2026-08-03, 07:19 AM - Word count:
Here we are again. 1 Matchday to go in the Academy which means the Draft is nearly here. So for the second season in a row I am again doing a Mock Draft which is not based off of Team needs, Team philosophy, TPE or anything like that and rather pure realism only statistics matter. You were the greatest passer to ever set foot in the Academy your chances of going high in the Draft rise. You were not able to contribute anything meaningful to your team during the whole season you may have to wait for later rounds. In the same fashion as last season I will only go through the first round. Just for clarification there is no formula with which I calculated who is better than someone else and rather do it in a subjective way.
Quick breakdown of what doesn’t matter:
-TPE
-Team Needs
-Team Philosophy
-Recreate / New Player
-Team success
-OM/AMs
What DOES Matter:
-statistics
-min. 3 games (as of recording)
The teams I use for each pick would be the Draft order from August 2, 2026.
1. Tex Star (@khens4) (ST) – Expansion Team 1
Unlike last season this season it is not as easy to determine who would go as the number 1 overall Pick. But same as last season the player is a striker. 14 goals in 13 games, which is 3 goals ahead of competition while maintaining a 90% pass quote which in Academy terms is on like a Kevin De Bruyne level. All in all a phenomenal player whose only lacking is defense but even there he is about average.
2. Teddy Fantobens (@Fantobens) (DM/M) – Expansion Team 2
This may be a more controversial pick because there is a lot of talent in this class that is really close statistics wise to each other. Therefore I wanted to throw some great defense mixed with the ability to score into it. 84% of tackles won on a high frequency but then also scoring 5 goals and 1 assist is the perfect showcase of a Box-To-Box Midfielder many teams these days want and then also achieving these statistics in only 11 games while most others already have 13 is just fabulous.
3. Marvin Fish (@WildBoyy) (RW/RWB) – Tokyo
This is another player that contributed offensively and offensively on high levels. 85% won tackled on medium frequency and a successful pass % of 87% and then scoring 6 goals and helping his teammates score 5 times for a combined 11 scorers is just immaculate and showcases another player that contributes on both end of the pitch.
4. Wolf Hawkins (@fridayhungary) (RD/RWB) – Reykjavik
90% completed passes, 4 assists and a successful cross rate of 24%, which scores in the Top 10% of Academy Players with at least 30 cross attempts. (42 crosses is the average across Academy Players) But that is only the beginning. 15 clearances, 9 blocked shot and 34 intercepted balls, which is 3rd highest in the league makes him a beast on defense, earning him that number 4 spot.
5. Captain MetalBeard (@TubaDeus) (RD/RWB) – Schwarzwälder
The “D” in MetalBeard stand for DEFENSE. His numbers are astonishing. 13 blocked shots, which is 1st in the League. 46 intercepted balls, which is 1st in the League. 31 successful crosses, which is 1st in the League while still having an average of 27% cross rate, which is 3rd for player with at least 30 crosses. 2 Man of the Match Performances are there to present his remarkable performance on defense. His 3 assists may make him look like a liability offensively but that 27% cross rate definitely says otherwise so we can only imagine that his teammates were unable to score with the ball close to the net.
6. Thomas Thunder (@Quitolis) (M) – Buenos Aires
Again a player I would describe as a Box-To-Box Midfielder, dishing out 5 goals and 6 assists on an average 72% successful tackle rate and an average 20% cross rate while also intercepting 25 goals which is a big above average. On paper this may look like your average midfielder but if you look a little bit closer not many people are this versatile and can do everything on a solid level which is why Thunder is a deserved 6th overall pick.
7. Tadgh O’Hurley (@HoodRatRoyalty) (LD/LWB) – Rome
Do not get fooled by his only 2 assists and 1 goal because O’Hurley has with a successful pass rate of 91% the playmaking ability to elevate the offense while having a stable defense. His 19% cross rate on average volume marks him as a well-rounded option on the wing that relies more on his ability to clear the ball out of dangerous zones, as his 30 clearances, which is the most in Academy and his 27 intercepted balls, which puts him in the upper third there, show.
8. Karry Hane (@RussDrivesTheBus) (M/ST) – Shanghai
His name already resembles his offensive output. 11 scorers in 13 games. 4 goals and a massive 7 assists so if any team is looking for someone that makes their teammates shine, then he is the obvious choice. All around he is about average in
9. Bonnibel Bubblegum (@PBubs900) (ST) – Catalunya
Our second pure goal scorer on this list. 11goals is a massive statement. Not many people have ever reached this many. Especially in a League where there is not much discrepancy in Talent it is even more noteworthy to get even above 10 goals. He also acquired 2 assists which means that he also knows he has teammates and is not just a selfish player. Besides his astounding ability to score he is your average striker, which from an outer perspective makes him a really good specialist.
10. Leif Janson (@Reven) (M/ST) – Reykjavik
Janson is arguably the best crosser in the whole Academy. 38% success rate from a high volume, makes you wonder what his Teammates did in front of the goal because he only gathered 5 assists, which is well above average still, but considering his numbers could have been way higher. But he not only can cross the ball, but also make the ball cross the goal line, scoring 4 goals. He also is not a defensive liability but it definitely has room for improvement.
11. Felix Dono (@Felix) (RW/LW) – Reykjavik
Another similar player type like Janson, who we just talked about. Dono is also one of the best crossers in the league. 29% success rate from an even higher volume than Janson, which again same as Janson got him 5 assists. Different than Janson however is Donos ability to play defense as his statistics make him look like a real solid player there that contributes on offense, as well as on defense. He is also able to score goals as his 2 goals show, which makes him a really good option for Pick 11.
12. Rylakn (@Rylakn) (LD/LW) – Tokyo
You may have noticed a pattern up until this point, because we have got another player that makes heavy use of crosses. 23% successful cross rate on one of the highest volumes in the Academy is something to keep an eye out for. Even though Rylakn only got 4 assists up until now there definitely was potential for way more. But what makes him even better is his defense. 36 interceptions, 80% successful tackled on a very high rate, 9 blocked shots and 20 clearances make him one of the Top 5 defenders in the League.
13. Adrian Scochnikov (@Chris) (OM/ST) – Catalunya
10 goals. An absurdly high number of goals. The 3rd best goals scorer in the Academy has to have a place in the first round. 2 Assists to complete his offensive output and similar to Bonnibel Bubblegum an about average player in the other categories that made him a worse pick than Bubblegum for me.
14. Paulie Wag (@Pelochyta) (CB/DM) – Liffeyside
Last but not least we got our first CB. Surprisingly most Center backs had really bad defensive stats such as a low successful tackle rate, low blocked shots, very few interceptions and all that. Paulie Wag was the one outlier you could say, having a 77% success rate for tackles which is about average while also having 12 blocked shots, which is second, just behind Captain MetalBeard. He was also able to achieve 12 interceptions and 20 clearances, which is both average but one of the most for center backs. What also made him stick out from most defenders in general is his 91% successful pass rate which is 2nd in the league.
That is the complete Mock Draft. I don’t expect the players to be drafted in this order because some of them are already inactive, like Felix Dono or others who become Team Managers, like Rylakn or other things like Catalunya drafting the 2nd and 3rd best goalscorers which is just an absolute overkill and not needed in terms of team need.
Some other notable mentions in terms of statistics were
- Idris Nelson (@Kino) (CB/LD)
Who is very similar to Paulie Wag statistic wise
- Aaron Noxus (@noxu) (LW/ST)
who is just a little worse Leif Janson or Felix Dono and therefore did not cut the edge
I hope you enjoyed this little realism in the League and now a I wish a great Draft Day to all those in the Academy.
Until next seasons Matchday 13.
Quick breakdown of what doesn’t matter:
-TPE
-Team Needs
-Team Philosophy
-Recreate / New Player
-Team success
-OM/AMs
What DOES Matter:
-statistics
-min. 3 games (as of recording)
The teams I use for each pick would be the Draft order from August 2, 2026.
1. Tex Star (@khens4) (ST) – Expansion Team 1
Unlike last season this season it is not as easy to determine who would go as the number 1 overall Pick. But same as last season the player is a striker. 14 goals in 13 games, which is 3 goals ahead of competition while maintaining a 90% pass quote which in Academy terms is on like a Kevin De Bruyne level. All in all a phenomenal player whose only lacking is defense but even there he is about average.
2. Teddy Fantobens (@Fantobens) (DM/M) – Expansion Team 2
This may be a more controversial pick because there is a lot of talent in this class that is really close statistics wise to each other. Therefore I wanted to throw some great defense mixed with the ability to score into it. 84% of tackles won on a high frequency but then also scoring 5 goals and 1 assist is the perfect showcase of a Box-To-Box Midfielder many teams these days want and then also achieving these statistics in only 11 games while most others already have 13 is just fabulous.
3. Marvin Fish (@WildBoyy) (RW/RWB) – Tokyo
This is another player that contributed offensively and offensively on high levels. 85% won tackled on medium frequency and a successful pass % of 87% and then scoring 6 goals and helping his teammates score 5 times for a combined 11 scorers is just immaculate and showcases another player that contributes on both end of the pitch.
4. Wolf Hawkins (@fridayhungary) (RD/RWB) – Reykjavik
90% completed passes, 4 assists and a successful cross rate of 24%, which scores in the Top 10% of Academy Players with at least 30 cross attempts. (42 crosses is the average across Academy Players) But that is only the beginning. 15 clearances, 9 blocked shot and 34 intercepted balls, which is 3rd highest in the league makes him a beast on defense, earning him that number 4 spot.
5. Captain MetalBeard (@TubaDeus) (RD/RWB) – Schwarzwälder
The “D” in MetalBeard stand for DEFENSE. His numbers are astonishing. 13 blocked shots, which is 1st in the League. 46 intercepted balls, which is 1st in the League. 31 successful crosses, which is 1st in the League while still having an average of 27% cross rate, which is 3rd for player with at least 30 crosses. 2 Man of the Match Performances are there to present his remarkable performance on defense. His 3 assists may make him look like a liability offensively but that 27% cross rate definitely says otherwise so we can only imagine that his teammates were unable to score with the ball close to the net.
6. Thomas Thunder (@Quitolis) (M) – Buenos Aires
Again a player I would describe as a Box-To-Box Midfielder, dishing out 5 goals and 6 assists on an average 72% successful tackle rate and an average 20% cross rate while also intercepting 25 goals which is a big above average. On paper this may look like your average midfielder but if you look a little bit closer not many people are this versatile and can do everything on a solid level which is why Thunder is a deserved 6th overall pick.
7. Tadgh O’Hurley (@HoodRatRoyalty) (LD/LWB) – Rome
Do not get fooled by his only 2 assists and 1 goal because O’Hurley has with a successful pass rate of 91% the playmaking ability to elevate the offense while having a stable defense. His 19% cross rate on average volume marks him as a well-rounded option on the wing that relies more on his ability to clear the ball out of dangerous zones, as his 30 clearances, which is the most in Academy and his 27 intercepted balls, which puts him in the upper third there, show.
8. Karry Hane (@RussDrivesTheBus) (M/ST) – Shanghai
His name already resembles his offensive output. 11 scorers in 13 games. 4 goals and a massive 7 assists so if any team is looking for someone that makes their teammates shine, then he is the obvious choice. All around he is about average in
9. Bonnibel Bubblegum (@PBubs900) (ST) – Catalunya
Our second pure goal scorer on this list. 11goals is a massive statement. Not many people have ever reached this many. Especially in a League where there is not much discrepancy in Talent it is even more noteworthy to get even above 10 goals. He also acquired 2 assists which means that he also knows he has teammates and is not just a selfish player. Besides his astounding ability to score he is your average striker, which from an outer perspective makes him a really good specialist.
10. Leif Janson (@Reven) (M/ST) – Reykjavik
Janson is arguably the best crosser in the whole Academy. 38% success rate from a high volume, makes you wonder what his Teammates did in front of the goal because he only gathered 5 assists, which is well above average still, but considering his numbers could have been way higher. But he not only can cross the ball, but also make the ball cross the goal line, scoring 4 goals. He also is not a defensive liability but it definitely has room for improvement.
11. Felix Dono (@Felix) (RW/LW) – Reykjavik
Another similar player type like Janson, who we just talked about. Dono is also one of the best crossers in the league. 29% success rate from an even higher volume than Janson, which again same as Janson got him 5 assists. Different than Janson however is Donos ability to play defense as his statistics make him look like a real solid player there that contributes on offense, as well as on defense. He is also able to score goals as his 2 goals show, which makes him a really good option for Pick 11.
12. Rylakn (@Rylakn) (LD/LW) – Tokyo
You may have noticed a pattern up until this point, because we have got another player that makes heavy use of crosses. 23% successful cross rate on one of the highest volumes in the Academy is something to keep an eye out for. Even though Rylakn only got 4 assists up until now there definitely was potential for way more. But what makes him even better is his defense. 36 interceptions, 80% successful tackled on a very high rate, 9 blocked shots and 20 clearances make him one of the Top 5 defenders in the League.
13. Adrian Scochnikov (@Chris) (OM/ST) – Catalunya
10 goals. An absurdly high number of goals. The 3rd best goals scorer in the Academy has to have a place in the first round. 2 Assists to complete his offensive output and similar to Bonnibel Bubblegum an about average player in the other categories that made him a worse pick than Bubblegum for me.
14. Paulie Wag (@Pelochyta) (CB/DM) – Liffeyside
Last but not least we got our first CB. Surprisingly most Center backs had really bad defensive stats such as a low successful tackle rate, low blocked shots, very few interceptions and all that. Paulie Wag was the one outlier you could say, having a 77% success rate for tackles which is about average while also having 12 blocked shots, which is second, just behind Captain MetalBeard. He was also able to achieve 12 interceptions and 20 clearances, which is both average but one of the most for center backs. What also made him stick out from most defenders in general is his 91% successful pass rate which is 2nd in the league.
That is the complete Mock Draft. I don’t expect the players to be drafted in this order because some of them are already inactive, like Felix Dono or others who become Team Managers, like Rylakn or other things like Catalunya drafting the 2nd and 3rd best goalscorers which is just an absolute overkill and not needed in terms of team need.
Some other notable mentions in terms of statistics were
- Idris Nelson (@Kino) (CB/LD)
Who is very similar to Paulie Wag statistic wise
- Aaron Noxus (@noxu) (LW/ST)
who is just a little worse Leif Janson or Felix Dono and therefore did not cut the edge
I hope you enjoyed this little realism in the League and now a I wish a great Draft Day to all those in the Academy.
Until next seasons Matchday 13.
Academy Assist Record holder (14 Assists)
