Fed Up | NFL ‘24 Mock | College Hoops Top 25 | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Fed Up by DJ Khaled featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, and Drake because Usher is performing at the Super Bowl. The song came out in ‘10 and was his first collaboration with Drake. We’ll have more Usher this weekend in the lead-up to the Big Game on Sunday.
Ayo if DJ Khaled said the streets are fed up, the street was fed up!
Week to Week Notes in no way, shape, or form is fed up so here is a quick bit about this year’s Grammy’s before sports…
Grammy ‘24 Talk
I haven’t actually watched The Grammys in a while, thought this one was good. Tracy Chapman performing Fast Car with Luke Combs, I had no idea that was happening, but hey I’d rather be lucky than good. Congrats to Taylor Swift for making history of 4th Album of the Year. She announced her new album, The Tortured Poets Department…I’m sure Week to Week Notes could relate to a song or two on that….Brilliant marketing move out of Taylor, per usual… The Sinéad O'Connor and Tina Tuner tributes were nice. Jay-Z was pretty funny and “keep showing up” is a good mantra. Miley Cyrus cemented a nice comeback but kinda got annoying. It was also nice to see Joni Mitchell perform at the Grammys at 80 years old for the first time. Billy Joel dropping and performing his new Turn The Lights Back On the same week he (or his social media team) found out Benjamin’s Steakhouse serves pints of Guinness from a bottle is pretty cool. I mean, c’mon it’s Billy Feckin’ Joel. My only real gripe was Zach Bryan getting robbed in broad daylight, but c'est la vie.
Quick music intro, on to the Mock Draft…
This week’s Mock Draft features the Jets, Giants, Dolphins, Chargers, Jaguars, Patriots, Eagles, and Cowboys. I picked these teams because they are my friends & family's teams they root for. It’s also a quarter of the NFL so it’ll feature plenty of potential NFL stars of tomorrow.
Jayden Daniels is from San Bernardino, California. He originally went to school at Arizona State where he was a 3-year starter for their program. As a Sun Devil, Daniels threw 32 TDs to 13 INTs and ran for 13 other scores. He is a dual-threat QB who in ‘22 with the LSU Tigers rushed for a team highs of 885 yards and 11 TDs. He also completed passes at a 68.2% clip with 17 TDs to just 3 INTs. Daniels has already written his way into LSU’s record books’ as he became the 1st Tiger to pass for 200 yards & rush for 100 yards in a game as well as the 1st Tiger to rush for 3 TDs and pass for 3 TD decided in games decided by regulation. He also started his career with LSU not throwing an INT until his 176th pass, another school record. This past fall, Jayden Daniels won the ‘23 Heisman Trophy Award as he was elite as a passer and runner. Daniels rushed for 1,135 yards and 10 scores while throwing for 3,812 passing yards and 40 TDs with just 4 INTs. He has the speed to extend plays and the arm to make tough SEC throws. The 5th year senior QB has the tools to play on Sundays.
Finally, I’m letting the Patriots take a QB in the Mock. In my mind, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye go 1 & 2.
Demeioun “Chop” Robinson is from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Entering this season he was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media. In ‘21, Chop Robinson played for Maryland before transferring to Happy Valley. He along with his Adisa Isaac, shared the honor as the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman in ‘22. Chop got his nickname when he was born. “When I came out of the womb, I was 14 pounds. A real big baby, and my dad and my mom started calling me a pork chop. Once I got older, I was like, ‘Well, I can’t have people calling me a pork chop. So, I just kept it to chop, and that’s how I got my name.” Chop Robinson in ‘22 had 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries, a fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. This season he had 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. While his stats might not jump off the page, Chop has a ton of potential as a pass rusher.
The Chargers may want to consider moving on from Joey Bosa soon and Kahlil Mack could mentor Chop.
Malik Nabers is from Lafayette, Louisiana. As a freshman, Nabers started 6 games for the Tigers and earned freshman All-SEC honors. By the end of ‘21, Nabers was already one of LSU’s go-to WRs. As a sophomore in ‘22, Nabers caught at least 2 passes in every game which extended his consecutive games with a reception to 18 straight. All in all, Nabers nabbed 72 balls for 1,017 receiving yards and 3 TDs. This led the SEC in receptions and ranked him #2 in receiving yards (behind Jalin Hyatt). This electric WR can play either the slot or on the outside and is the kind of WR who runs with a fluidity that makes it look effortless. After dominating between the 20-yard lines in ‘22, Nabers found the endzone 14 times in ‘23. This past season 6’ WR had 89 catches with 1,569 receiving yards and will add to LSU’s legacy of great NFL WRs.
The Giants would have quite a special duo of young WRs if they pair Nabers with Jalin Hyatt.
Rome Odunze is from Las Vegas, Nevada. In ‘22 he was an All-American 3rd Team, All-Pac-12 First Team, and made the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll. Last year playing with Michael Penix shaped Odunze’s breakout season on the college football scene. He had 75 receptions for 1,145 receiving yards and 7 TDs. Odunze led the Pac-12 in receiving yards and was 2nd in receptions per game. His 1,145 yards were the 5th most in Washington single-season history and 75 receptions were 7th most in school history. Odunze at 6’3” runs a 4.3 40-time with a freakish ability to go up and get the ball while only having 3 drops in ‘22. This past season, he was somehow even better, as he set a Washington record for receiving yards with 1,640. While being named captain in ‘23, he had 92 catches to go with 13 TDs. Rome Odunze was a huge reason for Washington making it to the CFB Championship.
The Jets would have quite a special duo of young WRs if they pair Odunze with Garrett Wilson.
Quinyon Mitchell was a 3-star prospect from Williston, Florida. In ‘21, Mitchell started all 13 games for the Rockets and had 8 pass breakups. His best game that season came against Notre Dame where had 5 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble as Toledo gave the Fightin’ Irish all they had in a 32-29 loss. Last year in ‘22, Mitchell took his game to a whole other level as he was named 1st Team All-MAC. He led the country in passes defended with 25, had 5 INTs, and 20 pass breakups which is now the new all-time Toldeo record. I should mention that 4 of his INTs came in 1 game where he had 2 pick-6s making him the only College Football Player since ‘00 to have 4 INTs and 2 pick-6s in a game. This past season, Mitchell continued to dominate College Football as he was named 2nd Team All-American. While he only had 1 interception, Mitchell was 2nd in CFB with 18 pass breakups.
I’m sticking with the idea that the Jaguars go with a cornerback.
Amarius Mims is originally from Cochran, Georgia, which is about 2 hours south of his University. Mims is 6’7” and 330 lbs. with a 7-foot wingspan. Mims never started a college football game until this season but it is not his fault that the Bulldogs have had stud tackles his senior. The SEC already knew his talent as they have named him to the Preseason Media All-SEC First Team for ‘23. In ‘22, Mims saw 61 snaps in the College Football Semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes and had the second-highest PFF grade for the UGA offense with an 81.2 grade. This past season, Mims made 6 stars before getting injured. While he may not have the most on-field production, Mims has a ton of potential and tackles that move like him don’t grow on trees.
Miami’s starting guards are set to become free agents so maybe they could plug Mims in the interior, allow him to develop, and then have him replace Terron Armstead in ‘25.
Chris Braswell is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he was a 5-star highly recruited prospect. Braswell did not initially see the field at Alabama his freshman year in ‘20. In ‘21, Braswell mostly just played on special teams. It wasn’t until last season that Braswell started gaining more playing time on Saban’s defense as he picked up 2.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. The senior pass rusher has broken out in ‘23. Playing opposite Dallas Turner, Braswell has piled up 8 sacks to go with 42 tackles (10.5 for a loss) and a Pick-6. Braswell and Turner have been an excellent edge-rushing duo. Turner, who will likely be a Top 10 Pick praised Braswell, “I watch him and he watches me at practice, so we get to talking about each other in good ways and helpful ways, as well. It’s good to have another dude that’s just like you on the other side of the pass rush.” Braswell was named 2nd Team All-SEC in ‘23.
I’m sticking with the idea that the Eagles will revamp their pass rush in the draft.
Terrion Arnold is from Tallahassee, Florida. After redshirting as a freshman in ‘21, Arnold made the most of his playing time last year where he earned 7 starts to go with 11 games played. The 6’ CB was named Freshman All-SEC Team for his 45 tackles, 9 pass breakups, and 1 INT. Alabama head coach, Nick Saban, said of Arnold, “I think anybody that gets experience playing, which he got experience last year, I think he has a better understanding. He also has a little more maturity about what he needs to do to perform well.” Saban tends to know a thing or two about CBs. This past season Arnold was named 1st Team All-American and SEC. He led the SEC with 17 passes defended and had 5 INTs on the season.
Just like last week, I think the Cowboys will look for Stephon Gilmore’s successor in the draft.
The Associated Press is not budging on their Top 25 scheduled release date so these rankings get updated later on Monday.
Stephon Castle is from Covington, Georgia, and is a 5-star recruit. ESPN has Castle ranked as their 12th-best freshman in his class. Castle played in the Allen Iverson Classic as well as the McDonald’s All-American Game. As a senior in high school last year, Castle averaged 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks per game. The 6’6” point guard has great size for the position and plays with great balance. He can play with his unique style of rhythm and pace that almost makes it seem effortless. Castle will turn 18 years old on Wednesday and is already projected as a Top-10 lottery pick in this upcoming NBA Draft. Head coach Dan Hurley said of Castle, "He's the most physically ready freshman young player that I've ever had the pleasure of coaching, and he's a great kid." So far this season, Stephon Castle is averaging 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. His last 2 performances this week of 20 and 21 points against Providence & Saint John’s are his career highs showing he has the potential to do more by the time we get to March.
Kam Jones is from Memphis, Tennessee, where in high school he averaged a clean 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior. As a freshman at Marquette, Jones averaged 7.4 points while shooting 39% from 3. He was named to the All-Freshman Big East Team in ‘21-’22. Last year at Marquette, Kam Jones averaged 15.1 points per game, but his biggest highlight as a sophomore was the 18 straight points he scored in Marquette’s win over Vermont in the 1st Round of the ‘23 March Madness. This season the lefty guard is averaging 14.7 points per game and is coming off a career-high 31-point game against Georgetown where he hit 7 3-pointers.
Coleman Hawkins is from Sacramento, California, where he was a 3-star prospect who averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He rode the bench for much of his freshman season but earned more playing time as a sophomore in ‘22, earning 14 starts. As a junior in ‘23, Hawkins was 3rd on Illinois points with 9.9 per game and led the team in rebounds with 6.3 boards per game. His 3 assists also led the team, not bad for someone 6’10”. This season thus far has been Hawkins' best in the scoring column as he is averaging 11.6 points per game and shooting 37% from 3. Hawkins has a naturally smooth jump shot and has good guard skills for a big man. In Illinois' OT win over Nebraska this week, Hawkins had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and made 4 3-pointers, a great all-around game.
Christian Cook is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he averaged 18 points per game as a senior, but didn’t receive too many D1 offers. Out of high school, Cook played for Northeastern State, which is in Oklahoma. After playing 3 years for the River Hawks, Cook’s best season came last year where he averaged 16 points per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc. This caught the attention of New Mexico State, who Cook joined this season. Cook so far in his first year playing D1 hoops is averaging 10.3 points per game, but he has been cooking in the 2 last games as he has scored 27 and 17 points in New Mexico State’s 2 wins this week.
Mark Sears is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a cool name for a hometown. He was a 3-star prospect out of high school who first went to Ohio to start his collegiate career. As a Bobcat for 2 seasons, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He entered the transfer portal in ‘22, choosing ‘Bama over Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, and Florida. Last season Sears started every game for the Tide as he averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while being named 2nd Team All-SEC. So far this season, Mark Sears is having his best one yet as he improved in all 3 columns with 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. In his last 5 games, Sears has scored at least 21 points in each of them. Mark Sears will be a fun player to watch as we get closer to the Madness of March.