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Electronic Arts (EA) is starting to release their player ratings for their latest edition of Madden. For Ohio State Buckeye fans looking forward to using Jaxon Smith-Njigba, they may be disappointed with one of his ratings.

EA released one of their first ratings reaction videos to Twitter on Sunday featuring a few rookie receivers from this past NFL Draft class. Among those involved in the video were former  Buckeyes receiver Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens), Jalin Hyatt (New York Giants), Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers), Jordan Addison (Minnesota Vikings), and Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers).

The twist for this year's unveiling was that EA essentially put a lie detector on each rookie to get their genuine reaction. If a rookie told the truth about their rating, a green light would come on. If they weren't, a red light would show.

Smith-Njigba was first up in the clip to hear about his catch rating of 87 overall. Despite initially seeming "cool" with the catch rating, the red light turned on. The lie detector caught Smith-Njigba, and after further prodding from the host, he revealed it wasn't "cool."

“87’s cool, I mean there’s room to work,” Smith-Njigba said. “… Yeah, it’s not cool. It’s not, it’s not.”

The reveal of the rookie ratings has become a tradition ahead of each year's release of Madden as EA has gained a reputation for underrating the newcomers in the league ... well, at least in the opinion of the rookies.

The good news is for the Buckeye fans wanting to use Smith-Njigba in Madden 24, as he proves himself on the field with the Seahawks, his low catch rating will rise over time. 


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