Mock Draft Monday 9/8 '25
Family Close
Views Track #1
- NFL Draft Board ‘26
- College Hoops Preview: Louisville
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Drake’s Keep The Family Close. It’s the opening intro song to his highly anticipated Views album.
Aion Clarke sings the opening line as the background vocalist. The album is loosely themed around the changes of the season, so this song is set in winter.
Not the most memorable intros off Drake’s albums, but the guitar and jazz at the end of the song sounds much than any of his previous stuff.
On to the sports…
Building A Board
Benjamin Brahmer, TE, Iowa State
Benjamin Brahmer is from Pierce, Nebraska. A 3-star recruit out of Pierce High School, Brahmer finished his senior season with 1,525 receiving yards and 21 TDs. As a true freshman in ‘22, Brahmer was named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and 247 Sports as he caught 28 passes for 352 yards and two scores. In ‘24 as a sophomore, Brahmer’s season was cut short due to a right leg injury. During the 8 games that he did play, the TE had 10 catches for 179 yards and 1 TD. Brahmer was named an Honorable Mention on the Coaches’ All-Big 12 Team despite the injury. Now fully healthy, the 6’7” TE is off to his best year yet as he’s already caught 13 passes for 106 yards and 3 TDs. Brahmer’s size makes him an elite jump-ball candidate in the red zone, as evidenced by his TD grab in the Battle for the Cy-Hawk over this past weekend.
Preston Zachman, S, Wisconsin
Preston Zachman is from Elysburg, Pennsylvania. He attended South Columbia High School, where he was an integral part of three state championship teams and went 63-1 during his high school experience. After redshirting in ‘20 and not getting playing time in ‘21, Preston Zachman earned a role off the bench in ‘22, but his season was cut short due to injury. Once he returned in ‘23, Zachman made his first starts for the Badgers. He finished with 49 tackles, a sack, and 2 INTs. As a senior in ‘24, Zachman made all 12 starts for the Badgers and his production followed. Zachman had 58 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 TFLs, and 4 pass breakups as PFF College gave him an 80.4 Grade in coverage. This season may just be underway, but Preston Zachman has already tied his career-high in interceptions with two picks. He also returned one of the picks for six, helping seal Wisconsin’s win over Miami (Ohio). The 5th-year senior safety can play in the box, in the slot, and deep.
Drew Azzopardi, OT, Washington
Drew Azzopardi is from Pacifica, California. He attended Junipero Serra High School, where he played baseball and was a football team captain. His first stop in college was San Diego State. After redshirting in ‘22, Azzopardi was awarded the Aztecs’ most outstanding freshman of the offense in ‘23. He allowed just one sack and graded out as an effective blocker via PFF College. After two seasons at San Diego State, Azzopardi transferred to Washington in ‘24. He was the Huskies’ starting Right Tackle in all 13 games last season, struggling some against their biggest opponents by allowing sacks to Iowa, Indiana, Penn State, Oregon, and Louisville. Now a redshirt junior, Azzopardi has been extremely effective through Washington’s first two games this season, grading out as an 80+ run and pass blocker according to PFF College. It remains to be seen if he can continue his great start against bigger schools, but thus far, the 6’7” tackle hasn’t allowed a single pressure. Given his size and strength, an improved ‘25 season will garner Drew Azzopardi attention from NFL scouts.
Ckelby Givens, EDGE, Southern University
Ckelby Givens is from Shreveport, Louisiana. At Shreveport High School, Givens was named District MVP, All-City MVP, and LA All-State. As a freshman in ‘22, Ckelby Givens immediately earned a role at Southern University with 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and 23 tackles. He was named to the Phil Steele Freshman All-American Team for his efforts. During his sophomore season in ‘23, Givens’ production increased to 61 tackles, 21 TFLs, 7 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. Last season, as a junior, was Givens’ best one yet as he finished with an FCS-high 27.5 TFLs, 12 sacks, 13 QB Hurries, and 3 forced fumbles. The ‘24 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year has already continued his dominance early on in ‘25. In two games this season, Givens already has 11 tackles, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble. While he will be considered a bit of an underdog to make an NFL roster, there have been plenty of FCS stars who went on to be successful players on Sundays.
Robert Henry Jr., RB, UTSA
Robert Henry Jr. is from Lumberton, Mississippi. A 4-time all-state selection at Lumberton High School, Henry Jr. rushed for 1,961 yards and 29 scores his senior year. His first stop out of high school was at Jones College in Mississippi. He was awarded the Walter Jones Trophy as the nation’s top junior college player in ‘22. Henry Jr. transferred to UTSA in ‘23 and immediately had a role for the Roadrunners as he rushed for 588 yards and 11 TDs. As a junior in ‘24, Henry improved his production with 130 carries for 706 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and 7 scores. He also caught 21 passes for 200 yards and a TD. This season, Robert Henry Jr. is on pace to blow his two seasons’ worth of production out of the water. Through two games, the senior RB leads the nation in rushing yards with 336 and 4 TDs. This includes a 16-carry for 177 yards performance against Texas A&M. At 5’9”, Henry Jr. has excellent burst and can break tackles using his 205 lbs. build. If the UTSA star can continue to be productive, he will assuredly find his way on NFL Draft Boards come next spring.
This week’s player profiles are on the projected starting 5 of the Louisville Cardinals. For previous weeks…
- Florida Gators
- Houston Cougars
- Purdue Boilermakers
- UConn Huskies
- BYU Cougars
- St. John’s
J’Vonne Hadley, PF, Louisville
J’Vonne Hadley is from St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended Cretin Derham-Hall, where he was a two-sport star as a hooper and WR in football. His first stop in college was at Northeastern University, where he couldn’t crack their rotation. Hadley transferred to Indian Hills Community College in 21-’22, where he became an NJCAA Division I First Team All-American with 10.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. This caught the attention of Colorado, where Hadley transferred in ‘22. In his two seasons with the Buffaloes, Hadley averaged 10.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Last season, Hadley transferred to the Louisville Cardinals, teaming up with Chucky Hepburn and Terrence Edwards to make up an elite backcourt. Hadley at 6’7” is a bit undersized to play a stretch four, but has always had a knack for rebounding, as evidenced by his career-high 7.1 rebounds per game last season. The 5th-year senior returns as one of the team's leaders and should be able to reproduce his 12.2 points per game.
Kasean Pryor, C, Louisville
Kasean Pryor is from Chicago, Illinois, but he attended high school in Michigan. As a senior at Ann Arbor Pioneer HS, Pryor averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. His father, Sean Pryor, played college hoops at Oregon State and was a professional in France. Kasean Pryor’s first college stop was at Boise State. Pryor didn’t get much run with the Broncos for two seasons, so he decided to transfer to Northwest Florida State. The junior college was the right move for Pryor, as he averaged 14.8 points and 8 rebounds per game, catching the eye of South Florida. As a junior for the Bull Frogs, Pryor became a starter, averaging 12 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while hitting 35% of his 3-pointers. He transferred once more to the Cardinals last year. In 7 games with Louisville, Pryor got off to a 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game start before he tore his ACL. After some speculation that he may hit the transfer portal, Kasean Pryor returned to the Cardinals for another season. Still in the process of recovering from the injury, Pryor should make his return to the court before the season starts.
Ryan Conwell, SG, Louisville
Ryan Conwell is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Pike High School, where he became a 1,000-point scorer in his senior season, averaging 22 points per game. Conwell’s first stop in college was at South Florida, where he averaged 5.1 points per game as a part-time starter. He transferred to Indiana State in ‘23-’24, seeing his production jump to 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with the Sycamores. After his lone season at Indiana State, Conwell again hit the transfer portal to play for Xavier. As a Musketeer last season, Conwell averaged 16.5 points on 41% shooting from beyond the arc. This earned him a 3rd Team All-Big East selection. Over the summer, Conwell decided to hit the transfer portal one more time as he chose to play for the Cardinals because of “the environment, the people, and basketball.” The senior southpaw guard’s stated goal for he upcoming season is to help Louisville win a National Championship and be awarded the ACC Player of the Year.
Isaac McKneely, SF, Louisville
Isaac McKneely is from Poca, West Virginia. He attended Poca High School, where he was a two-time West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year while averaging 22 points per game as an upperclassman. His first stop out of high school was with the Virginia Cavaliers. As a freshman in ‘22-’23, McKneely came off the Cavs bench to average 6.7 points on 39% shooting from beyond the arc. He was inserted into the Virginia starting lineup his sophomore season, as his numbers jumped to 12.3 points per game on 45% shooting from deep. Last season with Virginia, the 6’4” shooting guard averaged 14.4 points per game while leading the ACC in 3-point shooting at 42%. He decided to transfer to Louisville this summer because of their coaching staff and the players he met on his visit. A lethal catch-and-shoot guy, Isaac McKneely, will further help the Cardinals space the floor.
Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
