McRoy as one of the more intriguing additions, noting the tackles natural ability even with limited experience. That kind of upside matters even more with the Week 1 quarterback decision still unresolved, because the lines ability to settle in could help determine how smoothly the whole offense comes together once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]