Jungle
- NFL Building a Board
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Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Drake’s Jungle. It’s the 2nd to last song off his album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
After listening to this song for about a decade, I would’ve never guessed these were the opening lines. Anyway, this could be the right lyrics to mention my nephew still hasn’t asked me to have a catch. When do these things start talking? Pitchers and catchers report on February 12, so he’s up against the clock.
Kidding, please stay a baby for as long as possible.
On to the sports…
I gotta start updating the Draft Board after the National Championship tonight, here are the football profiles in chronological order….
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Matthew Golden is from Houston, Texas. A 4-star prospect out of Klein Cain HS, Golden scored 32 touchdowns in 3 seasons of Texas High School Football. He initially stayed close to home as he attended Houston University. As a freshman with the Cougars in ‘22, Matthew Golden caught 38 passes for 584 yards and 7 TDs. He also contributed as a situational kick returner as well. His 7 receiving TDs set a program record by a Cougar freshman. As a sophomore at Houston, Golden was named 2nd Team All-Big 12 for his returning duties. He returned 9 kicks for 321 yards and 2 TDs; however, offensively as a WR, Golden stayed stagnant with 38 catches for 404 yards and 6 TDs. He decided to upgrade at QB last spring when he transferred to Texas. As a Longhorn in ‘24, Matthew Golden made 58 catches for 987 yards (17 ypc) and 9 TDs. Golden can take the top off of defenses as a big play threat. This past season with Texas was crucial because he not only proved he was more than a kick returner, but he can make big plays against SEC competition.
Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss
Chris Paul Jr. is from Cordele, Georgia. While his father isn’t the long-time NBA legend, CP3, Chris Paul Sr. is a US Navy veteran. In high school, Chris Paul Jr. was an overlooked 3-star prospect. As a Crisp County High School senior, he recorded 91 tackles, 20 TFLs, and 2 sacks at linebacker while chipping in as a backup running back. Out of high school, Chris Paul Jr. attended Arkansas for 3 seasons. After redshirting in ‘21, Paul Jr. had a promising ‘22 season where he made 43 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 4 sacks as he earned ‘22 Freshman All-SEC honors. He returned on the Butkus Award Watch List in ‘23, totaling 54 tackles and 33 stops before deciding to transfer to Ole Miss. This past season for Ole Miss, the redshirt junior linebacker was named 2nd Team All-SEC as he helped anchor one of the best defenses in Ole Miss history. Paul Jr. made 73 tackles, 54 stops, 11 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks for the Rebels. Perhaps the most impressive part of his game is how much of a sure-tackler he is. Chris Paul Jr. missed on just 4.5% of tackles in ‘24. He was elite in coverage and on the blitz (8 QB hits & 10 QB Hurries). Paul Jr. is a Day 2 prospect who could start at inside linebacker by opening day next season.
Coleman Owen, WR, Ohio
Coleman Owen is from Gilbert, Arizona, where he attended Higley High School. Lightly recruited by colleges, Owen began his collegiate career 2.5 hours upstate at Northern Arizona University. As a freshman in ‘19, Coleman Owen didn’t receive much playing time at WR but returned 4 kicks for 98 yards. Northern Arizona didn’t have a fall ‘20 season, so instead, during the spring of ‘21, Owen made 5 starts for the Lumberjacks, where he caught 16 passes for 202 yards and 2 scores. The following fall, Owen retained his starting role, breaking out for 43 catches for 713 yards and 6 TDs. This earned him an All-Big Sky honorable mention. In ‘22, Owen proved his previous season was no fluke, hauling in 690 receiving yards on 62 catches with 4 scores. As a senior at NAU in ‘23, Coleman Owen not only caught 54 passes for 649 yards and 5 TDs but also returned 8 punts for 152 yards and 1 TD. After a nice 4-year career with Northern Arizona, Coleman Owen transferred to Ohio University as a super-senior. It paid off greatly as the star slot WR caught 78 passes for 1,245 receiving yards and 8 TDs. Not only that, but he also returned 17 punts for 132 yards and one score as well. At 5’11”, Owen has played exclusively in the slot in college, which won’t change in the NFL if he gets an opportunity. His role in the NFL could be of great value as a short to intermediate route-runner, who also contributes on special teams, returning punts especially. Given that he is a small school product, Coleman Owen must prove he can hang with the bigger school guys at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. That said, he is certainly an intriguing Day 3 prospect, as plenty of NFL teams could use a reliable slot WR.
Shemar James, LB, Florida
Shemar James is from Mobile, Alabama. A 5-star recruit out of Faith Academy High School, James was a three-sport athlete who also excelled in track and basketball. After choosing Florida over the likes of ‘Bama, Georgia, Florida State, and Auburn, James made 4 starts as a freshman in ‘22. He recorded 29 tackles with 2 sacks that season, earning him Freshman All-SEC honors. As a sophomore in ‘23, Shemar James became the starting middle linebacker for the Gators, racking up 35 tackles in 8 games before dislocating his kneecap to end his season. James returned better than ever as a junior in ‘24. During the Gators’ Week 1 opener against Miami, James picked off Cam Ward. James finished his season with 50 tackles, 2 sacks, and 12 QB Hurries. The Gator linebacker decided to enter the NFL Draft and has been invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Given that James is just 3 years removed from 5-star recruit status, NFL scouts will be very keen on his week at the senior bowl.
Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
Tyler Shough is from Chandler, Arizona. Both his parents were collegiate athletes; his father played football at Cal Lutheran, while his mother played softball at Oregon State. At Hamilton High School, Shough was selected for the Elite 11 QB Camp as he threw for 3,071 passing yards and 30 TDs as a senior in ‘17. The highly-touted QB recruit decided to commit to Oregon. After redshirting in ‘18, Tyler Shough played some mop-up duty in 5 games as Justin Herbert’s backup QB in ‘19. He became the Ducks’ starting QB during the Pac-12 shortened COVID season as he threw 13 TDs while leading the conference in yards per pass attempt (9.3). His next collegiate stop would be Texas Tech, where he won the opening day starting job only to break his collarbone by Week 4. He entered ‘22 again, having to compete for the starting role, which he again assumed only to injure his non-throwing shoulder. After two injury-riddled seasons, Shough once more became the Red Raiders Week 1 starting QB, but he could only last 4 games before severely rolling his left ankle to the point he needed an air cast and was diagnosed with a broken fibula. In his 3 seasons at Texas Tech, Shough made 15 starts throwing for 2,922 yards and 20 TDs. Due to redshirting, COVID, and his medical history, Shough was granted one more season of NCAA eligibility in ‘24. The Louisville Cardinals decided to take a chance on him, and it paid off big-time. Shough made 12 starts for the Cardinals as he threw for career-highs with 3,195 passing yards and 23 TDs to just 6 INTs. While the veteran collegiate QB enters on the older side of the NFL Draft at age 25, Shough still has a cannon for an arm and has endured quite the journey to earn a 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl invite. Tyler Shough will be a Day 3 QB prospect with a likely possible ceiling of solid backup. That said, crazier things have happened, so the potential may still be there.
Here are this week’s 5 College Basketball player profiles around the country…
