Technically this isn’t the Outro of Thank Me Now (the final song of the album), but @Zuck doesn’t have 9 AM in Dallas on his Instagram Playlist. We’ll have to make due. Week to Week Notes has now completed the 2nd* earliest Drake project start to finish. ✅.
*@Zuck doesn’t have his earlier mixtapes Room For Improvement or Comeback Season either.
With the album called Thank Me Later implying the fact that this album was going to be a classic, it is time for Week to Week Notes to Thank Drake Now, formally. 🤝
Mahalo is a Hawaiian expression of gratitude, so Drake is thanking @UsTheListeners for listening. I too, have been drinking Guinness like there’s a message at the bottom of the pint glass since January 1st ‘23.
When I started #GuinnessChallengeSeason I had no idea that Week to Week Notes would be doing Stumblin’ Alongs. The concept sort of just unfolded after drinking pints like there was a message at the bottom. 🤷♂️
I can’t relate to how talented these kids on Mock Draft Mondays are at their respective sports, but who doesn’t like something nice being written about themselves? You’re lying to yourself if you don’t.
Drake is alluding to when Allen Iverson at age 21 as a rookie crossed over Michael Jordan who was in year 12 of the NBA and in the middle of his 2nd 3-Peat. All the young guys in the Mock Draft Monday will in the very near future be expected to compete against the guys they idolized growing up as kids. Sports are cut-throat.
Most athletes want to be artists just like how most artists want to be athletes. There is mutual respect for greatness.
In one sentence Drake used me, I, and myself. That is impressive if you think about it.
Drake is fearful that he’ll miss the chance at dedicating himself to someone else because he’s too caught up in the music.
He’s wild for this one.
Drake still has flows, or lyrics, for the women who focus on his pros instead of his cons.
I don’t know about that, but sure, cheers!!
Chris Farley starred in Black Sheep. So much of life is just a card game where you have no control over what hand you’re dealt with to start or what card comes next.
This is him acknowledging that it is out of his control as to how long his fans will listen to his music. He’s aware this Outro of the album could be the last time some will listen so…
Will Shipley is a dynamic and versatile running back who enters the ‘23 College Football season as a junior. As a freshman in ‘21, Shipley was All-ACC Academic which made him Clemson’s first true freshman to earn the honor since Trevor Lawrence in ‘18. He rushed for 738 yards at a 5-yards-per-carry clip and scored 11 TDs. His 11 rushing TDs were the 2nd most by a Clemson freshman since NCAA permanently made freshmen eligible to play in 1972, trailing only Travis Etienne’s 13. Oh yeah, he also threw a TD pass on a trick play. In ‘22, Shipley became the 1st player in ACC history to earn 1st Team all-conference honors at 3 different positions, collecting 1st Team honors at RB, all-purpose, and specialist categories. He rushed 210 times for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns while catching 38 passes for 242 yards. The kid from Weddington, N.C., was the only player in the country with 1,150+ rushing yards, 200+ receiving yards, and 300+ KR yards in ‘22. The only other ACC player to do such since this millennium was C.J. Spiller. (Source: @ClemsonFBRoss) In an RB Draft class that is loaded with talent, Shipley may be the best pass catcher of the bunch and with another good season at Clemson may rise up Week to Week Notes ‘24 NFL Draft Rankings as is the case with all these college stars.
Bryson Nesbit’s hometown is Charlotte, N.C., so he decided to play ball at his home state’s school. The 6’5” TE enters the ‘23 season as a junior. His freshman year in ‘21 was a developmental one where he had 7 catches for 154 receiving yards and 1 TD on the season. His ‘22 season saw much more production as he caught 35 passes for 507 receiving yards and 4 TDs. Nesbit ranked #3 in all receiving stats, behind Josh Downs and Antoine Green, who are now off to the NFL. Lucky for Nesbit, he still has Drake Maye (Week to Week Notes #2 player on the big board) throwing him passes. While he certainly needs to improve a bit on his blocking, expect an even larger leap in production as a receiver with Maye’s two top targets from a year ago now out of the picture. Bryson Nesbit is a great athlete and has NFL genes. Not only did his mother play college soccer at South Carolina but his father, Jamar Nesbit, made All-SEC 3 times at South Carolina, was inducted into the Gamecocks Hall of Fame, and played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Panthers, Jaguars, & Saints as a guard.
Max Melton is from Mays Landing, NJ, in South Jersey so he might be a Phillies fanatic. This ‘23 season will be Melton’s 4th year in the Scarlett Knights program. Between ‘20 and ‘21, Melton made 16 starts where he had 49 tackles, 6 pass breakups, 3 INTs, 1 Pick-Six, and a blocked punt. In ‘22, Melton took another step forward, starting all 12 games, averaging a pass break up a game, picking off another 2 passes, and leading the nation in blocked kicks with 3. The NFL will love Melton’s ability to play special teams and having a knack for finding the ball. The 6” cornerback had the opportunity to test last year’s NFL draft but decided to stay one more year under head coach Greg Schiano. “100% I was coming back, there was no question in my mind. I got to win with this team, I don’t feel like it was selfish if I was going to go to the league but like I just want to win. We’re turnt up, this is the most turnt team at Rutgers I’ve been on. There’s nothing wrong with the teams before but I gel with these guys much, much better. It’s going to carry over to the field when it’s supposed to.” (Source: USA Today) Melton's father played for Rutgers in the late ‘80s. His older brother, Bo, was also a Scarlett Knight and is now on the Green Bay Packers.
Blake Fisher is from Avon, Indiana, a small town in the middle of the state, and 2 hours & 45 mins south of South Bend. Fisher entering was a 5-star recruit and the #1 player coming out of Indiana. He picked Notre Dame as his school because “I was looking for in a school were an elite education, elite football, and an elite environment.” (Source: IndyStar) When Fisher first got to Notre Dame in ‘21, he actually beat out LT Joe Alt in spring practices and got the opening day start at LT before injuring his knee in his first college game which sidelined him the rest of the regular season. Last season, Blake Fisher started all 13 games at RT for the Fightin’ Irish. After a rough start to the season where he gave up 11 pressures and 3 sacks in their first 6 games, Fisher only gave up 6 pressures & 2 sacks in the 2nd half of the season. At 6’6” & 325 lbs., the Notre Dame tackle will look to improve upon his strong 2nd half. With Blake Fisher and Joe Alt blocking the ends of Notre Dame’s offense, expect a big season in the Fightin’ Irish’s pass game with transfer QB Sam Hartman.
James Williams is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At 6’5” and 235 lbs., he is considered a freak at safety. As a freshman in ‘21, Williams started 7 games where he 2 INTs, 4 pass deflections, and 31 tackles. As you see in the GIF above, in ‘22 Williams had 58 tackles, 7 pass deflections, and 1 pick. The duo of Williams and Kamren Kinchens make up one of the scariest safety duos in College Football. Due to his size, it is no surprise that Williams may lack a bit as a run defender, but he for sure makes up for that with his coverage play. PFF gave James Williams an 88.5 coverage grade in ‘22 as the DB has the range, athleticism, & explosiveness to play on Sundays.
Closing out with a handful of the Yankees ‘23 MLB Draft. I'm sorry if you’re not a Yankee fan, but the rest of today’s Notes aren’t for you. Thank Me Later for not wasting your time reading up on the Yanks’ future!
Kyle Carr is from San Marcos, California. He originally went to school at the University of San Deigo which is about a half hour away before transferring to Palomar College, a competitive community college based in San Marcos. As a freshman at San Diego in ‘22, Carr made 5 starts where he 6.19 ERA and struck out 22 batters in 16 total innings. He then dealt with a broken hand. While those numbers don’t look great, his stuff on the mound has. The lefty can top out at 97 MPH and has a solid change-up. This past spring with Palomar College, Carr made 14 starts, threw 78 innings, struck out 111 batters, pitched to a 2.31 ERA, and went 12-1. MLB scouts view Kyle Carr as a relief pitcher. For next year, Carr now has options in that he can transfer to TCU or pitch in the NY Yankees organization. When asked about his decision by KUSI, Carr said, “I think the plan is to sign with the Yankees. I’m excited about it.”
Roc Riggio is from Simi Valley, California, but is no Cali Bro. Riggio plays baseball with the confidence that only he could best describe, “I like having a target on my back. I like when guys go at me, I like people when people talk *shrimp* to me. I love all that. Let me hear it. Give it to me because I know I can handle it. It’s different for other guys who can’t handle it, but I know whatever you throw at me I can handle.” (Source: The Oklahoman) As a freshman in ‘22, Riggio was tabbed a 2nd Freshman All-American by Baseball America. The lefty bat hit .295 with a .413 OBP and 11 homers in 54 games. He backed up his talk and great ‘22 season, hitting .335 batting average with a .461 OBP and 18 home runs. The Yanks could use a homegrown spark plug who is a bit of an asshole but will be our asshole and I like the idea of his lefty swing with the short porch.
Cade Smith is from Southaven, Mississippi, which is on the border of Mississippi & Tennessee and is only 15 minutes from Memphis. Smith has already put pen to paper and signed with the Yankees. In ‘22 as a sophomore, Smith started 14 games, pitched 72.1 innings, struck out 66, and threw a 3.86 ERA. This last spring, Smith struggled a bit throwing to a 5.23 ERA in 9 starts for the Bulldogs. He did however strike out 46 guys in 43 innings. The Mississippian throws a 92-95 MPH fastball that has a great life with the ability to move around 20 inches of induced vertical break. (Source: NJ.com) That basically means his fastball gives the batter allusion that it is rising. The Yankees are taking a flier on Smith and likely see him as a one-day weapon out of their bullpen.
Enrique “Kiko” Romero is from Tuscon, Arizona, and has only played college ball in his home state. Prior to attending Arizona University, Romero played for Central Arizona College where in 156 games he hit .346 with 182 runs scored, 41 doubles, 15 triples, 36 home runs, 167 RBI, and a .473 OBP. In ‘22, Romero was named the National Junior College Athletic Association’s World Series MVP and Outstanding Hitter. He chose to transfer to Arizona because “It is my hometown school and the coaches are very knowledgeable.” In his lone season in the PAC-12, the lefty hitter who throws right-handed hit for a .345 average with 21 homers and 89 RBIs in 59 games. Kiko Romero has already signed pen to paper with the Yankees.
Jared Wegner is from Kearney, Nebraska. He led Kearney Little League to the ‘12 Little League World Series with his father serving as the team’s head coach. He started his college career at Creighton where in 4 years he was twice named All-Big East. At Creighton, he missed most of his sophomore and junior seasons but in ‘22 Wegner started all 49 games for the Bluejays and he hit .343 with a team-leading 11 home runs and 53 RBIs. As a graduate transfer for Arkansas last year, Wegner again put up great numbers hitting for average (.313) and power (15 home runs). Jared Wegner has already signed on to be a part of the New York Yankees organization.