PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Eli Blair is one of several area players preparing to make the transition from high school to college ball. And for this particular lefty, perhaps a transition to beyond college ball. The recent Arnold graduate is getting set to head to the University of Florida in two weeks. Blair, along with his teammate Cooper Moss, signing with the Gators a few months ago. He leaves Arnold with a four-year mark of 27-7 and a 1.83 earned run average. He struck out 258 hitters over 199 innings. And this past season was 8-2 helping the Marlins win 27 games, district and region titles and earn the program’s first trip to the State Finals.

“We made it to the Final Four,” Eli told me during a sit-down interview at Gavlak recently “we finally cracked that window open. We made it to Fort Myers; we had a great season. We had the most wins in the program history a single season. That’s been our goal since our freshman year all four years to get there and we finally did it. ” So, he leaves behind a program that’s much better now than it was before he arrived you could easily argue. What’s ahead, heading to Gainesville to check into his living quarters and begin focusing on school and Gator baseball. And the idea is to arrive well prepared for all that. “There’s been a checklist that me and Cooper have been having to do.” Blair says “There’s a Gator portal and a Gator link, which is kind of like BDS launchpad for Gators you know. And we’ve just been hitting that checklist stuff, doing all our stuff, getting all our transcripts in. And just the forms, the immunization forms and all of that. So we’ve been doing that. We work out with our trainer now, but when we get down there, I know they wanted us to shut down from the throwing for now. So we’re doing that. But we’ve just been hitting the gym hard getting ready for the workouts that they have planned down there for us. “

Two weeks after Blair and Moss arrive in Gainesville, the MLB draft begins. So depending on that, well he could wind up packing up and leaving Gainesville not long after he arrives. It depends on if and when he gets drafted, and what kind of signing bonus might be involved. “Yeah, it’s a really unique experience.” says Blair “You get to go to one of the best programs in the nation. And then you also have the opportunity to go play pro ball. So I mean we’ve talked with my agent and my parents and we’re just deciding on things. But you know we’ll have to see where I go you know? It’s just one of those things. NIL and the transfer portal, also, you can use that leverage also. NIL is a very big thing in college baseball and just college sports in all. So, we could expect for somebody like me or Cooper to get paid and use that leverage in the draft per se. ” And if the draft doesn’t pull him away, Eli says he’s very excited to be joining the Gators and pitching in the SEC, adding “it just means more”.

Several weeks after Zakai Zeigler filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility, his preliminary injunction has been denied, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

Zeigler had already played four seasons for Tennessee and didn’t begin his college career until 2021, one year after the 2020-21 class that was allowed one more year of eligibility lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In the lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District Court of Tennessee, Zeigler was looking to play the 2025-26 season, challenging the NCAA rule that an athlete has four years of eligibility within a five-year window.

Zeigler, 22, isn’t allowed an opportunity to earn NIL money for a fifth year because he used up all of his eligibility. As the lawsuit argues, that deprives him of a fifth year, “the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes.”

How lucrative? The lawsuit argued that Zeigler could earn between $2 million and $4 million in a fifth year based on his record of success and visibility playing in the SEC. Those figures are projections from the Spyre Sports Group, which facilitates Tennessee’s NIL collective.

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Athletes who receive a redshirt are allowed a fifth year of eligibility, which gives them one more year to earn NIL income. A freshman who was redshirted, for example, would still be able to earn NIL money even if he or she doesn’t play.

As the filing, the documents of which were posted online by Boise State professor Sam Ehrlich, reads:

“Many players, however, do compete in the fifth year of their eligibility window. And they can earn NIL compensation for all five of those years. Had Zeigler been withheld from competing in sports during one of those four years, perhaps by redshirting, the NCAA rules would permit him to participate again next year. And this is true even if he would have slowed his academic progress and taken five years to graduate.”

Zeigler graduated in May, majoring in retail and merchandising management.

This is different from the lawsuit Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia filed against the NCAA, claiming that he should be allowed a fifth year of eligibility because he played his first two years for New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college. In December, Pavia was granted an injunction allowing him to play the 2025 college football season.

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Last season with the Vols, the 5-foot-9 Zeigler averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 32% on 122 3-point attempts. He was named a third-team All-American, and won first-team All-SEC and SEC defensive player of the year honors for two consecutive seasons. The Volunteers finished 30-8, 12-6 in the SEC, and advanced to the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight before losing to Houston.

Zeigler holds the Tennessee single-season (275) and career (747) records for assists, and career steals with 251.

When Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez signed on as 1win’s global brand ambassador in May 2025, the deal represented more than another celebrity endorsement in the rapidly evolving sports betting landscape. The partnership, announced shortly after Álvarez reclaimed the IBF super middleweight title, signals both the normalization of athlete-sportsbook relationships and the betting industry’s push to transform from transactional platforms into lifestyle brands.

The multi-year agreement positions Álvarez as the face of 1win’s expansion efforts, particularly in Latin American markets where the Mexican champion commands significant influence. For an industry increasingly dependent on star power to differentiate offerings, landing boxing’s biggest active draw marks a significant coup for the Cyprus-based operator.

The Partnership Structure

The collaboration extends beyond traditional sponsorship arrangements. 1win has integrated Álvarez into multiple touchpoints of its platform and marketing strategy. After announcing the partnership, the brand has accompanied Canelo during his historic super middleweight victory against William Scull on May 3, 2025, as well as launched with an exclusive meet-and-greet event on May 29, 2025, flying VIP members to Mexico for face-time with the champion. This approach, which focuses on offering experiences rather than just betting options, reflects broader industry trends toward enhanced fan engagement.

“The deal includes exclusive content creation, themed promotions during fight weeks, and branded merchandise opportunities, followed by a meet-and-greet,” according to partnership announcements. 1win secured rights to Álvarez-branded memorabilia for customer rewards and will sponsor the boxer’s annual “No Golf No Life” charity tournament, extending the relationship beyond pure betting activities.

The financial terms remain undisclosed, following industry standard practice for high-profile ambassador deals. However, the scope suggests significant investment from 1win, which has aggressively pursued celebrity partnerships and collaborations, including cricket’s David Warner and MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

Market Expansion Strategy

For 1win, the Álvarez partnership serves clear strategic objectives. The company, founded in 2016, has targeted emerging markets across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Mexico represents a particularly attractive opportunity, with its passionate boxing fanbase and evolving regulatory framework for online betting.

“Álvarez provides instant credibility and local relevance in markets that might otherwise view 1win as another foreign operator,” notes the company’s positioning. The boxer’s journey from rural Guadalajara to global stardom resonates with 1win’s narrative of ambitious growth and success.

The timing aligns with broader industry movements into Latin America. Multiple operators have increased investments in the region, attracted by large populations of sports enthusiasts and gradually liberalizing gambling regulations. By securing Álvarez, 1win gains a competitive advantage in customer acquisition and brand recognition.

Fan Experience Evolution

The partnership exemplifies how betting operators are reimagining customer engagement. Rather than focusing solely on odds and betting markets, platforms increasingly position themselves as entertainment destinations. 1win’s promise of “exclusive content, exciting challenges, and big surprises” through the Álvarez partnership reflects this shift.

Planned initiatives include behind-the-scenes training footage, prediction contests, and interactive challenges tied to Álvarez’s fights. These features transform passive viewers into active participants, even if they never place a bet. The approach mirrors successful strategies from fantasy sports and social gaming, blurring lines between different forms of sports entertainment.

The VIP meet-and-greet events serve dual purposes: rewarding high-value customers while generating social media content that extends the partnership’s reach. When attendees share photos with Álvarez, they provide organic marketing that traditional advertising cannot replicate.

Industry Implications

Álvarez joining 1win continues the acceleration of athlete-sportsbook partnerships across global markets. Where such relationships once carried stigma, they now represent mainstream business decisions for athletes building personal brands. The shift reflects changing societal attitudes toward sports betting, particularly in markets where legalization has normalized the activity.

For athletes, these partnerships offer lucrative opportunities to monetize their fame while maintaining a connection with fans. Álvarez, who has built a business empire including restaurants, gas stations, and a fitness app, approaches the 1win deal as another entrepreneurial venture rather than a simple endorsement.

The arrangement also highlights evolving approaches to responsible gambling messaging. Notably, Álvarez’s public statements about the partnership avoid explicit betting references, instead emphasizing “gaming” and “entertainment.” This careful positioning allows both parties to promote their relationship while navigating varying regulatory environments and public sensitivities.

Competitive Landscape

1win’s investment in Álvarez must be viewed within the context of an increasingly competitive online betting market. Operators face pressure to differentiate beyond odds and betting options, leading to an arms race for exclusive content and celebrity associations.

The company’s previous partnerships with David Warner and Conor McGregor established a pattern of pursuing globally recognized athletes across different sports. This strategy aims to build a portfolio of ambassadors appealing to diverse demographics and geographic markets.

Competitors have pursued similar strategies, with major operators signing exclusive deals with leagues, teams, and individual athletes. The resulting saturation raises questions about the long-term effectiveness of celebrity partnerships and whether consumers ultimately choose platforms based on these associations versus practical factors like odds, user experience, and payment options.

Future Outlook

The Álvarez-1win partnership’s success will likely influence future athlete-operator relationships. Early indicators, including the sold-out VIP event and social media engagement, suggest a positive reception among target audiences. However, the true test lies in sustained customer acquisition and retention metrics.

For 1win, maximizing the partnership requires consistent activation beyond initial announcements. The company must deliver on promises of exclusive content and meaningful fan experiences while navigating the delicate balance between sports celebration and gambling promotion.

Álvarez’s involvement could also impact how other elite athletes approach betting partnerships. His careful brand management and entrepreneurial focus provide a template for athletes seeking to engage with the betting industry without compromising their public image.

As sports betting continues its global expansion, partnerships like Álvarez-1win will likely become more common and sophisticated. The challenge for operators lies in creating genuine value for fans beyond traditional gambling offerings. Those succeeding in this evolution may define the industry’s future relationship with sports and entertainment.

The partnership represents a calculated bet from both parties: 1win wagering on Álvarez’s enduring appeal to drive business growth, while the champion bets on the betting industry’s continued mainstream acceptance. In an industry built on calculating odds, both sides appear confident in their chances of winning together.

THE NIL COMPENSATION FRAMEWORK for international-born players is very different than those born in the United States. Cougar Collective chair Tim Brandle joined Cougfan.com recently on how the collective does NIL deals with foreign players. The other piece to the puzzle is how the international market can be a way for basketball programs with finite NIL resources to recruit European and overseas players, and craft a winning formula.

David Riley has had a busy offseason replacing two graduates in Ethan Price and Dane Erikstrup, plus four departures in Cedric Coward (NBA); LeJuan Watts (Texas Tech); Nate Calmese (Wake Forest); and Isaiah Watts (Maryland). 

More than half the hoops roster — seven of 13 Cougar hoopers and still in progress — were born overseas.

And that requires some extra steps when it comes to NIL compensation.

Texas A&M’s 2025 wide receiver rotation is completely revamped after the additions of KC Concepcion (NC State), Jonah Wilson (Houston), and Mario Craver (Mississippi State) this offseason, while the return of Terry Bussey, Ashton Bethel-Roman and Izaiah Williams has given starting quarterback Marcel Reed an elite corps that should take the Aggie passing game to the next level.

With elite talent comes NIL earnings, and after the NCAA vs. House bill was passed, Universities will now directly pay their athletes with a $20.5 million cap per institution. At the same time, players will continue to be able to sign NIL deals with various organizations.

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This week, it was revealed that KC Concepcion signed a $2.5 million deal with The Famile. In contrast, Jaxson Callaway of AggiesToday revealed on Wednesday that Marion Craver has reportedly signed his NIL deal with Topps Trading Cards. According to Callaway, Craver will work with a variety of trading cards ranging from Autograph, Relic, Chrome, and Specialty Sets.

As Callaway notes in the article, Craver’s ascending profile and star potential after his freshman season with the Bulldogs are the primary reasons Topps is so excited about his representation moving forward.

“Mario Craver is as an emerging figure in the trading card market, leveraging his collegiate status to contribute to Topps’ diverse portfolio. The inclusion of autographs and jerseys taps into the growing demand for authenticated memorabilia, especially as Topps expands with 2025 releases like Series 2 and Chrome. Collectors can anticipate Craver’s cards in hobby boxes or as standalone rarities, available through Topps’ official site or retailers like Target, with potential value increases if his career progresses.”

Craver enters the 2025 season as the No. 2 or 3 option, depending on the results of fall practices, providing Marcel Reed with a legitimate deep threat who can take the top of most secondaries. His quickness in route will create immediate separation in the short passing game.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M WR Mario Craver signs NIL deal with Topps Trading Cards