Arizona
Mock Draft: Cardinals Trade Out of First Round
Welcome back to Mock Draft Monday, Arizona Cardinals fans!
The Cardinals only have five draft picks currently and would certainly be interested in getting some more ammo for a draft class loaded on defense – which should be the top priority for upgrading this offseason.
Fear not, for I found a trade candidate to move down and get an extra day two pick along with a future second-round pick in 2026! The move helped me land a crucial depth player, but the slide down the board netted me the hottest name in college football right now.
Let’s dive in.
TRADE:
Arizona sends pick 16 to Cleveland
Cleveland sends picks 33 and 67 and a 2026 second-round pick
The mock saw the Browns select Travis Hunter with the second overall pick and bypass a quarterback. But, when they saw a chance to go up and get a sliding Kelvin Banks and shore up the offensive line, they pounced.
The Cardinals, who are plenty happy with Paris Johnson Jr., gladly accepted a move down to secure an early third-round pick and a second-round pick in 2026.
The man of the hour as of late, Sawyer is the hottest name in college football after his unbelievable strip-sack and subsequent scoop-and-score touchdown against Texas to seal Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl win and send the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Beyond the scope of that game, Sawyer has made plays all year long and he’s put together a marvelous senior year as a swan song for his time with Ohio State. The 6’5 and 260lbs edge rusher has improved each season and is primed to crash the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals will joyfully add the veteran pass rusher to their floundering room and see an instant jump in production. Sawyer will become a fan favorite in no time.
Golden isn’t the most popular man in the desert after being one of the biggest players involved in ending the Arizona State Sun Devils season at the Peach Bowl, but he’s a damn good receiver. Like Sawyer, Golden has made himself some serious money in the College Football Playoff and he’s also on a collision course to potentially crash day one of the draft.
Texas’s passing attack took a big step forward this season with Golden stepping up as Quinn Ewers’ top target, posting just under 1,000 receiving yards and 17 yards per reception along with nine touchdowns.
Arizona needs some more depth at wide receiver and someone to take the top off the defense, something Golden can provide for both needs.
With an extra third-round selection, the Cardinals get Dante Stills a partner-in-crime from the interior of the defensive line with Sanders, who is rising up boards and can blow everyone away with a good NFL Scouting Combine showing.
On what was one of college football’s best pass rushing defenses, Sanders managed four sacks from the inside plus 51 tackles, which led all the Gamecocks’ defensive linemen and was fifth overall. In three seasons, Sanders nabbed 9.5 total sacks and 110 tackles.
Sanders will come to the desert and find himself a role as a rotational player along the defensive line. With any luck, he can quickly separate himself from the pack with his pass rushing abilities.
We mentioned the confidence in Paris Johnson earlier at left tackle, but the right tackle spot is wide open. Jonah Williams isn’t a lock for 2025, but even his return shouldn’t dispel adding depth.
Cornelius went from a no-star commit at Rhode Island to a key component of the offensive line for Oregon. A four-year starter at right tackle, Cornelius has the size profile at 6’5 and 310lbs to grow and become a stalwart on the strong side of the line.
There will be a learning curve for Cornelius, but he’s well-traveled with tons of play time. With the right coaching and development, he’ll become a starting right tackle with a decently high ceiling.
The Fighting Irish are in the CFP National Championship Game thanks to a stellar defense and Kiser has been one of its most integral pieces. The fifth-year senior recorded 85 tackles (51 solo) to pace Notre Dame. Kiser also added two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries to his resume.
Kiser found a significant role with Notre Dame’s defense in all five seasons in South Bend. He amassed 271 tackles with six sacks, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two touchdowns (both in the 2021 season).
The resume speaks for itself, and Kiser could conclude his storied career with the Fighting Irish with a ring. No matter how it ends, the Cardinals need a linebacker heir to Kyzir White, who could possibly depart in free agency.
Moore entered the 2024 season with expectations of becoming a superstar pass rusher after a 14-sack season in 2023 with UTSA. Instead, Moore struggled to consistently find the field on a stacked Texas defense and failed to see those lofty expectations.
But stop me if you’ve heard this before – Moore made waves in the CFP and has re-established himself as a name to watch. Moore ended the season with 5.5 sacks, three in the postseason including two in the Peach Bowl. Once he found his rhythm, Moore started to look like what we wanted him to be.
I believe Moore could make more money by returning to Austin for his final season of college, but his late-season surge and athleticism could still place him as a climber in the draft. Moore has starting upside and is at worst a great rotational player – a.k.a. someone who is perfect for the Cardinals.
Arizona
Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot
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18-year-old Albane Cachot from Toulouse, France, has joined the Arizona State University women’s swimming and diving team mid-season. The Dauphins Toulouse OEC (the same club that produced Léon Marchand) product wasted no time adapting to short-course yards, winning the 50/100/200 free events in her first meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Cachot made a name for herself in 2024, when she won the 50 free (25.45), 100 free (54.65), 200 free (1:59.18), and 50 fly (26.57) at the French Junior Championships in April. Two months later, she finaled in all four events at the French Elite Championships, placing 10th in the 50 free (25.43), 5th in the 100 free (54.61), 4th in the 200 free (2:00.34), and 7th in the 50 fly (26.95).
In 2025, she represented France at both the European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, and the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. At Euro Juniors, she won gold in the women’s 100 free, clocking a lifetime-best 54.17. She also finished 7th in the 50 free (25.48) and 7th in the 200 free (2:00.46), and 5th in the 50 fly (26.51, a PB). Cachot swam on 3 of France’s relays at World Championships (women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 free, and mixed 4×100 medley). She earned a bronze medal for her prelims role in France’s mixed 400 medley relay, and she joined Beryl Gastaldello, Marina Jehl, and Marie Wattel in the women’s 400 free relay final that placed 5th with a national record-breaking time of 3:34.62.
In her short-course yards debut on January 3 at the dual meet with Grand Canyon, Cachot put up a team-leading time in the 50 free (22.43). She ranks 3rd in the 200 free (1:46.38) behind Jordan Greber (1:45.14) and Grace Lindberg (1:45.43) and 4th in the 100 free (49.11) behind Greber (48.81), Shane Golland (48.98), and Gerda Szilagyi (49.05). Greber, Lindberg, and Golland achieved their times during the CSCAA Dual Challenges.
The CSCAA challenge meets was also where ASU notched their fastest relay times of the season so far. Without speculating as to what her flying start times might be, it is clear that even her flat start SCY times would have lowered the Sun Devils’ free relay times by a couple of tenths in the 4×50 and 4×100 and by 3 seconds in the 4×200. And her converted LCM times would have been of even greater value.
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 22.43
- 100 free – 49.11
- 200 free – 1:46.38
Best LCM times (converted):
- 50 free – 25.31 (22.08)
- 100 free – 54.17 (47.36)
- 200 free – 1:59.18 (1:44.48)
- 50 fly – 26.51 (23.25)
Cachot is joining Arizona State’s class of 2029 with Alexia Sotomayor, Bella Scopel Tramontana, Cali Watts, Eleaunah Phillips, Jessie Carlson, Marley Lovick, and Ursula Ott. Avery Spade was also new this season, transferring in from Indiana.
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Arizona
Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands
TEMPE — The Sam Leavitt saga has been one that has split the Arizona State fanbase.
While some have been steadfast in bringing up the contributions that the two-year star poured into the program, others have been emphatic in pointing out the optics of the exit appearing less-than-ideal in a point of critique.
Regardless, the Sun Devils have moved on – with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley and Michigan transfer Mikey Keense being the two exterior options that were brought in to signify a new era.
Now, Leavitt continues to seek a new college home for what might be his last season of collegiate football – Arizona State on SI makes sense of it all below.
Confirmed Visits – LSU, Tennessee, Miami
Leavitt’s first visit came with Boley’s former school in Kentucky, but the Wildcats have seemingly moved on by signing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.
LSU has made sense as a destination in recent weeks, with the presence of Lane Kiffin and the ironic twist of Jayden Daniels going from Arizona State to winning a Heisman Trophy with the Tigers as points of focus. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Leavitt heavily consider the SEC power.
Tennessee reportedly attempted to pry Leavitt away from the Sun Devils last spring and failed. This time, they loom as a relative “sleeper” – the redshirt sophomore even spent two days in Knoxville. This is a situation that is “wait-and-see”, as the Volunteers are still waiting to see what comes of QB Joey Aguilar’s pitch to receive more eligibility.
Miami is another spot that has made sense, as senior Carson Beck will be playing his final game of his collegiate career on January 19. No state income tax, the allure of joining Cam Ward and Beck as potential major risers on NFL draft boards, and playing for a storied program are all major drawing points.
Expected Visit – Oregon
Oregon is the complicated potential landing spot.
There is still a bit of uncertainty surrounding what Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to do pertaining to entering the 2026 draft, so the Ducks must stand pat until a firm decision is made.
It’s simple to see why an Oregon native would be drawn to play for what has become a storied franchise that now has a phenomenal track record of developing quarterbacks.
Verdict: Leavitt Lands With Oregon
There’s absolutely nothing firm about this prediction, but Oregon makes the most sense – with the caveat that Moore decides to go pro.
Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.
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Arizona
Arizona’s Burries Shares Secret to Latest Scoring Outburst
The Arizona Wildcats dominated once again to push their record to 15-0 on the season, cruising to an easy 101-76 victory over Kansas State in their Big 12 home opener.
The Wildcats scored 100 points in a game for the third time this season, led by freshman guard Brayden Burries’ 28 points, and Motiejus Krivas’ 25 points. Burries is now up to 15.1 points per game on the season, which leads the #1-ranked Wildcats.
Secret to points production
Burries has been on a tear scoring the ball of late. After scoring in double-digits in just one of his first five games this season, Burries has scored in double-figures in each of his last 10 games, including five 20-point performances. His 28 points against Kansas State tied his highest point total of the season so far. After the game, Burries was asked about his recent flurry of scoring.
- “I don’t think anything changed,” Burries said. “I think just getting used to the speed out there, the first few games, and I didn’t play guard as much like on the ball, and guarding point guards, so it’s all new to me. But, more games, more experience, I feel like I’m getting better with more experience honestly.”
- “Honestly just going out there, and just hooping,” he added. “Trusting my teammates, and trusting the coaches and their gameplan, and they’re just helping me out.”
Tommy Lloyd on Burries
Head coach Tommy Lloyd also spoke about his leading scorer’s recent performances, and how Burries is one of the more coachable players on the roster.
- “Brayden’s a great player,” Lloyd said. “We’re fortunate to have him in our program. I mean, he’s a winner, he’s always won. He does just about everything in his life the right way, it’s a joy to coach him everyday, and it’s really fun to help him on his journey.”
- “You can be pretty direct with him”, Lloyd added. “I told him, he’s a guy that I don’t want to coach by being confrontational with him, I think he’s too good of a kid and he’s really motivated. He doesn’t need that when I’m very direct with him. He’s got enough experience now, I think he’s really learning.”
Burries and the rest of the Wildcats will look to continue what has been a special season up to this point. The Wildcats have all the makings of a true National Championship contender, and their first two performances in Big 12 play show just that.
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