Mock Draft Monday 8/4 '25
Why You Always Hatin?
Why You Always Hatin’?
- NFL Draft Board ‘26
- College Hoops Preview: Houston
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is YG’s Why You Always Hatin’ featuring Drake.
No hate from me on this song. This peaked at #62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts in the summer of 2016.
On to the sports…
Building A Board
Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
Kyle Louis is from East Orange, New Jersey. As a senior at East Orange High School, Louis was a first-team All-NJ selection, leading the team to a perfect 13-0 season. During their title game with Clifton, which went into triple-OT, Louis had a game-high 11 tackles and forced a fumble. After redshirting in ‘22, Kyle Louis made his first two starts at Pittsburgh in ‘23. In his limited playing time, Louis had 19 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. In ‘24, Louis earned a starting role at linebacker and became Pittsburgh’s first sophomore defensive player ever to be named a 1st Team All-American since 1978. He finished with 101 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, and 4 interceptions. Perhaps his best highlight of last season was his Pick-6 off Kyle McCord, where he not only made a great catch but ran like a natural RB down the sideline for the return. Kyle Louis is an exceptional talent at linebacker, and with another special season in ‘25, he’ll undoubtedly have 1st Round potential in the ‘26 NFL Draft.
Bud Clark, S, TCU
Bud Clark is from Alexandria, Louisiana. A 4-star recruit out of high school, Clark’s days at TCU date back to the COVID Year, where he played special teams for the Horned Frogs. Clark earned a starting role in ‘21, but only appeared in a handful of games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. Eligible for redshirt status, Clark was technically a freshman in his 3rd season at TCU in ‘22. That year, Clark led the Frogs with 5 interceptions, including a Pick-6 against Michigan in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. The past two seasons at TCU, Bud Clark served as a team captain as he has combined to rack up 100 tackles, 6 INTs, and 9 pass deflections. Clark earned 2nd Team All-Big 12 honors in ‘24 and graded out as one of the top safeties in the country on PFF College. Although Clark will be on the older side of things in the NFL Draft, he’ll have plenty of experience and leadership attributes when he enters next spring.
Brian Parker, OT, Duke
Brian Parker is from Cincinnati, Ohio. He comes from a family of athletes. His grandfather, Barry Parker, played hoops at Bucknell University in the 1950s, and his cousin, Derek Lively, played hoops at Duke this decade (he now plays for the Mavericks). Brian Parker was a 3-star prospect out of St. Xavier High School, who not only captained the team to a state championship, but he also played lacrosse. After serving as a depth piece on the Duke bench in ‘22, Parker earned the team’s offensive rookie of the year award in ‘23. In 7 starts during his redshirt freshman season, Parker allowed just 1 sack while grading out as an above-average pass protector at both tackle positions. In ‘24, Brian Parker established himself as Duke’s offensive lineman of the year, making 12 starts at right tackle and one at left. He didn’t allow a single sack all year and his 85.4 Pass Block Grade by PFF College puts him in elite territory in pass protection. Parker returns for the ‘25 College Football season as a Preseason All-American and one of the top tackles out of the ACC.
Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Olaivavega Ioane is from Graham, Washington. He played high school football at Graham-Kapowsin, where he anchored the offensive line for one of the top programs in the nation en route to a Washington state championship in his senior year. After redshirting as a freshman in ‘22, Ioane made five starts in ‘23 playing both Left and Right Guard for the Nittany Lions. While he allowed 3 sacks, Ioane did flash enough potential to claim an All-Big Ten honorable mention. In ‘24 as a redshirt freshman, Olaivavega Ioane made all 16 starts at Left Guard. He earned 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors as he didn’t allow a single sack as a pass blocker. At 6’4” and 330 lbs., the interior lineman certainly has the size to go with power to play in the NFL. Expect Ioane to be one of the lead blockers in front of Penn State’s elite backfield of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen this season.
John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
John Mateer is from Little Elm, Texas. A 3-star prospect out of Little Elm High School, Mateer's first college stop was at Washington State. He redshirted his freshman season in ‘22 and was the Cougars’ backup QB behind Cam Ward in ‘23. Once Ward transferred to Miami, Mateer took over the Washington State starting role in ‘24. Voted a team captain, Mateer had a 65% completion percentage as he threw for 3,139 yards and 29 TDs to just 7 INTs. The dual-threat QB also tallied 826 rushing yards and 15 scores on 178 attempts. Mateer has transferred to Oklahoma this season and will be the Sooners’ new QB1. According to the #1 Pick in the ‘25 NFL Draft, “Mateer has always been that player. He was my backup, but when I would see him in scrimmages, he would make just the great plays in and outside the pocket. He’s going to have another big year next season. I’m excited for him. I could just tell that what he got better at was staying in the pocket and winning within the pocket. He’ll end up being one of the best QBs in the country next year.”
Ways to go until the start of College Hoops, but might as well start learning a bit about the top teams. Last Monday, was on the National Champion Florida Gators. This week’s is about the NCAA Tournament runner-ups in the Houston Cougars…
Milos Uzan, PG, Houston
Milos Uzan is from Las Vegas, Nevada. His name is pronounced My-Los and his nickname is Los (as in dose). In high school, Uzan was a 4-star recruit and considered the top prospect coming out of Nevada. He chose to play for Oklahoma as his first school. As a freshman with the Sooners, Uzan made the Big 12 All-Freshman Team with 7.6 points, 3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 41% from 3. He returned as a sophomore, where he played the most minutes and was the only Sooner to make every start, as he averaged 9 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Uzan decided to transfer to Houston last season and was immediately plugged into their starting lineup. Despite the school change, Uzan was consistent, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and a steal per game, while hitting on 42% from beyond the arc. His most significant moment with the Cougars last season occurred when he scored the game-winning dunk off an inbound pass to defeat Purdue in the Sweet 16. Being named to the All-Big 12 Conference 2nd Team, Uzan will be one of the most experienced point guards in college basketball this upcoming season.
Emanuel Sharp, SG, Houston
Emanuel Sharp was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. His father, Derrick Sharp, played professional basketball in Israel before becoming a citizen and playing for the national team. Emanuel Sharp played his high school hoops just outside of Tampa, Florida, where he was coached by his father at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic School. A 4-star recruit, Emanuel Sharp decided to play for the Houston Cougars but missed his freshman season with a broken fibula from his senior year of high school. When Sharp returned in ‘22, the redshirt freshman came off the bench to average 5.9 points in 15.6 minutes per game. The following season in ‘23'-’24, Sharp’s scoring more than doubled as he recorded 12.6 points per game on 37% shooting from beyond the arc. The Cougars’ shooting guard again averaged 12.6 points per game as a junior last season, however, Sharp was more efficient while hitting on 41% from deep. Named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention before the NCAA Tournament, Sharp played a key role in getting the Cougars into the National Championship. During postseason play last year, Sharp raised his output to 15.4 points per game while being named the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player and NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player. The catch-and-shoot guard has sorta a funny release that goes in. It would be no surprise if he filled in the void left by LJ Cryer as the team’s leading scorer this upcoming season.
Joseph Tugler, PF, Houston
Joseph Tugler is from Monroe, Louisiana, but he played high school hoops at Cypress Falls in Texas. A 4-star recruit, Tugler chose Houston over interest from Texas, TCU, SMU, Kansas State, and Tulsa. As a freshman with the Cougars in ‘23-’24, Tugler came off the bench to average 3.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Unfortunately, he missed the NCAA Tournament in ‘24 due to a season-ending broken foot in late February. Joseph Tugler returned as a sophomore last season and entered the Cougars’ starting lineup. The 6’7” power forward averaged 5.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal per game. Tugler was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and even earned the Lefty Driesell Award given to the nation’s top defensive player in all the land. Entering his junior year this fall, Tugler’s offensive game may still be a work in progress, but his toughness and defensive ability perfectly encapsulate the Houston program’s elite team defense.
Isiah Harwell, SF, Houston
Isiah Harwell is from Pocatello, Idaho. His father, Ron Harwell, played at Idaho State, where he averaged 14.5 ppg his senior year in the late ‘90s. Isiah also has a brother, Malek Harwell, who played college hoops at Boise State and Cal Poly. As a freshman at Century High School, Isiah Harwell averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game. He decided to transfer to Wasatch Academy in Utah to face steeper competition in talent. While at Wasatch, Harwell was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Utah, averaging 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals as a senior. The 5-star recruit played in the McDonald’s All-American Game this past spring, with his 16 points leading the team in the high school All-Star game. Harwell is considered one of the best high school recruits out of Idaho. Upon Harwell signing with the Cougars, Coach Kelvin Sampson noted, “From the first time we saw him, the maturity level he played with was what stuck out…This kid has taken an amazing leap into one of the best wings in the country…He fits our culture and comes from a tremendous family.”
Chris Cenac, C, Houston
