Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

[imskykid]

I've been playing NCAA 14 since last Friday when it was available for download with season ticket. I was impressed that at the end of the season it had projected rounds next to players who were entering the draft. I was also excited to see that some high rated players were just "graduating" instead of entering the draft because they don't fit the typical height/weight requirements of the position they play (no more 6' 210lb linebackers).

However, they took it a little too far with their cutoffs for some positions. Best example would be DeAnthony Thomas. When he graduated in my dynasty, he was 99 OVR and listed at 5'9" 177lbs. While that is small, we've seen smaller backs get drafted, especially ones who have skills like Thomas. 5'10" seems to be the cutoff for running backs. I've don't think I've seen a CB under 5'10" either. Also, while I'm happy there wont be undersized DE's who are playing in the NFL at 6'2" 220 lbs, I had a 95 OVR DE who was 6'4" 243 lbs who didn't go to the draft.

So basically, those of you who are stocking up on draft classes be aware that you may have to edit some ht/wt of certain players if you want them to be in Madden.

[ramspeedkill]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

I've been playing NCAA 14 since last Friday when it was available for download with season ticket. I was impressed that at the end of the season it had projected rounds next to players who were entering the draft. I was also excited to see that some high rated players were just "graduating" instead of entering the draft because they don't fit the typical height/weight requirements of the position they play (no more 6' 210lb linebackers).

However, they took it a little too far with their cutoffs for some positions. Best example would be DeAnthony Thomas. When he graduated in my dynasty, he was 99 OVR and listed at 5'9" 177lbs. While that is small, we've seen smaller backs get drafted, especially ones who have skills like Thomas. 5'10" seems to be the cutoff for running backs. I've don't think I've seen a CB under 5'10" either. Also, while I'm happy there wont be undersized DE's who are playing in the NFL at 6'2" 220 lbs, I had a 95 OVR DE who was 6'4" 243 lbs who didn't go to the draft.

So basically, those of you who are stocking up on draft classes be aware that you may have to edit some ht/wt of certain players if you want them to be in Madden.

good point, have you tried to change their height/weight and to see if they get drafted?

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Not yet... I kind of want to do some experimenting and find out what the cutoffs are for each position, but on the other hand I want to enjoy actually playing the game. It's a tough call. I might get around to it though.

[jnipper2]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

I've been playing NCAA 14 since last Friday when it was available for download with season ticket. I was impressed that at the end of the season it had projected rounds next to players who were entering the draft. I was also excited to see that some high rated players were just "graduating" instead of entering the draft because they don't fit the typical height/weight requirements of the position they play (no more 6' 210lb linebackers).

However, they took it a little too far with their cutoffs for some positions. Best example would be DeAnthony Thomas. When he graduated in my dynasty, he was 99 OVR and listed at 5'9" 177lbs. While that is small, we've seen smaller backs get drafted, especially ones who have skills like Thomas. 5'10" seems to be the cutoff for running backs. I've don't think I've seen a CB under 5'10" either. Also, while I'm happy there wont be undersized DE's who are playing in the NFL at 6'2" 220 lbs, I had a 95 OVR DE who was 6'4" 243 lbs who didn't go to the draft.

So basically, those of you who are stocking up on draft classes be aware that you may have to edit some ht/wt of certain players if you want them to be in Madden.

Never thought about that will definitely have to make some changes but I am glad it's back!

[bigbeast252]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Are you sure the "graduating" just doesn't mean they are seniors? It's been like this for years and they'd still be in the Madden draft classes. The underclassman who declare get the "entering draft" tag. I find it hard to believe the game would lock out players who are undersized because many blue chip prospects today don't fit the prototypical size standards of the NFL.

[SteboSSK]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Its amazing after 10 years guys are still not getting that "graduating" is for the seniors. I mean forgive me if this is your first year playing NCAA but if you are an NCAA vet this is a known thing

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Are you sure the "graduating" just doesn't mean they are seniors? It's been like this for years and they'd still be in the Madden draft classes. The underclassman who declare get the "entering draft" tag. I find it hard to believe the game would lock out players who are undersized because many blue chip prospects today don't fit the prototypical size standards of the NFL.

No, it has seniors who are going to the pro draft, juniors who are declaring, and seniors who are simply graduating. Check out the picture.

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Now I'm not sure if that is just for NCAA purposes and if Madden will have everyone who is eligible, but I just figured the best thing to do was plan for them not being there. I'm sure a bunch of people are getting a bunch of draft classes together with players they recruit and such... it would be a bummer if your player didn't show up in Madden like anticipated.

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Its amazing after 10 years guys are still not getting that "graduating" is for the seniors. I mean forgive me if this is your first year playing NCAA but if you are an NCAA vet this is a known thing

I know that's how it used to be, but as you can see from the picture I posted that things have changed.

[bigbeast252]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

Now I'm not sure if that is just for NCAA purposes and if Madden will have everyone who is eligible, but I just figured the best thing to do was plan for them not being there. I'm sure a bunch of people are getting a bunch of draft classes together with players they recruit and such... it would be a bummer if your player didn't show up in Madden like anticipated.

Thank you for trying to get the word out about this. I think it might just be for NCAA presentation purposes only? I doubt both teams work side by side to break down the importing, hence the jacked up equipment and random body sizes and ratings that have plagued past versions of Madden. It would be way too much work for EA to factor in and blacklist all players who don't meet ideal sizes. We all know they prefer to do as little work as possible.. I'd assume it would be like every other iteration of Madden where they take as many high rated players possible until their cut off for OVRs (around 88 or so). Can you imagine the backlash from draft nuts if they made it so every player would be unrealistic prototypical clones? EA loves their staple 5'5" 260 lb generated rookies too much for this to happen ...

[DCEBB2001]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

No, it has seniors who are going to the pro draft, juniors who are declaring, and seniors who are simply graduating. Check out the picture.

The senior who is just "graduating" is because he is a Red-Shirt Senior. In essence, his five years of eligibility are up (4 years of playing eligibility and one year of being a red-shirt). The other seniors listed as "Pro Draft" are leaving because their playing eligibility is up even thought they TECHNICALLY could still stay at your school for a red-shirted 5th season.

I highly doubt that they are just disappearing. If you were to have red-shirted those other seniors, they would have also appeared as "graduating" instead of "Pro Draft". As for the other red-shirt senior who is going "Pro Draft", maybe the guy who is just "graduating" doesn't want to go pro? There are some guys in this year's real-life NFL Draft who decided to become grad assistants instead of going pro too (Darold Hughes - Glenville State, Travis Kincheloe - SE Oklahoma State).

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

The senior who is just "graduating" is because he is a Red-Shirt Senior. In essence, his five years of eligibility are up (4 years of playing eligibility and one year of being a red-shirt). The other seniors listed as "Pro Draft" are leaving because their playing eligibility is up even thought they TECHNICALLY could still stay at your school for a red-shirted 5th season.

I highly doubt that they are just disappearing. If you were to have red-shirted those other seniors, they would have also appeared as "graduating" instead of "Pro Draft". As for the other red-shirt senior who is going "Pro Draft", maybe the guy who is just "graduating" doesn't want to go pro? There are some guys in this year's real-life NFL Draft who decided to become grad assistants instead of going pro too (Darold Hughes - Glenville State, Travis Kincheloe - SE Oklahoma State).

This would make sense, except if you look at the picture I posted, there is a red shirt senior at the bottom of the list who is going to the draft instead of just graduating.

It is definitely a height/weight determination. When you go through all the positions and look at who is graduating when other players around them are going to the draft, you get a clear picture that it is because they are small for their position. No running backs, wide receivers, or cornerbacks who are 5'9" and below go in the draft. They graduate. Small linebackers, short QBs, underweight linemen... there is a clear pattern, not just random happenstance.

Example: There was a 95 OVR senior linebacker who was 5'11" 225 lbs who entered the draft, and another not far below him who stood 6'3" 221 lbs who went to "graduation". I had autosave off and the last time I saved was before I went into the offseason right after the bowl games. So I went back and I edited LB1's weight to 220 lbs and LB2's weight to 228 lbs. This time, LB1 went to "graduation" and LB2 went to the draft.

Now, I'm not saying this will have any bearing on how they import into Madden. As another poster suggested, this may just be a NCAA presentation thing. That's why I labelled it a "potential" issue. It may be nothing to be concerned about, but something to keep our eyes on.

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

To help further illustrate that it is either height or weight that is determining whether players enter the draft or not, here are some screen grabs from after the 2014 season.

Also, I was mistaken that there can be no 5'9" corners... but it is true for HB and WR. Also, even if they are of ideal height, light WR and CBs wont go to the draft.

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

More evidence:

[imskykid]

Re: Potential NCAA Draft class issue.

And you'll notice in the images of the running backs, DeAnthony Thomas is going to the draft... that's after I changed his height to 5'10" and weight to 180 lbs. At 5'9" 177, he did not go to the draft.