Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin are the defending champions at this week’s Zurich Traditional in New Orleans.
Whereas they attempt to grow to be the primary pair on the PGA Tour to look in back-to-back staff occasions, Novak shall be paying shut consideration to a different huge sporting occasion this week: the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) in Pittsburgh.
The 31-year-old golfer might be the most important NFL fan on tour and even has a podcast to show it.
In September 2023, one in every of Novak’s teammates on the Wofford Faculty golf staff, Evan Grenas, requested him if he can be fascinated with co-hosting a podcast targeted on the NFL, fantasy soccer, and playing.
One among Glenas’ mates helped with this challenge. Grenas promised it was only a non permanent gig for Novak till he might discover a everlasting co-host. Novak agreed to do it, so long as it wasn’t only a non permanent gig.
“I at all times thought it might be enjoyable to simply speak about soccer,” Novak stated. “For me, I do not do any particular work. I watch the video games. I really feel like I can communicate higher and perceive the sport higher. It is simply enjoyable to do on Tuesday.”
Beginning within the fall of 2023, Novak will report a one-hour section on the ScreenPlay Podcast each Tuesday through the NFL season. 83 episodes have aired up to now, together with a current preview of this week’s NFL Draft.
Former NFL govt Brian Rolup gave his first interview as PGA Tour CEO on a podcast in September.
Harris English, a five-time PGA Tour winner and avid Georgia and SEC fan, as soon as described Novak as an encyclopedia in the case of soccer data.
“I believe I do know quite a bit about faculty soccer and the NFL and naming groups within the ’90s and early 2000s, however he is higher than me,” English stated. “Whether or not it is Miami, Florida, Florida State, he has a wealth of information from when he was in all probability 6 or 7 years outdated. The humorous factor is, he should not keep in mind any of it as a result of he was too younger to look at.”
Novak is a longtime Carolina Panthers fan. He grew up in Mount Nice, South Carolina, and attended his first Panthers recreation when he was 4 or 5 years outdated. Whereas taking part in at Wofford, he was named the 2017 Southern Convention Participant of the Yr, certified for the NCAA Match twice, and attended a number of Panthers video games every season.
“Final 12 months we made the playoffs, which was fairly cool,” Novak stated. “We did not even make enjoyable of ourselves in opposition to the Rams, which was fairly admirable. Now we have some actually good guys on our staff. I believe Dave Canales is an efficient coach, and we’ve probably the greatest GMs within the league in Dan Morgan. (Crew proprietor David) Tepper must get out of the way in which, however I believe we’re on a extremely good trajectory proper now.”
Novak’s favourite faculty soccer staff is Miami, which he began watching within the early 2000s. The 2001 Hurricanes staff, led by quarterback Ken Dorsey, tailback Clinton Portis, vast receiver Andre Johnson, tight finish Jeremy Shockey, and security Ed Reed, went undefeated and received the BCS Nationwide Championship. Novak fell in love with the Canes.
If Novak does not play in a fall PGA Tour event, he’ll end work on the driving vary within the morning and spend the remainder of the day glued to NFL RedZone.
Novak is fearless in expressing his sturdy opinions on his podcast. He was within the Jets’ commerce with the Raiders in March that despatched quarterback Geno Smith again to New York, the place he was the beginning quarterback from 2013 to the 2015 preseason.
“The Jets wanted a quarterback,” Novak stated. “I nonetheless do not assume that essentially means they will not draft him. I do not assume Geno is the reply, nevertheless it’s in all probability a begin.”
One other deal Novak did not like was the Falcons signing former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He has a historical past of concussions and misplaced his beginning job in Miami after throwing 15 interceptions final season.
Falcons starter Michael Penix Jr. tore a ligament in Week 11 of final season and remains to be recovering from left ACL surgical procedure in November. The Falcons launched quarterback Kirk Cousins on March 11 after simply two seasons right into a four-year, $180 million contract.
“Typical Falcons,” Novak stated. “That is a bit of bizarre to me. I do not know what they’re doing in Atlanta. Actually, by Week 6 or Week 7, they might each be injured and we’ll be the third quarterback. Each of these guys are hurting badly.”
“I actually do not know what is going on on with the Falcons. As a Panthers fan, I do not care.”
Novak does his homework in preparation for the podcast, together with rewatching faculty video games in preparation for the NFL draft preview present.
Surprisingly, he isn’t solely keen on Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and projected No. 1 decide by the Raiders. Novak believes Mendoza has what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, however Novak has considerations about his talent set.
He likes that the Raiders signed former Ravens middle Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million contract in March, making him the highest-paid inside lineman in NFL historical past.
“A extremely good middle is big for a rookie quarterback,” Novak stated. “The rookie does not need to make line calls and he may be capable to really feel some stress. I hope Mendoza does not overthink it. I need to see what (new Raiders supervisor Clint) Kubiak throws him as a result of all I noticed him throw in opposition to Indiana was a again shoulder and an RPO. I did not see a lot else.”
In his solely season as quarterback at Indiana College, Mendoza accomplished 72 % of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, main the Hoosiers to a 16-0 report and successful the varsity’s first Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide championship recreation.
That run included a 27-21 victory over Miami within the title recreation, by which Mendoza accomplished 16-of-27 passes for 186 yards.
“There have been a couple of occasions within the nationwide championship recreation the place he tried to go over the center,” Novak stated. “It wasn’t fairly. It is like a large receiver popping out of faculty with a restricted route tree. It would take a short time for him to get used to throwing some completely different throws and seeing some completely different routes.”
Former Alabama offensive deal with Kadin Proctor is one other first-round prospect who may very well be purple flagged, in accordance with Novak. The 6-foot-7, 366-pounder is projected to be a top-15 decide in lots of mock drafts.
“I really feel dangerous for name-calling, however I am not bought on Kaydin Proctor,” Novak stated.
If Novak have been an NFL common supervisor, he would keep away from the prospect from Florida.
“That is bias, too, however typically you should not draft Florida gamers as a result of they go broke extremely quick within the NFL,” Novak stated. “It isn’t truthful to any of them, however I hope all of the gamers who went earlier than me (to the NFL) settle for that.”
He charges former Gators middle Jake Slaughter extremely, and he’s projected to be a second-day decide.
“So long as they don’t tackle a Florida man within the first spherical, they might do properly,” he stated.
One NFL draft prospect Novak does not have considerations about is Ohio State security Caleb Downs. Novak performed in Miami’s 24-14 win over the Buckeyes within the CFP quarterfinals of the Cotton Bowl Traditional on New Yr’s Eve. Despite the fact that the Hurricanes received, he was impressed with Downs, who received the Jim Thorpe Award as the most effective defensive again within the FBS final season.
“Each play was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s that man once more,'” Novak stated. “He is at all times in the suitable spot. I do not know if it is intuition or what, however he at all times gave the impression to be in the suitable spot. He acquired his palms on the ball, pressured fumbles, made tackles in house. I used to be very, very impressed.”
Is there one other prospect you may’t miss? Miami edge rusher Reuben Bayne Jr. had 9.5 sacks final season. Novak watched Bane carry out in opposition to Texas A&M offensive deal with Trey Zuhn III within the Hurricanes’ 10-3 victory within the first spherical of the CFP.
“Zune might be a second-day decide, however Bane simply made him look ridiculous,” Novak stated. “On the finish of the day, you may speak about lengthy arms and all that. However he is performed in opposition to guys who’re going to be tacklers within the NFL, they usually have not had an opportunity on him. He can line up wherever on the line of defense. Miami has been operating him. He isn’t a one-trick man.”
After all, Novak’s foremost aim this week is to win once more on the PGA Tour, however he hasn’t received since partnering Griffin in New Orleans final 12 months.
After a so-so begin to the season, Novak has completed within the prime 20 in two of his previous three begins, together with a tie for sixteenth finally week’s RBC Heritage.
“In golf, you don’t actually do that fairly often,” Novak stated. “You don’t win that a lot until you’re Scotty (Scheffler) or Rory (McIlroy) or a few of these fortunate weirdos.”
Returning with Griffin could assist his possibilities. They each reside in Sea Island, Georgia, the place they typically hang around collectively.
Griffin informed reporters at TPC Louisiana that one in every of his objectives is to get Novak taking part in round on the course.
“We speak about soccer or one thing, although I do not know as a lot about soccer as you do,” Griffin informed Novak. “I don’t do podcasts.”
