Blue Raider Podcast | 04/24/2026

[00:00:00] This is the Blue Raider Podcast on WGNS. Presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee. It's your all-access pass to everything Middle Tennessee sports. Game recaps, player spotlights, and the latest from the heart of Blue Raider Nation. Now, here's your host, Jake Bolden.

[00:00:22] Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee. Baseball got a big series sweep last weekend over Delaware, and they have slid into sixth place, but they have another pivotal matchup this evening. And then we've got the transfer portal officially closing for both men's and women's basketball this week, so we're going to take some stock and see what those rosters look like today.

[00:00:48] Still a lot more additions to come, and even some additions that join the program this week. We'll look into some of those players. And then, of course, if you missed the news from Sunday, men's tennis did clinch their seventh straight Conference USA title, and they're going to await their tournament selection coming up this Monday. So much to talk about in today's episode. But before we get into it, I need to thank our presenting sponsor, Gold's Gym of Tennessee, right now.

[00:01:12] They've got a new month-to-month pricing that's available only online with no additional fees. Their Gold membership is just $25 biweekly with a $40 enrollment, or you can upgrade to the family plan for you and a significant other at $45 biweekly with only a $20 enrollment. That membership is going to give you access to all 16 Gold's Gym locations across Tennessee, along with group exercise classes and child care. Again, all that's included with no hidden costs.

[00:01:40] So visit Gold's Gym of Tennessee online at goldsgym.com to learn more and find a location near you. And if today is the first time you're listening to us at the Blue Raider Podcast, make sure you reach out on our social media outlets at Blue Raider Pod. We're on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and of course our live stream right now on YouTube at Blue Raider Podcast. So that way you don't miss another one of our uploads.

[00:02:05] And of course, keep up to date with all the Transfer Portal news that's going on, where the commitments are coming at. And then of course, as spring season winds down, we've got all your info there. And if you want to join into our episode today, feel free to call into the station, 615-893-1450. And our producer here will take your call. So before we get into that as well, the topic at hand, talking about baseball and their big series tonight. It's kind of a quiet evening for Blue Raider Athletics.

[00:02:35] Only two sporting events. Normally we've got tennis and we've got some sort of golf going on. But right now it's just softball and baseball. Softball on the road in Jacksonville against first place. Gamecocks, that game is tonight at 6 p.m. at the top of this hour. And then baseball is on the road as well. They're out in Huntsville, Texas, taking on Sam Houston. That starts at 630 tonight. Of course, we'll be taking you all the way up to that pregame with Dick Palmer that begins at 615. But a relatively quiet night, like I said, for spring sports.

[00:03:05] But I thought I'd take the opportunity here in our first segment to really break down where we're at as far as spring sports go. If you have missed all the news, men's tennis, like I said on Sunday, they defeated Liberty once again to win seven straight. Every year it seems, obviously that number grows one every year. But just talk about the dynasty that head coach Jimmy Borendame has created. Also news today that he got a commitment. Another freshman incoming this next year.

[00:03:33] This dynasty, it just looks poised to continue year after year. But every year it happens, it just becomes more and more impressive. But this championship was unlike all the others. They dropped their first double point in conference season in what Coach Borendame called a very long time. So they dropped the doubles, which surprised a lot of us. But they went on to win four of their singles matchups. We're about to win a fifth one. Eric Kriwe was there late up 5-0 in his third set. So it looked like the final score would have been likely 5-2.

[00:04:03] But you only need four to win. So getting four singles, even though you lost a doubles point, certainly locked them in. And they got it done over Liberty 4-2 at home on Sunday. So now looking forward to their selection show that's going to be Monday at 3 p.m. Central. They will await their destination. Unlikely that they're going to be hosting as there is only 16 host sites. It is still a 64-team tournament. But 16 host sites, they're not going to be in that top 16.

[00:04:30] So they will likely be driving somewhere, flying somewhere locally in the southeast to get things started. But their play actually begins Friday the 1st. So a week from today is when the NCAA tournament begins for them. So again, congratulations to Coach Borendame and the men of the tennis program. And look forward to where they end up next week. Also, tennis-wise, women's tennis, they fell last week at the two-seat FIU in their quarterfinals.

[00:04:57] Their season actually ended at 8-15 overall. But this group is still young. I know not the season that they would necessarily look for, but when four of your five top singles players are freshmen, sophomores, you're a young group. And they're going to actually be able to return, could return five of their top six singles players.

[00:05:18] I say could, because much like all the other major sports, these, I would say, lower-revenue sports still have a portal. So May 4th is what opens for the tennis teams. So keeping an eye there. But this group, if they can return all five of those players, they've just got to find that sixth singles player for them. And you're going to return the whole group. So that's always real promising there. Moving on to women's golf. They finished their season this last week at the Conference USA Championships.

[00:05:47] They finished in six as a team. But a shout-out to junior Ella Manley, finished tied for six. She was just shy of the all-tournament team in the top five, but one of her better tournaments of the year. But the team collectively had two tournament wins this season. And much like women's tennis, they could return four of their top five individual players. A very, very young team collectively. Ella Manley would be returning for her senior season and still underclassmen thereafter.

[00:06:16] So women's golf is certainly looking forward to what they could return going on to next year. Men's golf, they are still kicking it. They've got one more week left in their season. They actually started their conference tournament this Monday out in Texarkana. Right now, they're looking at one of the top three teams in Conference USA. So still a lot of promise in what they can do, of course. Their format's a little bit different than women's.

[00:06:42] But they will be wrapping up at least the conference tournament this week, barring making to the NCAAs. Track and field, they're still kicking it with two more weeks left until their conference tournament. And now we're off to the major spring sports, and that is softball and baseball. And I really wanted to cap this segment off with baseball, so we'll roll into softball situation right now. As we talk right now, again, they're on the road tonight at first place Jacksonville State. They're currently sitting in 10th place out of 12 teams.

[00:07:11] And the format for softball is you've got to be in the top eight to just make the tournament. And unfortunately, with six conference games remaining on the schedule, they are four games back of that eighth place. So unfortunately for them, it's very slim margins at this point. You've got three-game series with Jacksonville State this weekend, and then next weekend they have their final home series against currently sixth place FIU.

[00:07:37] So another team that is looking to stay inside those top eight seeds. So a lot on the table for the girls if they want to get back into it. Unfortunately or fortunately, you're going to have to win out these last six games, and that includes beating a first-place Jacksonville State team on the road. It's just been a really tough go for softball this year. I know still the core is relatively young, have some good hitters.

[00:08:03] They just never really seem to piece it together, really missing that edge in the circle with Conference USA. Looking back at their year, though, they've lost four one-run games, actually 0-4 in all Conference games this year when it's a one-run game. They've had a few extra innings that they've won by more than one run. So in one-run games in Conference, they're 0-4. So they've certainly had, I would say, the bad end of winning those close matchups.

[00:08:30] And if you're able to swing a couple of those games, eighth place is still possible. But the schedule didn't fall your way this year late. So really the fate of their season kind of falls at the hands of Jacksonville State this weekend. Got to be able to steal at least two realistically, and then hopefully you can sweep FIU. And you still need a little bit of help from the rest of the Conference. And that eighth-place team is Louisiana Tech, and you currently do not hold that tiebreaker after getting swept by them a couple weekends ago.

[00:09:00] So it's going to be tough sledding for softball, but keep tabs on them this weekend. Now the team that I'm excited about where things are trending for them is baseball. And I know they lost their midweek game 12-6, but they did get a sweep last weekend at home against Delaware. And that moved them all the way back into sixth place, a team that we've been talking about on the brink of making the tournament.

[00:09:25] And now that they have the easier portion of their schedule, starting off with last-place Delaware this last week. A three-game sweep is great. Really a great trio of starting pitching performances this last week. I know the scores didn't indicate that, but the starting pitching was phenomenal this last week. David Horne Jr. in Game 1 goes eight and a third, nine strikeouts, only allowing three earned runs. The bullpen made it certainly interesting there in the final inning, but you held on to win that one 8-7.

[00:09:54] Chandler Alderman goes five innings, only allowing two earned runs. And then Gavin King and Bryant Baranek allowed just one earned run over the final four. And then the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week performance of Cole Torbett going eight and two-thirds innings pitch. Just one shy of a complete game. Six strikeouts, no earned runs to earn the sweep over Delaware. And a big win for him.

[00:10:21] And again, he was TSWA's Pitcher of the Week as well as Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. Just to cap off a great performance when otherwise the offensive production was relatively quiet for what we anticipated with Delaware. But you look to turn around the bats a little bit this weekend against a Sam Houston State team that has been trending in the wrong direction. And that's what's put them into a precarious situation.

[00:10:48] They're currently in a four-way tie for seventh place. And so I preface the episode by saying that this is a very pivotal series. And it certainly is, not just for our team, but more so for Sam Houston. As both of these teams are still at six place feels comfortable. But with a four-way tie of seventh, you are one bad series away from getting put outside the nine spot to make the tournament.

[00:11:11] So Sam Houston coming off a sweep of New Mexico State, also riding a little bit of a high themselves. They are one of the worst hitting teams in all of Conference USA. They're 11th in batting average, 11th in runs per game. And as I said, too, their pitching staff is starting to trend in the wrong direction. Ryan Peterson's going to be their Game 1 starter this evening. He started off the year as one of the best pitchers in Conference USA.

[00:11:41] Through his first seven starts, over 44 innings pitched, he had allowed just six earned runs. Again, that's seven starts and only six earned runs. His last three starts in Conference USA, albeit there's a little bit – the competition has certainly improved for them. We're talking Dallas Baptist and Jacksonville State. But he's allowed 12 earned runs in just his last 17 and two-thirds innings pitched. So their number one has certainly struggled.

[00:12:09] And again, the offense for the Blue Raiders has, I would say, stale, but not to their normal prowess last weekend. So maybe they can get some things going for him. But this is the guy, if you can get on him early here in Game 1, get a game under your belt out there on the road. Because this team has not been – MTSU, that is – has not been good on the road. This whole season, they're 0-9 in their three series in Conference USA on the road. Haven't won a single one.

[00:12:37] And then on the year, they're 2-13 on the road. And their wins on the road are not necessarily – it's Belmont in extra innings and then Alabama A&M much earlier in the year. So you haven't necessarily beat any good teams on the road either. So although this schedule does get easier, like I touch on with Sam Houston, a team that is in the bottom half of Conference USA, you've still got to win these games. You've got to stake a claim not only in the Conference tournament but to feel good about where you're at.

[00:13:06] Because your whole tournament is on the road. So if you're not able to win games on the road, you don't feel good about what's going to happen in Conference USA tournament time. So this team, though, I feel good. I've always said that baseball is a game of momentum. And it obviously ebbs and flows. They were able to find some bats in their midweek game against Tennessee Tech. And again, they did swing it well in Game 1 against Delaware. But they went quiet in 2-3 and relied heavily on Alderman and Torbitt. So that's the other side of things, too.

[00:13:36] How do the bats respond with the pitching? The pitching isn't going to give you that same performance that they gave you this last weekend. The announcement, David Horn Jr. is going to go Game 1. Chandler Alderman is going to go Game 2, much like they have the last couple weekends. Drew Horn, to my understanding, is not on the travel roster. So they're going to be missing their ace this weekend once again. They're still winning games with or without him, which is always good news. But you'd like to get a few more innings under his belt before you get down to Kennesaw for the tournament.

[00:14:03] But how does Gavin King, Bryant Baranek, Cole Torbitt, does he pitch again in Game 3? Again, you can't expect him to go 8-2 and give up no runs again. But Sam Houston is a team that they looked really good at times, but against really good competition, they've looked worse. So we look forward to what is to come tonight in Huntsville, Texas. Again, that starts at 6.30.

[00:14:25] The pregame with Dick Palmer is at 6.15 this evening as the Blue Raiders work to solidify a place at the Conference USA Baseball Championships happening in a month from now. After the break, we will get into some more Transfer Portal updates as both basketball teams picked up a signing this week. You don't want to miss that. You're listening to the Blue Raider Podcast presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee.

[00:14:44] This is the Blue Raider Podcast presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee on FM 101.9 and AM 1450 Murfreesboro, 100.5 Smyrna, WGNSRadio.com, and the Blue Raider Podcast YouTube channel. Now, back to your host, Jake Bolden. Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee.

[00:15:09] Both basketball programs picked up some portal additions this week. We're going to give a State of the Union, so to speak, for both of those rosters in our second segment of today's episode. Again, just to remind you, social media is at Blue Raider Pod, X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and of course our live stream right now on YouTube at Blue Raider Podcast.

[00:15:31] And if you want to join our episode today, phone number here at the station is 615-893-1450, and our producer here will take your phone call. One of the big additions this week, and I always love starting with the Lady Raiders because they always seem to get me the most excited this time of year.

[00:15:53] They're early in the portal season. They kind of put their foot to the metal and go full force early on, try to fill that roster as early as possible, and they're almost there. My understanding is they've still got a visitor that's still out there, still making her final decision, but right now this roster is pretty darn close to what it's going to look like this time. In the fall, that is, in October, when that first exhibition rolls around, give you a full State of the Union.

[00:16:22] Five players have left the program, four of which in the portal, one graduating, and that's Elena Contreras. There is still the speculation of the 5-for-5 rule coming to fruition, and on a side tangent of that note, it's been interesting what people have said, what's going to happen if the 5-for-5 becomes a legitimate thing. Because if it does become legitimate, what do you do with all these fifth-year players? If you're like MTSU, you might already have your roster full.

[00:16:52] Well, and then if the NCAA calls back and says, hey, you're allowed to get a fifth year for your seniors this last year, you can't just add them back, you've run out of roster spots. I always wish that the NCAA would find a way to get to these answers a lot faster, because it kind of puts these programs in a bad situation. I'm sure if Matt Insul was given the opportunity to have Elena Contreras back for another year,

[00:17:21] he would gladly take her, but if he fills his roster up before the NCAA makes that decision, he's going to have to either take a scholarship from someone or tell Elena that, sorry, the cupboard is full. I don't know the intricacies of how that works, and I'm sure the NCAA will find a way to mess it up or find a way to allow us to add whoever they want. They can have no roster limit this year because of the 5-for-5 or whatever it may be. You're still messing with the logistics for a lot of these teams,

[00:17:50] and of course playing time for some of these players who are on the back end of these rosters, and now if you're adding more players, you're just pushing that talent further down the bench and potentially it would trickle down to other schools where they may receive playing time. So it's a really bad situation for everybody involved, except maybe the 5-for-5 players that want it and then those programs that want said players back. So it's muddy. But anyways, I get off my side tangent. Elena Contreras is your lone graduate in the women's program.

[00:18:19] Your four portal entries, Emily Monson, she's actually most recently just committed to Jack State, so we'll be seeing Emily twice this year. Savannah Davis, she is committed to Tennessee Tech. Yuhan, Catherine Lynn, she surprisingly committed to Marquette, a relatively respected women's basketball program there, so excited to see what she can do there in Marquette. And then Macy Pfeiffer, of course, the biggest surprise of them all, after Easter weekend, committed to Mississippi State.

[00:18:49] So you lose five on your roster, but so far we've had three freshman signees, McLean Bobo, 16 points per game guard, four-star Aaliyah Blanchard, number 76, in ESPN's Top 100 recruiting class from Hoover, Alabama. You just signed the Israeli last week, Mayim Cohen, plays for the Israel's national team at the World Cup this last year.

[00:19:13] And then first portal signee, graduate 6'2", quote-unquote guard, forward utility player, Maya Kone, after playing 11 games for Miami, Florida this last year, sixth man of the year at FIU. This week they added junior Zay Whitfield. I believe it's Zay Whitfield from Tennessee State. She's a 5'9 guard who started in 15 games for the Tigers this last year.

[00:19:40] She was second for the Tigers in scoring at 9.3 points per game with a 41% shooting, 45% from three, and then a 74% from the free throw line shooting clip. And again, there's only a few roster spots left. As they sit right now, there's 13. In theory, they could add two more to get to that maximum 15. Maybe, again, you're holding on to that spot for Elena. I don't know. But they have a visitor out there that has – she's already come and visited MTSU.

[00:20:09] She's – my understanding is she's still looking at other places or other options. She's narrowed the list down, so we might be hearing one more commitment for the Lady Raiders in the coming days. But my understanding is that after her, whether she commits or does not commit to MTSU, that might be it for the portal season. I'm being told that likely it will be it. So where are you looking at right now? Your guards, returning guards, is Verholz and Swaney, who have plenty of playing experience here.

[00:20:37] And then you have Nora Amadi, the French player that transferred in very late in the season list last year and redshirted. So those are your three returning guards that were on roster last year. You're adding freshmen's Cohen, Bobo, Blanchard, and now Zay Whitfield, who's going to be an incoming junior. And now your forwards, really the thing that's interesting about the forwards,

[00:21:02] and as I read them, you'll see what I'm saying, is Bogus, Kabernick, Dominguez, McClendon, Kone, Hamby. Hamby is obviously a utility knife. You can kind of use her anywhere. Same with Kone. They list her as a guard, but she has the length to be a forward, so she could really play anywhere from the two all the way down to the five. Dominguez, Kabernick, McClendon, and Bogus are all centers. By definition, at least where Bogus played this last year, but Kabernick, Dominguez, McClendon, all have the length, the play, the center position.

[00:21:32] So you have a lot of players who have playing center experience, but not as many players playing the two through four position like we've talked about. Kone can be all of those, and then everyone else can kind of shake out where they need to be. So when you're looking at this starting lineup coming up this fall and winter, your point guard's Verhulz. Your center is Bogus, Swaney, who got plenty of starts at the three spot this last year. That would be starting.

[00:22:01] I assume Kone is going to be too talented to keep off the floor, whether that's the four to fill in Macy Pfeiffer's spot, or she is talented enough she could play the two. You might just put her anywhere that you see fit, but who's battling it out for that fifth starting spot in the two guard? At least that's what I have noted here in the two spot. Well, Zay has the most experience playing Zay Whitfield, the TSU transfer that they signed this last week. She has the most experience playing on this roster.

[00:22:30] The other players too, like Kabernick, she has a lot of experience. You might even put her at center and Bogus at the four, and then you just move Swaney to Kone three. There's a lot of interchangeable, but I like to think they want someone that can shoot the ball really, really well. And I like Whitfield because of her numbers, 45% from three this last year. Her attempt rate was a little low, but you don't shoot 45% on complete access. We're not talking like 10 three-pointers. She shot a pretty sizable amount. I think it was over two attempts per game,

[00:22:58] so she's still shooting it quite a bit at a 45% clip. So you've got a lot of scorers that are coming in that are proven deep threats, like Whitfield and the Israeli Mayan Cohen. And then you've got just proven scorers that can shoot all over the floor, like Blanchard and even Bobo, who's coming in from Tola Homa. So this group I think is in good shape. But what do they look like in the fall? I don't know. And they've still got one more transfer that's looming that if she commits here,

[00:23:27] it could really shake up this lineup a ton. So where we sit now, the roster's good. It's healthy. But I'm just – how does it shake out? Matt Insul certainly has a lot of vetting for all these players, and maybe that's for the best. Get all the playing time you can. That was always the mark against MTSU when Rick Insul was the head coach, is the playing time was a problem. But I always say if you win basketball games, it doesn't matter how much playing time your players get.

[00:23:53] But in the age of the portal, it's certainly a talking point that I know anyone talking against MTSU, they're going to bring it up in those conversations. So I think Matt Insul is having a good problem in the fact that he has so much talent in deciding what that starting lineup is going to look like later in the year. So that type of intercompetition is going to breed excellent, I think, when it all says for this team. But the conference as a whole, I said last week, the front court has gotten really good.

[00:24:21] Liberty got a big signee from Sophia Gregory, someone that MTSU had targeted. I know Missouri State got bigger. They signed a girl from University of Missouri. So and if you haven't heard the news, too, that Louisiana Tech is going to be leaving Conference USA officially. So you're defending regular season champions are gone, although two of their big three are in the portal, as well as their starting center, too. So Louisiana Tech would have been what I would define as a down year.

[00:24:50] But everyone else across the conference, I think that the top has gotten better. And in my opinion, that middle to late pack has gotten worse. And so I always think that that's for MTSU to capitalize on. But it's never mattered because they always play a really tough schedule in the non-conference. We really see what this program is all about. So excited about Zay Whitfield and what she brings to the table. And then, of course, like I said, if you're not following us on our social medias for that news to drop,

[00:25:17] if and when that final player commits to MTSU, you don't want to miss that. On the men's side, however, as we close up this segment here shortly, another departure this last week. I know I set eyes on the portal closing. And really, this portal entry got underneath my nose. I didn't even realize it till later in this week today, to be exact. But Jared Hall has entered the portal for men's basketball. So that's another player gone.

[00:25:43] Their total is currently at eight players are gone. Oglesby, Trey Green, Kamari Lanz, James Dent, Sean Smith. That's five graduates. Although, technically, Oglesby and Lanz are in the quote-unquote portal if the five for five comes true. Your transfers are Torrey Alston, who committed to VCU. Chris Loof, who's currently in the portal. And hasn't found a landing spot.

[00:26:10] And then, as I said, Jared Hall, who entered the portal on the last day of Tuesday. So a late addition there. Or I should say a late subtraction for the men's basketball program there. But they did get a new signee this week. Eli Rice, a 6'8 guard. He's a junior, or going to be a junior, from Penn State slash Nebraska, where he signed out of Gallatin High School. He actually is an ex-teammate with Jovan Carter at Penn State.

[00:26:37] I'm certain that had something to do with the recruiting of Eli Rice. But he started 18 games for Penn State this last year. Averaged over six points per game, shooting 39% from three. Just another shooter that you're adding to this already five-player class that's incoming. And quickly, last week, they got Caleb Seiler, the junior from Gaston College. He formerly played at Western Carolina. He's a junior college All-American.

[00:27:06] Scored 18.5 points per game. Nearly 10 rebounds. And shot at 64.5% from the field. If you haven't seen the film on this guy, it's a highlight reel of just dunks. Nifty footwork. Very, very physical center. I hate to compare players that have already left versus who's coming in. But he has the length of Chris Loof. But Caleb Seiler is very, very physical. And that was always something that we talked about Loof that he needed to be. And at times it was. But this guy's very physical.

[00:27:35] I'm excited to see where Seiler fits in this program. The front court, in my opinion, has a few question marks. Particularly with Torrey Alston. How does the front court look now that you don't have such a versatile, athletic player playing the four? And same goes for someone like Kamari Lanz who plays that, I would say, small forward position. That 3-4 spot. Someone who can really shoot the ball. Well, a lot of this front court isn't proven shooters. But they are a lot more physical.

[00:28:05] They are big guys. I'm looking at Luka. I'm looking at Caleb Seiler. And even Aiden Bolden, 6'7", freshman that's incoming as well. Someone who can just kind of be your glue guy. And then the back court looks healthy. And shooters aplenty in this back court with Javan Carter and now Eli Rice. You've got two previous P4 guys that can just shoot the ball really, really well. Marcus Whitlock is returning. Thank God he didn't enter the portal. A guy that I'm really, really excited about his development and who he's going to be.

[00:28:35] You return, Charvez Ambrose. And then, of course, you've got Quintero Barnett, the 6'4 guard, who's coming in from D2, who averaged 14.5 points per game on 41% from three. So you've got a good grouping of front court guys that can shoot the basketball well. And talking about where this roster lies, I think starters right now, you're looking at Jod, the 1 with Barnett backing him up. Whitlock playing 2.

[00:29:03] Eli Rice, I would assume, would be your 3 right now. And Luka would be your starting 5. But who fits into that 4 spot? Like I said, Jared Hall, who would be kind of an undersized 5, maybe would have fit there. But now he's gone in the portal. So you've still got Oluumu, Landon Collier, the freshman, coming in. Like I said, Aiden Bolden, the freshman, coming in. So a lot to be jockeyed out here in this fall season. But after the break, we're going to get into our final segment of the show.

[00:29:32] The NFL Draft is taking place right now, and a former Blue Raider was actually picked in the first round. So should we expect to see any more this weekend? You're going to want to stick around and listen to that. You're listening to the Blue Raider podcast presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee. Next on All Sports Talk, it's the Blue Raider Insider Report with Chip Walters of Exit Realty, Bob Lamb & Associates. Well, good afternoon, everybody. And the big story, of course, in sports this week is the NFL Draft.

[00:30:00] And everybody follows along with their favorite team, gets their players. Well, here's an interesting story, and it ties back in to Middle Tennessee. Keelan Rutledge was selected No. 26 overall by the Houston Texans. And it says played at Georgia Tech. True. But he's played his first two years at Middle Tennessee before being lured by NIL money and whatever,

[00:30:27] the chance to play at a power force school to Georgia Tech. Keelan's a great player, great kid. Want to wish him all the best of luck with the Houston Texans. But think about this. Georgia Tech gets credit for that's where he was drafted from. But should Middle Tennessee get credit for developing him to be good enough to move on to a power program? Same goes for Jacoby Thomas. Jacoby could be drafted tonight or tomorrow.

[00:30:55] Jacoby, out of Tullahoma, played at Middle Tennessee first, then transferred to UT, then on to Miami. Just kind of an interesting side story. You're seeing a good bit more of that. Here's another example. Where do you say Jalen Hurts went to school? He plays for the Eagles. Well, do you consider him an Oklahoma player? Or do you say he played at Alabama? You know, same story, same situation with these two guys.

[00:31:24] Just kind of food for thought as you watch the NFL draft the rest of the weekend. Blue Raider basketball got a nice commitment yesterday. Penn State transfer Eli Rice has committed to the Blue Raiders. He is a 6'8 wing player and has played the last two years at Penn State, averaging about seven points and a couple of rebounds per game this past year. But he shoots 39% from three.

[00:31:51] He is a good-sized young man and has made his commitment to Middle Tennessee. Blue Raider football has an open practice going on right now, started at 430. They'll be wrapping up here shortly. But some other news for the 2026 season. Blue Raider fans and Middle Tennessee businesses and residents have the opportunity to support Blue Raider football by participating in the Blue Raider Community Impact Ticket Program.

[00:32:19] Individuals and businesses can purchase a block of reserve seats for any 2026 home football game at a discounted group rate of $12 per ticket. These tickets will be donated on behalf of the purchasing supporter to organizations such as the Daniels Veteran and Military Family Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, or other Middle Tennessee nonprofit or youth organizations. The choice is yours.

[00:32:49] More information on that is available on goblueraiders.com. Men's golf, Carter Manneth and Connor Henry have been named to the Conference USA Men's Golf All-Academic Team. That was announced late yesterday by the league office. Congratulations to those two young men. Blue Raider Golf getting ready for the Conference USA Championships coming up early next week. All right.

[00:33:16] Men's tennis, they have announced a signee, Alexander Vassard. He is an upcoming freshman from France, 6'3", 176 pounds, and has an ITF junior ranking of 301. All right. Baseball coming up tonight. Middle Tennessee opens a series at Sam Houston. First pitch at 6'30", with Dylan Simmons on the air at 6'15".

[00:33:41] Elsewhere, Kennesaw State at Western, Dallas Baptist at FIU, Delaware at Liberty, Missouri State at Louisiana Tech, and New Mexico State at Jack State. Women's softball, the Lady Raiders on the road at Jack State. They're the league leaders. Elsewhere, Kennesaw will be at Western, Sam Houston at FIU, Louisiana Tech at Liberty, Delaware at New Mexico State, and Missouri State at UTEP.

[00:34:07] And one final note, fan voting for several categories in the Raiders' Choice Awards are now available, and you can find it on GoBlueRaiders.com. Stay tuned for Blue Raider baseball coming up at 6'15", right here on the Big G, WGNS. This is the Blue Raider Podcast, presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee, on FM 101.9 and AM 1450 Murfreesboro, 100.5 Smyrna, WGNSradio.com,

[00:34:36] and the Blue Raider Podcast YouTube channel. Now, back to your host, Jake Bolden. Welcome back to the Blue Raider Podcast, presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee. I see a former Blue Raider was selected in the first round last night in the NFL draft, and should we expect to see any more this weekend? Well, let's talk about that. But first, once again, don't forget, following us on our socials, X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, at BlueRaiderPod,

[00:35:05] and of course, our live stream right now is on Facebook and X, and of course, on YouTube, at BlueRaiderPodcast. If you want to join into our final segment and weigh in, that phone number is 615-893-1450. Got a great segue there from Chip Walters, voice of the Blue Raiders, talking about Keelan Rutledge going 26th overall to the Texans.

[00:35:30] And as he said, starting off his first two seasons here in Murfreesboro, playing for Coach Stockstill. And then when Stockstill was let go at the end of the 2023 season, Rutledge, a lot like many others, Jacoby Thomas being one of those guys he also mentioned, entered the portal and found new homes elsewhere. And it's likely that Thomas is going to be one of those commitments, or commitments, I've got Transfer Portal on the brain,

[00:35:57] but one of those draftees this weekend, much like Rutledge was, which a great player as he was here at MTSU, you hated to see him go, and landed somewhere like Georgia Tech, which in the ACC always worried some, but obviously he developed well enough to get picked in the first round. And that says a lot about how good Keelan Rutledge is and was when he played for MTSU. And the hypothetical that Chip left there was,

[00:36:24] should MTSU get credit for developing some of these players? I'm afraid in today's world of NIL and transfer and money and guys moving from mid-major to major and then eventually getting drafted, whether it's football, basketball, baseball, whatever your sport may be, I believe the number of drafted talent, and this is no knock on MTSU, this is more or less a knock on the system,

[00:36:53] but the more that NIL becomes the source of transferring players, the reason people move on from MTSUs or anywhere is because of the money. But I think the opportunity for MTSU players to get drafted is going to become slim to none. I wouldn't be stunned if for the next 10 years you don't see someone drafted from a Conference USA school or someone drafted from a Sunbelt school. Sure, you're going to have some breakout senior seasons, and someone will get some late-round opportunities.

[00:37:22] But I think MTSU has every right to claim Keelan Rutledge. I don't, and forgive me, I don't know that MTSU's football social medias have posted that Keelan Rutledge was drafted and congratulating him for that. I wouldn't see an issue with it. Certainly many people would. But in today's world, I don't know that you're going to see very many MTSU drafted players. I mean, the most recent player to have success at the next level is Reed Blankenship. He was an undrafted free agent,

[00:37:51] and of course he's a genuine MTSU product. Trey Flewellen, a guy that hasn't made it in the NFL, but has certainly had his opportunities. Another guy that last season's were played at MTSU. That might be the best opportunity that MTSU has to necessarily stake claim on a guy, is to fall into that undrafted free agent territory. But Keelan Rutledge spending two seasons in Murfreesboro, and then the other two down in Atlanta, I don't think you should take anything away from MTSU.

[00:38:18] I guess at the end of the day, that's more of a Keelan Rutledge question as far as can MTSU claim him. But I don't know that you're going to see many guys like that moving forward. But as far as the draft goes, guys like that, Jacoby Thomas, as he mentioned, is someone who I would think, if he's not selected tonight in day two, he's likely going to be selected at least in day three. And then as far as guys that are actually at MTSU that have a real opportunity of getting drafted, I like Parker Hughes.

[00:38:47] I think Parker Hughes is going to be an obvious undrafted free agent. I might be surprised if he gets picked up in day three, because his numbers at pro day were so good. If you didn't know, he ran a 440 in the 40 yard. That would have been the best had he gone to the actual NFL Combine in Indianapolis. And then he got 25 reps on the bench press, which would have been the second most among linebackers at the NFL Combine. So as far as measurables for athleticism, speed,

[00:39:16] specifically vertical speed, and then strength, which is obviously something that look heavily at for linebackers. He's in the top of those two categories. I think he's a guy that if you need to take a chance on, I wouldn't be stunned if someone like Parker Hughes ended up at, say, the Tennessee Titans with Robert Sala, a guy who is known for developing defenses, specifically late round draft picks at linebackers. So that's an interesting piece. And then Demonte Smith,

[00:39:43] another guy who I think has the measurables to at least get an opportunity at the next level. He got 31 reps on the bench press at the pro day here at MTSU, which had he gone to the Combine would have been the best among defensive tackles. I think strength is by far the biggest measurable that a lot of these pro scouts use to define how good or project how good a player can be. So obviously being the best in your position there is certainly of interest.

[00:40:11] So back to the rhetoric that Chip left for us there at the break. I think a lot of these, you got to claim kids when you can. I'm afraid that this is where the sport and college athletics is going, is MTSU is not going to have many opportunities to necessarily claim professional athletes because guys' willingness to stay. And for their own reasons, money is a great reason to leave when you're 18 to 22 years old and someone else is offering you more money.

[00:40:39] But happy for Keelan Rutledge and his first round draft pick. And of course, I see no issues with MTSU fans, even MTSU athletics, claiming Keelan Rutledge as their own. And of course, putting them up in such a fashion. Other highlights this week, I just want to talk about in our final segment, back to the portal news of it all. Chris Loof,

[00:41:07] it was reported today on X by Transfer Tapes, at Transfer Tapes. The interest that Chris Loof is receiving in the portal, I thought was eye-popping to say the least. Just interesting. Interesting. Some of these teams that had come across, along with a plethora of other teams too, but these were the ones that really caught my eye. But he's getting interest from Miami, Florida, Virginia, Cincinnati, St. Louis. And then as far as mid-majors go, he's getting interest from Conference USA opponents, Liberty, Jack State,

[00:41:37] New Mexico State, and then locally Chattanooga and East Tennessee State. Both programs that have had really, really good years as of late. So getting a lot of interest from not only P4s, but also teams within Conference USA that are obviously familiar with Chris Loof. I think it's interesting. A guy that obviously faced a lot of criticism at times, played some of his best basketball this last year. I look back to that performance in El Paso where he scored 16 points, double-double.

[00:42:07] He has a lot of talent, obviously. And I think that Chris Loof is a fit kind of guy. He needs a program that just matches his style. Obviously, he can shoot the three ball. He can shoot the three ball. That's obviously not where he shines his best, but has great length. An okay ball handler. So what kind of system does that look like where he fits in? I'm not sure, but obviously getting into the back half of his eligibility, I'm sure he would like to contribute to a lot of places. So again,

[00:42:37] I was kind of shocked at some of the teams that were on that list for him, but wishing him nothing but the best. And same for Jared Hall too, as again, he was kind of a late addition to the portal, but he also had some interest. I believe Marshall was one of the teams that were on his list. So guys might move around, find places that are better fits for them. And other Conference USA, Portal News, DJ Dudley from Louisiana Tech, who is no longer going to be in Conference USA,

[00:43:04] but he transfers out to Jason Wooten out at New Mexico State. And I had this highlighted for our last segment. That's big news because DJ Dudley, the top scorer for Louisiana Tech this last year, is going to remain in Conference USA and go out to New Mexico State, who once again looks poised to have a really, really good transfer portal class. I guess in Las Cruces, they have a lot of money in that NIL basketball budget that they're not using for football. And Wooten kind of laid an egg this last year.

[00:43:33] But starting out with DJ Dudley, once again kind of sets them up as one of the better transfer portal classes in Conference USA. Liberty obviously doing great. They got the two twins from Troy. The backcourt looks really, really healthy. It just looks like this conference is really turning towards buying scores when they can. And the frontcourts, I think are going to get really, really ugly. And that might be the defining factor of who, what cream rises to the top in March this next year is who has the better frontcourt.

[00:44:01] If you look at MTSU for that matter, again, I think Luke is one of the best. He's a really good glue guy that does all the intangibles really, really well. And then does a guy like Caleb Seiler, your recent addition, does a guy like that kind of give you that scoring edge and physical edge that the rest of Conference USA doesn't have? Sam Houston looks really good. And their frontcourt as well. They got a guy coming in from the Big Ten, played very limited minutes, but obviously has a lot of talent to be able to play at the P4 level. Wisconsin,

[00:44:30] I believe is where he's from. So that's another, another team that Sam Houston had a great year looking to rebolster that lineup, returning what I, who I believe was the freshman of the year and Jacoby Coleman. So I think Sam Houston and coach Mudge look poised. Lastly here, if you didn't hear, like I said earlier, Louisiana tech is no longer going to be in Conference USA today. It was reported that the university of Louisiana board authorized Louisiana tech president to sign the settlement agreement with Conference USA.

[00:45:00] And they plan to begin play in the, in the sunbelt in the fall of 2026. And that means Louisiana tech is going to be paying the record $8 million. It was initially just a $5 million exit fee that they would have to pay in 2027. But because Louisiana tech wants to exit early a whole year, early, or I guess they're tacking on a 3% fee to that or $3 million fee to that. So they're going to pay a record $8 million to exit Conference USA. Well,

[00:45:29] I'll, if that's how badly you want to get out, I've got no problem with it. And where does that $8 million go? Obviously to Conference USA. I had been speculating for a really long time that maybe they find a way to get New Mexico state and FIU out with that $8 million. I don't know. I, I like to get the geography a little bit more centralized. I don't think NMSU and FIU add too much to the collective conference. But again, that's just my opinion, but good for Conference USA for coming out on top there and good for conference, for us, I guess, to see Louisiana tech out. Um,

[00:45:59] but that'll do it for us. Like I said, Dick Palmer's got his pregame show coming up at 615 ahead of their series against Sam Houston State. Thanks again for tuning in to another episode of the Blue Raider podcast presented by Gold's Gym in Tennessee. Remember to follow us on social media at Blue Raider pod. Thanks to my producer, Jackson Smith. You're listening to the Blue Raider podcast presented by Gold's Gym in Tennessee. See you. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye.