The day has arrived when the Orioles can make bold strokes in painting a rosier future for the organization.

The draft begins at 6 p.m. and the Orioles hold the 19^th selection, followed by the 30^th, 31^st, 37^th, 58th, 69th and 93^rd through three rounds. The rest of it plays out Monday.

The Orioles obtained the 37^th pick in the Competitive Balance A round after trading reliever Bryan Baker to the Rays. The move didn’t increase their workload or alter the strategy beyond having the extra selection.

“It’s exciting for our group because this is what we work towards all year is to get ready for the draft, and it just gives us another shot, another pick, some more money, which in terms of strategy gives you a little more flexibility to maybe do some more things,” said Matt Blood, the vice president of player development and domestic scouting. “But it’s really just another opportunity to get another really good player.”

The hope, of course, is that the Orioles land a bunch of them.

Scoring big in the draft is an ideal way to win without substantial increases in payroll. That’s also logic. And the farm system has taken the expected fall from atop baseball’s perch with player promotions and trades.

“My whole world is around now acquiring talent as well as developing talent, and when we have this many picks this high, it gives us an opportunity to acquire more talent than other teams have an opportunity to acquire,” Blood said. “And then it’s a challenge for our coaches to get them to be better than they came in and hopefully get up here and play, so yes, it’s very important.”

“Look, I think they’re all really important,” said executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. “By and large, we’ve drafted well the last six years or whatever, and a lot of that is the great players that you see out on the field. So all the drafts are important. But when you have this amount of picks, it is more important. There’s no question about it.

“We’ve just got a much bigger opportunity ahead of us and the draft is a lifeblood for a franchise like ours.”

The usual questions hang in the air.

* Are the Orioles attracted to specific characteristics in this class?

“It’s no different than normal,” Blood said. “I think we’re always looking for good baseball players, whether they’re pitchers or hitters, and the things that play at the major league level. That’s what we’re looking for, and that doesn’t really change.”

* Is there more pressure to take a pitcher with so many picks on Day One?

The highest drafted pitcher under Elias was Florida State right-hander Jackson Baumeister at 63rd overall in 2023. Oklahoma State’s Nolan McLean didn’t sign after he was chosen 81st in 2022.

“I personally don’t,” Blood said of feeling the pressure. “I think that my job is to pick the best player that we can possibly pick. And we have pitchers on the board, we have position players on the board, and ultimately we’re gonna be graded on the major league value that we draft. And so our job is to do the best we can at drafting major league value, and if that happens to be a position player, then it is. And if it happens to be a pitcher, then it is. I personally feel pressure to get major league value.”

Elias described it as “very possible,” so he’s saying there’s a chance.

“I hope that we do,” he added. “If you have a lot of picks like this, it’s nice to have a diverse set of picks. But I also, I’ve talked to people, I’ve seen drafts over the years where scouting directors will say they regret trying to diversify a group of picks for its own sake. We’re going to line up the board with how we think the talent is and we’ll take in that regard. But we definitely want to get some pitching in this draft.”

* But what about all those Day One picks?

“We have more picks, so more chances, so yes, if you’re doing the math that way,” Blood said. “I think that we’re gonna continue to follow our strategy of finding the best bet we can, and when you have four picks, that’s four chances versus one, so yeah.”

* Will the Orioles go college or high school at No. 19?

They aren’t saying because they don’t know. Draft life was much easier in the top five.

Blood didn’t agree that high school depth is more pronounced this year, but he added, “There’s definitely a nice group of players that we’re interested in and I think the industry is, as well, and we’re always very excited about young, athletic players, so that’ll be cool.”

* Can the Orioles repeat their recent success when selecting in the 30s and 40s?

That’s overall picks, not rounds, which don’t exist anymore.

Henderson was taken 42^nd overall in 2019, Elias’ first draft class. Jordan Westburg was 30^th in 2020. Dylan Beavers was 33^rd in 2022.

“We absolutely want to,” Blood said. “There’s gonna be some good options there and we’re gonna be excited about the players that we get there. It’s better than picking in the 50s and the 60s and the 70s, so I’ll take it. Three picks there is very exciting for our entire group and I think it’s a great opportunity for the organization.”

* How about that draft money?

The Orioles are packing an unprecedented $19,144,500 in bonus pool funds. They can go overslot, for example, on a high school kid who falls to them.

“We’ll see,” Blood said. “I think that what it allows us to do is be dynamic. I think that we’re gonna be able to make some decisions that other teams aren’t gonna have the opportunity to make, and I think that based on how the draft comes to us – we are picking a little bit later at 19 and then down below that – we’ll have to see what happens. But we’re gonna have the ability to make some decisions that other teams aren’t, and that’s exciting.”

“That gives us a big opportunity to flex our muscle and hopefully, if there are players that cost a little extra money because they’ve got college commitments, we’ll be able to use it,” Elias said. “And I think that the fact that we had picks at 30 and 31 already, it makes us able to acquire a 37th pick because you’ve kind of already scouted players in that neighborhood of the draft. So we should be pretty well prepared for the picks at 37.”

* Can we trust a mock?

You’ll be ridiculed if you do.

The pundits fight the urge to punt on the Orioles, who reveal little to nothing. Heston Kjerstad, for example, seemed to catch just about everyone by surprise after going second overall in 2020.

The only common thread in 2025 is the likelihood of a position player at No. 19, which isn’t much of a reach.

MLB Pipeline has the Orioles selecting California prep third baseman Gavin Fien. ESPN says University of Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. CBS Sports tabs Washington prep third baseman Xavier Neyens, who ESPN predicts will go to the Orioles at No. 30. Baseball America’s 6.0 mock predicts that the Orioles will select Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette.

So yes, it’s an exact science.

ATLANTA – While Beyoncé and the MLB All-Star Game might be one of the hottest tickets in town over the next couple of days, it’s SEC Media Days that has the attention of college football fans, as “Talkin’ Season” is upon us. 

If you were looking for the “bat signal” for the kickoff to football season, look no further than the 16 SEC coaches who will take the stage this week inside the College Football Hall of Fame. 

The unofficial start to the college football season was last week in Dallas, with Big 12 coaches taking the stage, but there will be plenty of eyes on what transpires in Atlanta, as many questions linger about the sport’s future. 

Hope you aren’t tired of hearing about NIL, how players are going to be paid, what kind of problems have already arisen, and how many transfer portal periods there should be, because you’re going to hear a lot more about those subjects this week. 

Make sure you follow OutKick for the latest news and interviews, as I will be joined this week by the “Hot Mic” crew at the SEC Media Days. 

Trust me, I’m ready to start talking about the upcoming season just as much as you are. 

Ok, now don’t get all excited thinking we’re going to get quotes from a few participants that will trigger opposing fan bases, but we’re usually treated to a few moments that cause fans on the message boards to lose their collective minds. 

SEC Media Days are here. (Credit: Trey Wallace)

Even though every player who will take the podium in Atlanta has gone through a media training course, there will still be plenty of viral moments that will get us through the next 48 days before kickoff. 

And while Lane Kiffin has softened his tone over the past few years, besides his ongoing Twitter jokes, you can expect plenty of coaches to discuss the ongoing problems related to NIL and the House settlement. Thankfully, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia is heading to Atlanta with fierce confidence, which usually leads to the quarterback saying a few things that will be used as bulletin board material for opposing teams. 

Yes, I said Vanderbilt and bulletin board material in the same sentence. 

Who’s Headed To SEC Media Days? Arch Manning Will Be Swarmed

In terms of scheduling each day, there will be plenty of opportunities to listen to coaches discuss how much better their team is going to be this season, while knowing that half of them probably don’t believe the words coming out of their mouths. 

Here’s the daily list of coaches you’ll be hearing speak: 

• Monday, July 14: LSU’s Brian Kelly, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea
• Tuesday, July 15: Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian
• Wednesday, July 16: Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Florida’s Billy Napier, Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables
• Thursday, July 17: Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko

As for the players joining their coaches on the podium, you can expect Tuesday to be the wildest of them all because of Texas quarterback Arch Manning making an appearance. 

While there are plenty of people who have already proclaimed Manning to be the second coming of his uncle Peyton, folks might want to pump the brakes. Sure, the Longhorns quarterback has the chance to be great, but we still haven’t seen the young man compete at a high level, save for the two starts he got in 2024. 

This week should also be the starting point for South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers to start his unofficial Heisman Trophy campaign, as he speaks with the media alongside his head coach, Shane Beamer, on Monday. 

Prevalent Burning Questions Coaches Will Try To Skirt

Is Ty Simpson going to be the starting quarterback for Alabama that can lead them back to the College Football Playoff, under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer? 

What about Austin Simmons at Ole Miss? It will be difficult for Lane Kiffin to replace Jaxson Dart, but Simmons might actually be the guy. Kiffin will almost certainly be peppered with questions regarding the transfer portal, and how his Rebels will be looking to make the College Football Playoff after striking out last season with a loaded roster. 

How many times will Josh Heupel be asked about Nico Iamaleava leaving Tennessee on the final day of spring practice? Yes, you can expect that question to be asked a lot. Would it have made sense to just pay the quarterback and avoid all the offseason nonsense? Sure, but that whole ordeal was deeper than just Iamaleava looking for a pay-bump. 

Josh Heupel and Tennessee have moved on from Nico Iamaleava, but the questions will still be asked  (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

You can expect Heupel to give the whole “we’ve moved on, and I’m excited about our quarterback room, with a true competition taking place during Fall camp”. speech. And, yes, the addition of Joey Aguliar will be a topic of conversation. 

Oh, and let’s not forget about the other coach who will be peppered with questions, but not particularly about the on-field product.

How Is The Golf Game Of Auburn’s Hugh Freeze? Yes, It Will Be Asked

For the past month, it seems just about every Auburn fan has been concerned about how many times head coach Hugh Freeze has hit the golf course. No, I’m not kidding, and neither was Golf Digest, when the magazine decided to jump into the fun. 

While Auburn has been getting beat on the recruiting trail lately, plenty of Tiger fans have blamed this on Hugh Freeze playing several rounds of golf. Yes, folks think these coaches don’t have a life outside of football. Do you know how many coaches sneak off to play a round of golf during the regular season? 

I’m sure the number would force you to retract some of your statements about Hugh Freeze. 

Even Lane Kiffin took a jab at the Auburn coach on social media. The best response from Freeze should’ve been asking how many times Kiffin has hit the “Gulf of America” for a fishing expedition over the past few months, but Freeze didn’t take the bait. 

I would not expect you to learn much about your favorite team this week in Atlanta at SEC Media Days, but I can almost promise you there will be some entertaining quotes that come out of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

So, strap in. Make sure you’re following OutKick for the latest news and interviews this week.

Image credit:
Gage Wood (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)

The MLB Draft is equal parts projection and persuasion—a search not just for talent, but for belief.

The 15 players highlighted below are among the most compelling college names in this year’s class, each for a different reason. Some lit up Omaha, some carry freakish tools, others are works in progress with tantalizing ceilings. This isn’t a ranking. It’s a snapshot of the players who captured our attention—and who might soon convince a front office to call their name early.

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Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU (BA Draft Rank: 4)

If Anderson’s brilliance wasn’t already clear by the time he reached Omaha, he removed all doubt once he got there. The LSU lefthander allowed just one run over 16 masterful College World Series innings, striking out 17—including a complete-game shutout in the national title game. His performance was surgical, unflinching and final.

But the truest measure of Anderson’s dominance came not from the stat sheet, but from the mouths of those who tried to hit him.

“He toys with you,” teammate Steven Milam told Baseball America.

That sentiment echoed through the LSU dugout and well beyond it. Armed with a fastball that danced at the top of the zone and breaking balls that spun at 3,000 rpm, Anderson carved his way through the 2025 season as the nation’s top college arm. He led Division I in strikeouts, earned first-team All-America honors, won Baseball America’s inaugural College Pitcher of the Year award and—fittingly—was named Most Outstanding Player in the College World Series.

To LSU head coach Jay Johnson, the decision for the No. 1 pick is obvious.

“His next pitch,” Johnson said in Omaha, “should be for someplace in the Washington Nationals organization. It’s not close.”

Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (BA Draft Rank: 6)

There’s little mystery to Arnold’s place near the top of draft boards. The Florida State lefthander led the Seminoles back to national prominence with a 2.98 ERA and 278 strikeouts over 190.1 innings since the start of 2024, all while dominating in the crucible of the ACC.

But what makes Arnold compelling isn’t just what he is. It’s what he’s becoming.

Once a two-pitch arm, Arnold spent the offseason developing a changeup to round out his arsenal. By spring, it had turned into a real weapon—arguably too effective, he joked.

“It moves a ton so sometimes it’s hard to gauge where to start it,” Arnold told Baseball America. “But I’d say that’s a pretty good problem to have at this point.”

Arnold throws from a deceptive low slot and pitches with a poise that belies the pressure of his draft status. Where others might tighten, he leans in. Scouts believe that changeup could grade as plus or even double-plus in time, adding even more ceiling to an already high-floor profile.

Arnold enters the first round with one of the most complete arsenals in the class—and the mindset to keep sharpening it.

Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (BA Draft Rank: 8)

When Doyle returned on two days’ rest to close out Tennessee’s regional final against Wake Forest, some called it reckless. Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello had a different take.

“He’d have killed me if I didn’t let him go back out there,” Vitello said—smiling, but only partly joking.

That moment distilled what makes Doyle so compelling. His fastball is a unicorn: a double-plus four-seamer from the left side that dominated hitters all spring. But it’s his mindset—his unrelenting, almost murderous competitiveness—that sets him apart.

Doyle nearly edged out Anderson for the national strikeout lead and regularly overwhelmed hitters with just that one pitch. His secondaries lag behind, but evaluators rave about his makeup and believe it will carry him through the developmental process.

Doyle’s profile isn’t complete, but his drive is. He’s the kind of pitcher who grabs 100 mph on short rest and dares you to swing. And that might just be enough.

Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (BA Draft Rank: 11)

Bremner’s 3.49 ERA might not dazzle at first glance. But look closer—over the final six weeks of the season, few pitchers in the country were better. From April 4 to May 16, Bremner struck out 74 while walking just 10 in 43.1 innings, posting a 2.91 ERA and showcasing why so many evaluators believe in his upside.

The 6-foot-2 righthander owns one of the best changeups in the draft and pairs it with advanced command, mid-90s velocity and a calm, controlled delivery. His slider remains a work in progress—flashing promise but needing refinement—but his feel for sequencing and zone control gives him a strong foundation.

More than anything, Bremner’s second half told the story. He didn’t just improve—he surged, revealing the kind of polish and poise that wins over decision-makers in draft rooms. His best ball is still ahead of him and that sentiment could very well push him into the top-15 picks on Sunday night.

Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas (BA Draft Rank: 18)

No 2025 draft-eligible player delivered a more jaw-dropping moment than Gage Wood. On the sport’s biggest stage, the Arkansas righthander threw just the third no-hitter in College World Series history—missing a perfect game by a single hit batter—and broke the event’s strikeout record with 19.

It was a performance that felt mythic. But for those who’d seen him all year, it wasn’t a surprise.

“He had the best fastball in the SEC,” one opposing coach told Baseball America, calling it an “easy 80” on the scouting scale.

Wood’s fastball—explosive, late-rising and dominant—is his calling card, drawing comparisons to past SEC flamethrowers like Ty Floyd, who previously held the CWS single-game strikeout record. But he’s no one-trick arm. His curveball flashes plus, his slider and changeup show real promise, and his command tightened considerably in 2025.

For scouts who were already convinced, Omaha was simply confirmation. For everyone else, it was a revelation. Expect Wood to hear his name well before Day 1 ends.

Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina (BA Draft Rank: 25)

Only 16 Division I hitters drafted in the first round since 1982 batted under .300 in their draft year. Stevenson is likely to become No. 18 after Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette becomes No. 17 on Sunday night.

The North Carolina catcher hit just .251 this spring—a figure that puts him in rare and rather unflattering company—but also posted a .414 on-base percentage, walked nearly as many times as he struck out and mashed balls with a 96.5 mph average exit velocity, one of the best marks in the country.

It makes Stevenson one of this year’s most polarizing prospects. The hit tool is a legitimate concern, but almost everything else checks a box. He’s a plus receiver and blocker with an above-average arm, he controls the zone and he plays a premium position. He also doesn’t turn 21 until late July, giving him age-based upside.

The questions now: Which teams will overlook the batting average? And how high are they willing to take him?

Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson (BA Draft Rank: 27)

Cannarella does almost everything well. He’s a plus runner, a gifted defender in center field with elite instincts and range and a hitter with feel, bat speed and the potential for more power as his frame matures.

But for all that promise, there’s one glaring red flag.

Cannarella’s throwing arm is well below-average—closer to bottom-of-the-scale than just weak. He tore his right labrum as a sophomore, played through it, then underwent surgery before the 2025 season. Though he mostly returned to form at the plate, he was absent from pregame throwing drills and showed severely diminished arm strength in games. Scouts don’t expect him to ever reach average in that category.

At 6 feet, 180 pounds, Cannarella is a classic hit-over-power profile with some physical projection left. The power may come. The arm likely won’t.

Still, elite center field defense is a rare commodity—and that, combined with his contact skills and speed, may be more than enough for a team willing to live with the risk.

Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina (BA Draft Rank: 29)

If you ask opposing coaches who the best defensive catcher in this year’s draft is, many won’t hesitate: Caden Bodine.

“He’s the most complete receiver in the country,” one coach told Baseball America. And the numbers—and eyes—back it up.

Bodine is a high-level pitch framer with an elite feel for stealing strikes, a polished blocker and a strong, accurate arm. His work behind the plate helped anchor Coastal Carolina’s run to Omaha and earned him a reputation as the best defensive catching prospect in the class.

Offensively, Bodine brings advanced bat-to-ball skills and a discerning eye, but his lack of power raises questions about how his offensive game will translate to pro ball. He controls the zone, but the thump is light. In pro baseball, even strong defenders eventually need to do some damage.

Still, organizations value defense at catcher more than ever. And Bodine’s rare polish and poise behind the plate will give him a long runway to figure out the rest.

Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana (BA Draft Rank: 34)

Taylor didn’t leave much room for debate in 2025. He batted .374/.494/.706 with 18 home runs, 13 doubles, 12 stolen bases and drew 52 walks to just 30 strikeouts—numbers that only solidified what he’s been since arriving in Bloomington. Across three college seasons, he never posted an OPS below 1.080 or hit fewer than 16 home runs.

In a draft light on proven college bats, Taylor stands out. His offensive polish, power and patience make him one of the safest bets to hit at the next level.

The question is how much value he can provide elsewhere. Taylor is a below-average athlete who’s likely confined to left field, where his glove and range may limit his impact. But when you hit like he does, teams tend to find room.

He’s a bat-first prospect in a draft starving for college bats—and that alone makes him a strong first-round candidate.

Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville (BA Draft Rank: 47)

Forbes is more blank canvas than finished product, but it’s the kind of canvas that comes with unopened paint in all the right colors.

After two years flashing vibrant stuff in relief, Forbes moved into Louisville’s rotation in 2025 and surged up draft boards with a brilliant opening month. The full body of work was less consistent—he finished with a 4.42 ERA over 71.1 innings—but the ingredients were undeniable: a 36.7% strikeout rate, a career-best 10.7% walk rate and flashes of dominance that few in the class could match.

Forbes is a dynamic mover with a whippy arm and a fastball that explodes out of a low three-quarters slot. It sits mid 90s and can touch 100 with late ride, especially dangerous at the top of the zone. He pairs it with a power slider that morphs in shape—sometimes tight and vertical, other times sweeping across the plate—especially effective against righthanded hitters.

His command remains fringy and his changeup rarely appears, but the raw tools are as loud as any arm on the board. What Forbes becomes will depend on which team is ready to pick up the brush.

Cam Leiter, RHP, Florida State (BA Draft Rank: 85)

Few players in this year’s draft offers more unknown—or more upside—than Leiter.

He transferred to Florida State after a solid freshman year at Central Florida and wasted no time showing scouts what made him one of the most electric arms in the class. In just seven starts and 35 innings in 2024, Leiter struck out 56 batters with a high-octane arsenal before a shoulder injury ended his season. Attempts to rehab eventually gave way to surgery, and Leiter didn’t throw a pitch in 2025.

When healthy, he’s a live-armed righthander with a 94-96 mph fastball that’s touched 99 and generated a 30% miss rate. He spins two distinct breaking balls—a hammer curve in the low 80s and a power slider that can blur into cutter territory at its top end velocity. Both flash plus. Against lefties, Leiter will fold in a firm changeup that keeps hitters off balance.

The injury history clouds his draft stock, but the pure stuff and 6-foot-5, 235-pound work-horse frame are loud enough to carry real belief. For teams willing to take a leap, Leiter offers the kind of upside few others can match.

James Quinn-Irons, OF, George Mason (BA Draft Rank: 87)

At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Quinn-Irons didn’t look like someone who belonged in the Atlantic 10. And by the end of his career, he didn’t play like it either.

His junior season at George Mason felt like a parting gift. He hit .419 with 16 home runs, 24 doubles and 36 stolen bases while drawing walks, hitting for power and punishing pitchers who dared challenge him in the zone. It was the kind of year that turns heads in any conference. In the A-10, it bordered on absurd.

Quinn-Irons always had the frame, the athleticism, the raw tools. But in 2025, everything started to sync. The swing tightened. The chases came down. And while he still didn’t see much premium velocity, scouts could finally start dreaming big on a player who combined size and speed in ways few others in this class can.

He played all three outfield spots in college, and there’s a chance his straight-line speed keeps him in center. If not, the arm plays in right. Either way, Quinn-Irons was a giant for the A-10. Now he gets a bigger stage.

Cody Bowker, RHP, Vanderbilt (BA Draft Rank: 98)

Without high-octane velocity, Bowker might not be your typical SEC arm.

The Maine native began his college career as a two-way player at Georgetown, quietly flying under the radar until he committed fully to pitching as a sophomore. That decision changed everything. A transfer to Vanderbilt in 2025 gave him a national stage, and he made good on it—posting a 4.38 ERA with 99 strikeouts over 72 innings in the toughest conference in the country.

Bowker doesn’t overpower hitters, but he confuses them. His low-slot delivery adds funk and deception, making his 92–94 mph fastball—which will bump 95—play well above its velocity. His changeup is his best secondary, a fading, tumbling pitch that tunnels beautifully off his fastball and gets swings from both sides. He mixes in a slider and cutter that can sometimes blend, and his continued growth might depend on separating those shapes or introducing a softer breaking ball.

Bowker isn’t finished yet, but the progress is real—and evaluators have noticed. He’s a late-blooming, Northeast-built righty with the traits and temperament to start and the ceiling of a sneaky valuable Day 1 pick.

Grant Jay, C, Dallas Baptist (BA Draft Rank: 128)

There’s nothing subtle about the way Jay plays baseball.

Thickly built and power-packed at 6 feet, 225 pounds, Jay leaves an impression the moment he steps in the box. He hits the ball hard—and often, far. In 2025, he slugged 19 home runs, swiped 14 bases and became Dallas Baptist’s all-time home run leader, blending brute strength with surprising athleticism.

His hands are fast, his wrists strong, and when he connects, the ball jumps. But there’s some volatility baked into the profile. Jay’s swing can lengthen, and his aggressive approach leads to both below-average chase and zone contact rates. It’s a power-over-hit package, especially for a catcher.

That’s where things get interesting. Jay moves well for his size and owns a strong arm, but the finer points of catching—receiving, blocking, consistency—still need work. Some scouts see a future first baseman or corner outfielder. Others think the right development path could keep him behind the plate, where his offensive upside carries far more weight.

For a team willing to bet on strength, tools and positional value, Jay is the kind of swing worth taking. He could be a sneaky Day 1 pick.

Brody Donay, C, Florida (BA Draft Rank: 217)

Of the 15 players on this list, Donay is the least likely to come off the board on Day 1. But he might be the most fascinating gamble.

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Donay is hard to miss. He’s a towering presence with rare strength and some of the loudest raw power in the class. After transferring from Virginia Tech to Florida, a few subtle swing tweaks—wider base, quieter hands—unlocked a career year. He hit .303 with 18 home runs and posted the best strikeout and walk rates of his career. When he connects, the ball leaves in a hurry.

But getting to that power isn’t always easy. Donay remains a free-swinger with a high chase rate and one of the lowest contact rates among projected top-10 round picks. His defense is similarly split: a cannon arm but slow mechanics and below average receiving. Florida often used him at designated hitter, and his long-term home might be first base or right field.

He’s a player of extremes—huge tools, huge question marks. The team that drafts Donay won’t be playing it safe. But if it hits, the reward could be just as big as the risk.

FRISCO, Texas — It’s been close to two weeks since revenue-sharing officially became a dynamic element in college athletics as part of the groundbreaking House settlement, and everyone involved is still getting their feet under them.

It’s become a significant moment in intercollegiate athletics, with a Big 12 athletic director comparing it to historic events like the creation of the NCAA (1906), the introduction of athletic scholarships (1956), Title IX (1972), the NCAA v. Board of Regents case (1984), and the Fair Pay to Play Act for NIL (2019).

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Institutions across the country had been working around the clock to prepare for the introduction of rev-share on July 1. That mandated educating athletes on the challenges they’ll face, including handling NIL through an online clearinghouse called NIL Go.

Schools now can directly pay athletes, with a cap set at $20.5 million. Most Power 4 programs will allocate a significant portion of that revenue pool toward football, approximately 75%, although this varies from school to school. Those institutions aren’t required to reveal what they’re paying players.

While the topic of money can be a sensitive subject, the players know they’re prepared.

“The topic of money is never really a discussion we intended to have, but they do a good job educating us on the changes or what’s to come,” said UCF linebacker Keli Lawson.

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For many institutions, education extends beyond traditional academics, embracing a holistic approach where player-development personnel collaborate closely with athletes to equip them for the multifaceted challenges they will encounter in their lives and careers.

“These life skills developments are about putting us in situations to be able to develop a part of our life that we probably weren’t taught growing up, such as creating an LLC [Limited Liability Company]. How do savings work? How does credit work? How are you able to build your credit when you’re trying to buy a home? How do you go about doing something like that? What is the difference between a lease and renting?” said Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels.

Revenue-sharing payments, like NIL deals, are taxable income that athletes must report on their tax returns.

“They’re not just giving money and saying, ‘Here, do whatever you want with it.’ They’re putting us in situations to build a plan and find out what we can do with our finances rather than just going out and saying, ‘Oh, dang, I just got this much money. Let me go ahead and blow it all,’ and then realize that you’ll have taxes later down the line,” Daniels added.

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The Big 12 recently has entered into a multi-year partnership with PayPal, which will facilitate revenue-sharing payments from universities to their athletes through the popular online payment platform. This agreement will also enable athletes to receive NIL payments seamlessly.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said West Virginia was one of the first schools in the conference to utilize PayPal’s HyperWallet.

UCF AD Terry Mohajir talks NIL, construction, Space Game and International games

“Two weeks ago, they brought in a couple of people to talk to us about the revenue sharing because there have been so many changes,” said West Virginia receiver Jaden Bray. “We have to switch to a whole new app. We’ve got to upload everything. There’s so much stuff. So they do a great job of teaching us.”

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Daniels believes this new opportunity will prepare him for a possible career in the NFL.

“It’s a better chance, a better time for you to learn in college when you’re making hundreds of thousands of dollars than when you go to the NFL and you start making 10s of millions of dollars. What are you going to do with it then?” he said.

That said, some coaches warn their players against falling prey to unsavory third-party elements, especially like an agent.

“Some of these guys are taking 20-to-25% [of their income] from these guys,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “That’s outlandish. It should be 3-to-5% just like the NFL, and certification would be an absolute step in the right direction.”

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Originally from Germany, UCF offensive lineman Paul Rubelt faces limitations with NIL and revenue-sharing due to his status as an international student. However, he remains unfazed by the opportunities his teammates can seize that are often more lucrative.

“I’ve gotten so much through the school,” Rubelt said. “We get gear. We get free food. We receive disbursements, such as scholarship money and housing. That’s a lot of stuff and a free degree. I’m on my second degree now, so that’s more than I can ask of being an international student.”

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Rublet sees a significant advantage to revenue-sharing.

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“It’s awesome for players to get,” he added. “Can it be out of control? Probably. So there are good [things] and bad [things].”

Throughout it all, it still comes down to what is accomplished on the field, according to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

“The teams and coaches who can put that aside will focus on coaching and playing football and find a way to come together to get the best chance to win. That’s the only way I think we can handle the monetary side of college football at this time,” he said.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.