Mock Draft Monday 12/8 '25
Last Christmas
Last Christmas
- NFL Draft Board ‘26
- College Hoops
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Last Christmas by Wham!
The song was released in December 1984. Peaking at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it couldn’t surpass Band-Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? Both Christmas records were global hits, with sales going to charity for Ethiopia.
Last Christmas reached #1 on the Irish, Italian, German, Croatian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Lebanese, Polish, Slovakian, Slovenian, Swedish, and UK charts.
Every year, there is a “Whamageddon” that takes place from December 1st to December 24th. The objective of the game is to go as long as possible without listening to Last Christmas. Here are the rules…
George Michael came up with the song while visiting his childhood home in London. He and his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley were visiting Michael’s parents.
(Source: SongFacts)
There have been many covers of this song by artists such as Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Jimmy Eat World, The xx, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Taylor Swift.
‘80s Christmas classic, though a bit of a downer. I got it middle of the pack…
Week to Week Notes’ 🎄 Power Rankings
18. Christmas Lights by Coldplay
17. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Elmo & Patsy
16. Step Into Christmas by Elton John
15. Someday At Christmas by Stevie Wonder
14. Linus & Lucy by Charlie Brown Peanuts
13. Carol of the Bells by Mykola Leontovych
12. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
11. Last Christmas by Wham!
10. All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
9. Frosty the Snowman by Jimmy Durante
8. Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano
7. Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys
6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry
5. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town by Bruce Springsteen
4. Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes
3. Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
2. Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry
1. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
On to the ball…
Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
Emmett Johnson is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the Academy of Holy Angels, where he was named the Mr. Football of Minnesota, rushing for 2,500 yards and scoring 42 touchdowns in his senior season. After redshirting in ‘22, Johnson split carries as the starter and backup his next two seasons. From ‘23 to ‘24, Johnson averaged 4.9 yards per carry with 1,009 yards and 5 scores. As a junior this season, Emmett Johnson took over the starting role, and his breakout season ensued. Johnson led the Big Ten in carries (251) and rushing yards (1,451) while scoring 15 TDs. He was also the only RB in College Football this season to have over 100 rushing and receiving yards in the same game. Johnson was named First-Team All-Big Ten and the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year. With great speed and good cutting ability, he has a shot at being a Day 2 Pick in the NFL Draft.
Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan
Nadame Tucker is from Harlem, New York. He played football and basketball at Teaneck High School, averaging 14 points per game in his senior season. Tucker spent 2020 at Independence Community College and 2021 at Hutchinson Community College. In his two seasons of JUCO, Tucker had 62 tackles and 14 sacks, which was enough for Houston to take notice. From ‘22 to ‘24, Tucker played sparingly for the Cougars, earning a redshirt in ‘24. This past season, Nadame Tucker transferred to Western Michigan and enjoyed a breakout season with the Broncos. Tucker leads the nation in TFLs (21.0) and sacks (14.5), which includes his monster MAC Championship Game performance of 3 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. For his efforts, Nadame Tucker was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. While he’ll be on the older side of the NFL Draft at 26 years old by the time of the ‘26 season, Tucker is an explosive pass rusher coming off an extremely productive season.
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Zachariah Branch is from Las Vegas, Nevada. He comes from a football family. His great-uncle, Cliff Branch, played 17 seasons with the Raiders and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His father, Shéva Branch, played fullback at San Jose State. Zachariah Branch was a 5-star recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School. His first stop in college was at USC. He became the first Trojan true freshman to be named First Team All-American as an elite special teams returner. Branch returned 16 punts for an average of 20.8 yards and scored two special teams TDs in ‘23. As a WR, Branch also contributed with 31 catches for 320 receiving yards and 2 TDs. During his sophomore season, Branch caught 47 passes for 503 yards and a touchdown. He decided to transfer to Georgia last spring. The junior led the SEC in catches (73), turning them into career-highs with 744 receiving yards and 5 TDs. Zachariah Branch has another year of eligibility, but with a nice showing during the College Football Playoff, he may elect to turn pro. He’s an electric returner, doing most of his damage on offense through jet sweeps and the screen game.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Dante Moore is from Detroit, Michigan. A 5-star recruit, Moore was named Michigan’s ‘23 Gatorade Player of the Year, playing for Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. The highly-recruited QB chose to play for Chip Kelly at UCLA. He made 5 starts and played in 9 games with the Bruins, flashing potential, throwing for 1,610 yards and 11 TDs. He decided to transfer to Oregon for his sophomore season, where he sat behind Dillon Gabriel for the entire ‘24 season. Moore became the starting Ducks’ QB this season, throwing for 2,733 passing yards and 24 TDs with just 6 INTs. The Big Ten Coaches named Dante Moore 3rd Team All-Big Ten. Listed at 6’3”, Moore sorta seems to hunch a bit in the pocket. He has mobility, however, he’s really more of a scrambling pocket passer rather than a downfield runner. Moore throws a nice deep ball and is an accurate thrower on the move. The College Football Playoff will likely play a significant factor in whether he decides to return to Oregon for another season or go pro. While he had a great season with the Ducks in ‘25, Moore struggled against some of the top-tier defensive talent in the Big Ten, like Indiana and Iowa (albeit in the bad weather). Should he enter the NFL Draft, Moore will be in the running with Fernando Mendoza for the top QB in this class.
Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State
Caden Curry is from Greenwood, Indiana. He played high school football at Center Grove, where he helped win back-to-back state titles while being named Mr. Football at defensive line by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Curry has spent the past four seasons at Ohio State. From his freshman season in ‘22 to his junior year in ‘24, Curry was a rotational depth piece for the Buckeyes’ defensive line. In those 40 appearances, Curry had 45 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. This year, his senior year, Curry earned a starting role and broke out as a 2nd Team All-Big Ten member. Through the Big Ten Championship this season, Caden Curry has had 36 tackles, 16.5 TFLs, 14 QB Hits, and his 11 sacks are the most in the Big Ten. At 6’3” and 270 lbs., Curry is a great power pass rusher. While he does have some experience playing inside, the majority of his snaps come on the outside. He won’t beat a tackle off the edge with speed, but rather force. A very good player on a great defense, Caden Curry will be one of two handfuls of defensive players drafted from the Buckeyes next spring.
Here’s a quick bit about five College Basketball players this season…
Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
Kingston Flemings is from San Antonio, Texas. Before college, he attended Brennan High School, where he averaged 20.4 points, 6.8 assists, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per game as a senior. Flemings was named the Gatorade Player of the Year of Texas and won MVP at the ‘25 Iverson Classic Showcase Game. The 4-star recruit has gotten off to an excellent start with Houston. In his first nine games as a Cougar, Flemings is averaging 15.9 points, 5 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. This past weekend, Flemings recorded 8 steals while scoring 21 points in Houston’s win over Florida State. The freshman point guard seems like the perfect fit for Kelvin Sampson’s tough defensive approach.
Delrecco Gillespie, PF, Kent State
Delrecco Gillespie is from Benton Harbor, Michigan, but he attended East Coweta High School in Georgia. As a high schooler, Gillespie averaged 13.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, plus was named first-team all-state his senior year. Gillespie’s collegiate career at Kent State got off to a slow start. After playing sparingly off the bench as a freshman, Gillespie suffered a season-ending injury just 11 games into his sophomore season. He returned to form in ‘24 and earned himself a starting role by the 2nd half of the year. As a junior last season, the power forward averaged 8.1 points and a MAC-best 8.1 rebounds per game. This year, Delrecco Gillespie is having a breakout season. In his first ten games, the senior is averaging 19.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Kent State is off to a 9-1 start, with its leading scorer and rebounder being the main reasons. Delrecco Gillespie was named the Oscar Robertson Mid-Major Player of the Month for November.
Milan Momcilovic, SF, Iowa State
Milan Momcilovic is from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. At Pewaukee High School, he helped the Pirates win three straight state championships while becoming a 2,000-point scorer. A 4-star recruit, Momcilovic began his career with the Cyclones as a starter, and he was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. In ‘23-’24, he averaged 10.9 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 36% from beyond the arc. He was again very consistent last season, averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 40% from deep. Now a junior, Momcilovic is the Cyclones’ leading scorer at 18.3 points per game. He’s shooting an absurd 54% from three-point range. Iowa State is a perfect 9-0 to start their season with wins over St. John’s, Creighton, Syracuse, and Purdue. Momcilovic scored 23 against the Jonnies, 24 against the Orange, and 20 in their upset win over the Boilermakers this past weekend. Milan Momcilovic is a 6’8” sharpshooter already with two seasons of March Madness experience and eyeing a third straight shot at the NCAA Tournament.
Kory Mincy, SG, George Mason
Kory Mincy is from East Point, Georgia. He went to Tri-Cities High School, where he averaged 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Tri-Cities HS won its state championship, with Mincy scoring 19. His first stop in college was at Presbyterian College. As a freshman in ‘23, Mincy mainly served as a backup guard, averaging 6 points per game. As a sophomore at Presbyterian College last season, the 6’2” guard was named a team captain. He made all 33 starts, improving his totals to 15 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. This past spring, Kory Mincy transferred to George Mason. In his first ten games with the Patriots, Mincy is averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game while hitting on 53% from beyond the arc. With nasty handle and a good jumpshot, Kory Mincy is one of the more exciting isolation scorers in College Hoops today.
Graham Ike, C, Gonzaga
