Rowen Johnson

It was only a few minutes past 4 a.m. when Mitch Strohman woke up. It was the day after the NAU men’s basketball team suffered an early exit in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament in Boise, Idaho. The loss marked an end to Strohman’s career as the “Voice of the Lumberjacks,” and being trapped in a silent, dark hotel room with no one but himself added to the overwhelming rush of emotions. It wasn’t long before it set in that he had called his final game as a broadcaster.

It’s that time of year again. On Thursday, the lives of 32 young men are going to change forever. These 32 will hear their names called on the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft and forever be enshrined as first round draft picks for their respective teams. The burning questions remain, however. Where will they go? Who will draft whom? Will a player refuse to play for a team? Maybe a team will forget to submit their pick (I’m looking at you, 2003 Minnesota Vikings)?

PHOENIX -- Jalen Green waved off his teammates and drove the ball downhill, launching a wild 3-point attempt as the final seconds of the first half ticked down. Given the shot choice and utter swagger he brandished as the ball went through the net, it’s hard to imagine he missed the game-winning shot just three days prior. It can be all too easy for a player who has performed below the lofty expectations of a second overall draft pick to lose steam when things go wrong.