The History of 100 Speed Players in Madden

As a passionate Madden gamer and content creator, I‘m fascinated by the elite speed players that have joined the coveted 100 speed club over the years. The ability to take any run or reception to the house is a game-changing dynamic, so these players hold a special place in Madden lore.

Devin Hester – The Original 100 Speedster

Legendary return specialist Devin Hester was the first player to receive the prestigious 100 speed rating in Madden NFL 08. Coming off a rookie season where he took the NFL by storm with 6 return touchdowns, Hester had clearly demonstrated game-breaking explosiveness.

EA Sports rightly recognized Hester‘s unmatched quickness by making him the first member of the 100 speed club. With a perfect speed score, Hester was virtually untouchable in the open field in Madden 08. Any time he got the ball with space to run, it was almost an automatic touchdown, reflecting his real-life big play dominance.

Over his career, Devin Hester scored an NFL record 20 total return touchdowns while averaging an electrifying 12.1 return yards per punt and 25.2 yards per kickoff return. Despite retiring from the NFL after the 2016 season, Hester still holds the crown as the fastest player in Madden franchise history with his legendary 100 speed rating.

Tyreek Hill Joins the Club

While Hester set the standard back in 2008, it took over a decade before another player joined him as a part of the Madden 100 speed fraternity. Enter Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Hill announced himself as an NFL speed demon from the moment he entered the league in 2016. With a sub-4.3 40-yard dash time, his raw acceleration and long speed were eye-popping. As he quickly became one of the most dangerous big-play threats in the NFL, racking up 32 receiving touchdowns in his first 3 seasons, many felt it was only right that Hill took the speed torch from Hester in Madden.

In Madden NFL 20, Hill‘s speed rating finally reached the maximum threshold of 100. This dynamic boosted his overall rating to 99, cementing his status as one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the video game. Much like Hester back in the day, Hill essentially can‘t be contained in the open field of Madden 20 thanks to that blazing 100 speed. With the ability to take any touch the distance, he‘s an absolute handful for opponents to gameplan against in Madden.

Since joining the 100 speed club, Hill has continued to prove that speed is the ultimate equalizer on NFL playing fields. Despite being just 5‘10", Hill has emerged as one of the most prolific receivers after the catch, averaging a gaudy 7.1 yards after catch per reception over his 6-year career. His video game worthy breakaway acceleration is the foundation for those massive YAC numbers. Tyreek has also led the NFL in yards per reception multiple times and received 6 Pro Bowl selections, further validating his rare speed. Much like Devin Hester before him, Hill‘s impact has more than justified his inclusion in the prestigious Madden 100 speed fraternity.

Madden 21 Adds Another Member

Just one year after Tyreek Hill joined the club, another player received the coveted 100 speed crown in Madden NFL 21 – Raiders rookie receiver Henry Ruggs III.

The blazing speed that Ruggs showed off at the Combine with an all-time fastest 4.27s 40-yard dash assured him elite timed metrics. EA Sports responded accordingly by making Ruggs an inaugural member of the 99 club before he had even played an NFL down.

However, Ruggs showed glimpses of greatness as a rookie that suggest the rare speed he possesses can translate to true game-breaking ability. He used his wheels to torch the Chiefs defense for a 72-yard touchdown during the 2020 season, flashing the type of explosive playmaking that makes his fit in Madden so seamless.

Early returns indicate that Ruggs rightfully deserves to be the 3rd member of the prestigious speedster society within Madden based on his phenomenal natural tools. If he continues to polish his route running and hands to pair with that world class jets, his Madden avatar should continue terrorizing digital defenses for years to come thanks to that coveted 100 speed rating.

The Fastest Players in Recent Madden Titles

While Hester, Hill, and Ruggs stand on the Mt. Rushmore of Madden speed over recent years with their exclusive 100 speed crowns, several others have come close to 99/100 status. Here‘s a breakdown of the quickest players in the most recent Madden titles:

Madden NFL 23

• Tyreek Hill – 99 speed (2nd straight year)
• Jaylen Waddle – 98 speed
• Henry Ruggs – 97 speed

Madden NFL 22

• Tyreek Hill – 99 speed
• Henry Ruggs III – 98 speed
• Jaylen Waddle – 97 speed

Madden NFL 21

• Tyreek Hill – 99 speed
• Henry Ruggs III – 100 speed
• Marquise Brown – 97 speed

As we can see, Tyreek Hill and Henry Ruggs have clearly separated themselves as the premier speedsters in the NFL according to recent Madden titles. Both have multiple years of 99 or 100 speed ratings under their belt.

Meanwhile, we see several young ascending players like Jaylen Waddle and Marquise Brown now joining the upper echelon with 97+ speed scores due to their own dynamic athleticism.

The exclusive 100 speed club remains difficult to crack. But Hill and Ruggs have shown what it takes with their game-changing real-life production coupled with jaw-dropping, video game-esque physical tools. Those are the archetypes who deserve the crown as the Madden franchise‘s fastest players historically.

I‘ll be fascinated to see if any new contenders arise in future iterations of Madden as the next generation of athletic freaks enters the NFL. For now, Tipreek Hill and Henry Ruggs reign supreme as the only current members of the Madden 100 speed club based on their real-life exploits.