Tramar “Flo Rida” Dillard to Perform at Emory on April 1st, 2023
No, it’s not an April Fools joke. Flo Rida, the rapper behind late 2000s hits like “Low”, “Whistle”, and “Good Feeling”, will be performing as the headliner for SPC’s Spring semester concert. This concert is taking place at the conclusion of Dooley’s Week on April 1st, an annual celebration of Emory’s unofficial mascot. Despite rumors that Flo Rida would not be able to attend due to personal and family matters, The Spoke would like to confirm that he will be gracing us all with his presence on McDonough Field tonight.
Responding to feedback from their concert in the Fall, an SPC representative (who wanted to remain anonymous) said that “Flo Rida, we feel, is a universal presence on campus. Everyone has heard at least one of his songs at some point in their life, whether that be at a Bar Mitzvah, bowling alley, or animated movie credits scene. This isn’t to say that Swae Lee was disappointing or anything, we just believe that attendance for this one will be much higher.”
Energy has been high on campus since the announcement. “Midterms just finished, so the concert is happening at the perfect time,” one student told The Spoke, “The guest policy is also letting me take my little brother to the concert too. He’s a big Flo Rida fan.” The little brother could not name a Flo Rida song when asked.
While we can’t guarantee the concert will be good or that there will be enough Costco pizza to support the size of the audience, one thing is for sure; BeReal will go off five hours too early.
Arkansas Begins Recovery Process After Tornado Strikes
After a large tornado struck outside of Little Rock, Arkansas Friday afternoon, officials have begun to organize cleaning and recovery initiatives to recover from the damages. The tornado is expected to impact other surrounding states, causing concern for millions of Midwest residents. According to Frank Scott Jr, the mayor of Little Rock, the damage was “extensive”, having injured at least 24 individuals. In addition, the tornado has caused nearly 90,000 people to be without power and with no certainty on when they will be able to regain it. While Arkansas continues to be in a state of emergency, emergency responders have been sent out to try and mitigate any damages they can.
Our Take on the Falcons at Pick at #8 in the NFL Draft
On April 27th, Emory University and the rest of the Atlanta community will be crossing their fingers and holding their breaths, hoping that the Atlanta Falcons select their favorite draft prospect. With the NFL draft less than a month away, we’re taking a look at their best options at pick #8.
What do the Falcons need?
Looking at the Falcons roster, a few bright spots are certainly apparent. They have a solid Running Back room, led by young star Tyler Allgeier in addition to 2 talented tight ends in Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith. The offensive line, while not completely stellar, is certainly more put together than many other NFL rosters, and would not be a top priority in the first round of this draft where the tackle and guard class is relatively weak.
Certainly the entire defense could use some bolstering. Though Grady Jarrett and AJ Terrell anchor this unit nicely, there is a serious concern of depth in these defensive line and secondary units. Picking a defensive end or a cornerback could do the falcons nicely.
Lastly, the question of the quarterback. The Falcons seem to be rolling with Desmond Ridder and though he showed some improvement at the end of last season, he still remains a serious question mark. If one of the best quarterback prospects falls to the Falcons at #8, I believe they should consider taking them, but there is no need for the Falcons to trade up.
What will happen before the Falcons’ Pick?
Below is the official Emory Spoke mock draft:
- Carolina Panthers: CJ Stroud, QB (OSU)
- Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB (Alabama)
- Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, DE (Alabama)
- Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB (Florida)
- Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson, DE (Texas Tech)
- Detroit Lions: Jalen Carter, DI (UGA)
- Oakland Raiders: Christian Gonzalez, CB (Oregon)
But we believe that those last 3 could reasonably be on the board at pick #8, and players like Devon Witherspoon (CB) and Will Levis (QB) could also easily be taken.
Going Defensive Edge
Bolstering the defensive line would serve the falcons nicely. If Tyree Wilson is on the board, Terry Fontenant would have a tough time passing up that kind of talent. Other options include Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa, who has limited tape but also a distinct amount of physical talent, and Nolan Smith who is definitely undersized but possesses a rare amount of speed and technique.
Picking a Cornerback
Adding a second viable cornerback could quickly turn Atlanta into a no-fly zone led by All-Pro AJ Terrell. Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon seem to be the most talented corners in the class, with Christian Gonzalez possessing rare athletic traits and Devon Witherspoon playing with incredible aggression on every play. Either option here would be good for the Falcons, but if they like Joey Porter Jr. or Deonte Banks more, they could also pick one of those corners.
Other Options
I don’t think that the Falcons can seriously consider picking Will Levis here. He has first round levels of talent, but with Ridder looking promising, it is probably best not to spend more draft capital on quarterbacks, especially when he’s not as surefire as the better prospects of this class. At pick #8, the Fontenant will have his pick of offensive line too, but like we said earlier it doesn’t seem like any offensive lineman is worth this high pick with the current state of the Falcons line. Lastly, the Falcons could consider grabbing a wide receiver to start opposite of Drake London to help out Rider in his second year. Quentin Johnson has great size and ability, at the top of many draft boards, but it may serve Atlanta better to find a slot receiver that fills a role that London doesn’t serve. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is probably the best option, but it’s probably way too high of a reach.
The Verdict
Based on our mock draft, we would pick Devon Witherspoon at #8. A cornerback could help seal the top on the defense which was absolutely shredded by quarterbacks like Joe Burrow last season. However, we must support the drafting of Tyree Wilson is he is available, as that talent falling to #8 in this weak draft class must be capitalized upon.
Though this is our Emory Spoke pick, we will support any player that the Falcons draft and hope that Atlanta succeeds in the 2023 season. Go Falcons!
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