Blue Raider Podcast | 05.29.2026

[00:00:00] This is the Blue Raider Podcast on WG&S. 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. Today's episode, men's basketball collects another portal signee. And speaking of the portal, the spring sports portal will open up on Monday, June 1st. We've got all the news on what players are going to be attending to enter that portal from both baseball and softball. Football announced their promotional schedule coming up for this fall.

[00:00:49] So we've got all the game times as well as the promotions. And then, of course, we'll keep tabs on those track and field runners that are in Lexington this weekend competing in the East Regional. But before we get into today's episode, I need to thank our presenting sponsor, Gold's Gym of Tennessee, who has a new month-to-month pricing right now. It's available online with no additional fees. The gold membership is just $25 biweekly with a $40 enrollment.

[00:01:13] Or you can even upgrade to the family plan for you and a significant other at $45 biweekly with only a $20 enrollment. That membership gives you access to all 16 Gold's Gym locations across Tennessee, along with access to their group exercise classes and child care. Again, all included with no hidden costs. So visit Gold's Gym of Tennessee online at goldsjim.com to learn more and find a location near you.

[00:01:39] And thanks to you for tuning in to another episode of the Blue Raider Podcast. If you're not already following us on our social media outlets, at Blue Raider Pod, on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and of course where our live stream is today over on YouTube. Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss another one of our Friday uploads. We are live for the first time in a while. Back in studio, back in my home here.

[00:02:02] If you wanted to join into today's episode, of course, you can call the studio. That number is 615-893-1450. And our producer here will gladly take your call. Now, getting into it. Talking portal a lot. It's going to be a big theme for us all summer long. Keeping an eye on it, especially with spring sports opening up. But I really wanted to get back into basketball.

[00:02:25] Last week, we talked a lot about men's and women's basketball portal situation where the men might still be adding somebody. And quickly after our episode last week, we got the news that they added Ofri Neva as a 6'7 forward coming to the Blue Raiders from Oral Roberts. He averaged over 11 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, shooting 47% from the field, 30% from three, and then 67% at the free throw line.

[00:02:53] So, going off today's announcements, they were, if you aren't following the men's basketball program on their social media outlets, they did announce a full completed roster now. They added two more freshman signees, a 6'4 guard Garrison White from Macaulay School down in Chattanooga. And then a 6'3 guard Braylon Davis played up in Nashville at the University School of Nashville. So, two private school players that are in state.

[00:03:21] And then along with Ofri, who signed late last week, we'll give them a total of 16 on roster. More than the 15 allotted scholarships for men's basketball. So, I'm certain someone between Garrison White, Braylon Davis, was more than likely taking a walk-on position. But the roster is complete. So, looking back, we do this every week, but it's always good to have a nice refresher

[00:03:49] because of how many things have changed over the last month and a half since basketball season has concluded. Or, I guess we're at two months now. The portal entries for the Blue Raiders. You lost Oglesby, Lanz, Alston, Loof, and Hall. Oglesby is off to Stetson. Alston has signed with VCU. And Loof is now at Tulsa. Lanz and Hall are still in the portal. And then your graduates, Trey Green, James Dent, and Sean Smith.

[00:04:18] So, now that is eight total players that are off your roster. Cut the roster directly in half. And then also lost associate head coach Wes Long, who's off at Kansas State, to join Casey Alexander's staff up in Manhattan. So, all the additions we have as far as players that contributed at previous colleges. Eli Rice from Penn State. Caleb Seiler from Junior College Gaston College. Quinn Barnett from Walsh University at D2 School.

[00:04:45] Kevin Kovacic from North Alabama. And then Karis Bylaw, the redshirt freshman from Louisiana by way of Vanderbilt. And then Ofri Neva from Oral Roberts by way of West Virginia. Those are all of your transfer additions. There's a lot of them. And where do they fit to this piece of the puzzle? And that's what we're here to talk about today is exactly where these guys all fit into that puzzle. But let me get to those freshman signees. There's five now, freshman signees coming into this class.

[00:05:13] I assume Jax Howard is going to be a redshirt. So, he will be, I guess, reclassified into that freshman group. But then you have Landon Collier, the freshman coming from IMG Academy. Aiden Bolden, the local, who played at PCA two years ago, transferred, reclassified as a senior last year, went down to Florida, and now is back at Murfreesboro. And then, as I said, Garrison White from McCauley, and then Davis from USN.

[00:05:39] So, those are your five, four technically signe freshmen on top of Jax Howard reclassifying with a redshirt. So, where does this team stand right now? I think I kind of glazed over the latest addition in Ofri. Ofri, last week I posed the question, where does this team stand? Because they don't necessarily have a true four. The front court depth was particularly thin because you have Luka returning, potentially being your center.

[00:06:08] You did also sign Caleb Seiler, the junior college double-double machine, who has the length to play the five. So, Brandon Olumu is technically a center. He also has the size and the length that would play the five. So, you don't have anyone that can necessarily truly play the four spot. Your two incoming freshmen, Landon Collier and Aiden Bolden, do that. They have good length. They are able to play the four, but not necessarily the ideal position putting those guys there.

[00:06:38] So, Ofri, a guy who plays the small forward position, fits that bill perfectly. Now, unfortunately, he's the only depth piece you have that has playing small forward, power forward minutes in the Division I level. So, I'm sure Coach Nick McDevitt is going to get a little creative with his lineups, with this group in particular, with what he's going to do with the four spot. But he does fit that bill perfectly.

[00:07:02] That's where I'm excited about him being the last addition to this roster because it does give them that much-needed position. They didn't have anybody. And again, past him, you're going to have to get a little creative. But the backcourt looks great. This team, I think, on paper, looks really, really good in the backcourt. And even when you compare it out to the rest of Conference USA, which we'll get to here in a minute,

[00:07:28] I think that you have so many scoring options with this team in particular. Obviously, bringing back Javan Carter, MJ Whitlock, those guys are talented scorers. I'm talking about the new additions, though, is where you really get this versatility. Quinn Barnett, Eli Rice, those guys can score the ball at all three levels. Kevin Dukovicic gives you really good size. Karis Bylaw does as well.

[00:07:54] So, I think that this collective group, a lot to work with. And that's something that I know Nick McDevitt has addressed in the past about being competitive in Conference USA, is you need scoring options. And we've seen teams like Liberty, teams like Kennesaw, who obviously have a lot of versatility on their offensive side. The emergence of R.J. Johnson this last year with the absence of Simeon Cottle with the betting scandal. So, you need to be able to reach into your bench and find scores.

[00:08:24] And this entire class, for the most part, is capable of that. Eli Rice, a great shooter. Caleb Seiler, a double-double, 19.10 rebounds a game in junior college. Quinn Barnett, 15 points, 40% three-point shooter. Kevin Dukovicic, 12 points per game, a 35% three-point shooter. Karis Bylaw was one of the top 20-point guards out of high school going to Vanderbilt, then went to Louisiana last year, and then 0-3, 11.6 rebounds.

[00:08:53] So, everyone here, capable, the only one that hasn't proven it is Bylaw coming from Louisiana, but everyone else here has scored double digits at the next level of basketball. So, hopefully that translates well. The other question is, how does this team defensively translate? I think, at this point, you want to have a good offense, and then see that you can coach your defensive tendencies into these guys, because that's, admittedly, I think it's more of a coachable aspect of basketball.

[00:09:20] It's hard to coach scoring, but it's easier to coach defense, and that's something that even carries over to the women's basketball side. We've heard Coach Rick Ensel make that comment, that it's much easier to find scores and then teach them how to play defense than vice versa. Last look at this class, another observation is that there's nine juniors coming in this year. There's not a single senior on roster.

[00:09:48] Something that I didn't even really recognize when I was looking over the roster was the fact that you have the opportunity for this continuity arc for this team moving forward to next year. Now, I know I'm way ahead of myself, but when you're looking at what these teams are capable of doing that do really well, like Liberty, like Kennesaw, retention was their addition over last year's portal season.

[00:10:13] So in a world where you keep everyone on roster this year, that is your addition. Now, you're going to have some guys that leave. I don't expect them to keep – there's nine juniors on roster. I don't expect them to keep all nine guys because not all guys – all nine guys are going to play the minutes that they want to play, or maybe even some of them aren't making the money that they think that they deserve. But in a world where you can keep your core together, moving into the 2027-28 season, I think is very valuable.

[00:10:40] I don't know if that was on purpose for Coach McDevitt or that's just what happened, but that's always a great sign. And then again, having four incoming freshmen and then one redshirt freshman, those are good – again, you're creating some in-home growth as well as having some healthy competition amongst your juniors and, of course, in the backcourt as well. But as I alluded to earlier, how does that stack up with the rest of Conference USA?

[00:11:06] Well, believe it or not, the Blue Raiders only returning one starter this last year in Javan Carter. The rest of the league, only two teams have two returning starters left. Everyone else either has one returning starter or zero returning starters. And those zero returning starter teams are Liberty, that senior-laden team, and then Brett Decker is off to Baylor. And then FIU, who's going through an entirely new coaching change, they have no returning starters.

[00:11:35] But everyone else either has one or two. To point out, the teams that have two returning starters, Jacksonville State, guys that mostly didn't contribute, and New Mexico State. And then Western Kentucky returns one, which is Tegan Moore, and then one that is not technically a starter in Armello Boone, but he played mostly starter minutes coming off the bench for Western Kentucky. So technically only one returning starter, but they have two guys that played starter minutes.

[00:12:03] So those three, I mean, if you're someone that is keeping up with Conference USA, looking forward to some previewing of 2026-27, that's where my head turns. Those three programs right there already have a step ahead of the rest. Particularly because they all had good years. New Mexico State did not have a good year, but they always have a really, really good transfer portal season. And they did just that.

[00:12:27] They actually stole DJ Dudley, who was an all-conference selection out of Louisiana Tech last year, averaged 14 points per game, is transferring, staying in Conference USA, even though Louisiana Tech is leaving for the Sun Belt. But he's going out west to Las Cruces. So New Mexico State, once again, in my eyes, probably has one of the better transfer portal classes in this entire conference. So that's a big eye to keep on with New Mexico State. The other one is Liberty, of course, who, again, has zero returning starters.

[00:12:57] But they did pick up the Campbell Twins from Troy, who collectively averaged over 20 points per game. And they also got Sean Register Jr., who is from Eastern Florida State. He was third in the country in scoring in junior college. So, once again, Liberty continues purchasing scores. So they're always going to be a tough test for what Conference USA brings. But everyone else, again, only one returning starter or zero.

[00:13:26] I also thought it was an interesting note as we wrap up this first segment is there's 32 players, independent, separate players that were listed on last year's postseason Conference USA Awards. Of those 32 players that were listed, only four are going to be returning to the conference this year. That's right. 28 players on the Conference USA postseason awards list will not be returning to the conference,

[00:13:53] whether that's graduation, but it's mostly contributing to the transfer portal, which I assume this is going to be a new norm for all of mid-major that we just have to kind of come to expect. But men's basketball has to put a close to their transfer portal season since they announced their final roster today. So that's something they have to worry about moving forward until next year. But now the spring sports portal is going to open up on Monday. So what baseball players intend to enter the portal and how will head coach Jerry Myers respond?

[00:14:22] We'll talk about it and much more after this break. You're listening to the Blue Raider podcast presented by Gold's Gym of Tennessee. 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.

[00:14:52] The spring sports portal window opens up on Monday, June 1st, and some names have already declared for the portal from the Blue Raider roster. We'll dive into that current state of affairs. But first, if you're not already following us on our social media plugs, make sure you do so. We're on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, at Blue Raider Pod. And, of course, our live stream today over on YouTube is Blue Raider Podcast, where we are here every Friday at 5 p.m. to 6.

[00:15:18] Today's episode is actually going to be cut short as we're turning it over to the Braves game at 5.30 for their pregame. But if you want to join in this last segment, the number to call in is 615-893-1450. Just to catch us up a little bit with spring sports, it's not over yet. We still have some participants out in Lexington competing in the East Regionals for track and field. We have Mustafa Bakpin, who advanced to the 100-meter and 200-meter quarterfinals tonight at 6.35 p.m. on ESPN+.

[00:15:48] And then Privilege, Chikara, is also advancing to the 800-meter quarterfinals, and she will compete for her chance to go to Eugene tomorrow at 7.05 p.m. Highlighting Moses Likoki, who got 28th place in the 10K. Chidima Agu got 6th place in her heat in the 400-meter, just barely missing the cut to the quarterfinals. That would also have been on Saturday. And then Faith Nyathi wrapped up her collegiate career yesterday in the 10K.

[00:16:16] D&F looked like she might have lost count on her laps, but she unfortunately finished her career with a D&F there in the East Regionals. Still got two more competing for a chance to go to the national championships in Eugene. But this segment dedicated to spring sports and the portal window opening officially on the 1st. I'm highlighting for the short segment baseball. That's obviously the big storyline for a lot of us.

[00:16:42] Where does this team turn after what would be defined as a disappointing year? They did make the conference tournament as the 9th seed, but set a lot of high expectations early on and didn't necessarily live up to those expectations. So where do they stand now? Five players have entered the portal since the season ended last week. And again, the portal isn't officially open until Monday, but players can go ahead and declare that they're going in. I don't know that they can necessarily contact other teams,

[00:17:09] or those teams can even contact them until that July 1st date, but these players have already said that they would be entering. Redshirt junior Kenny McKinley, outfielder, and then redshirt junior pitcher Matthew Porteous, and then redshirt freshman infielder Calvin Cook, and then some actual contributors on this team this last year. Junior pitcher Abel Albaron, and then redshirt sophomore outfielder Brett Rogers. Those last two, Brett more so than Abel,

[00:17:38] hurts a lot. Brett, if you was an all-conference USA freshman a season ago, he started, he has started in over 105 games for the Blue Raiders in his two seasons. This last year was steady Eddie there in right field, played every game for him, batted 309, 26 RBIs, two home runs, a 423 on base percentage, and led the team with 37 walks. That one certainly hurts them. However,

[00:18:07] I'm not too alarmed because of how much depth this roster has in the outfield currently. I'm not saying that I know or do not know of other outfielders that may or may not be entering the portal, but it certainly is better for them that if they were going to lose somebody, it would be in the outfield. And then Abel Albaron, a guy that threw 31 innings this year, 23 strikeouts over those 31 innings, had a really good start to the year. I look back to his four and two thirds against Tennessee Tech early on in the year,

[00:18:37] giving up only one hit, no runs in that matchup. And then after that, proceeded to give up, I believe it was 11 runs over the next five outings. It was kind of a rocky middle ground for Abel, but they used him out of the bullpen a few times there later in the year. So again, I wouldn't say the biggest loss, but he is a player that you were looking to use as a depth piece moving forward next year. I even had mentioned him that if he was one of those guys that could take a step forward this next year,

[00:19:06] kind of get back to that Tennessee Tech game that he had earlier this year. Obviously he has the stuff, not a big strikeout guy, but can pitch to contact and work themselves out of jams. But that one hurts. So five guys right now that are in the portal, one starter in Brett Rogers. Where do they stand for incoming? They've got five transfers already on the books, all from junior college. Daniel Bastidas is a sophomore catcher from Heartland Community College. Clay Gadboys,

[00:19:32] a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Kankakee Community College. Matthew Meade, sophomore righty from Pellissippi. Nick Capello, freshman righty from Florence Darlington Tech. And then Brayden Suggs, a sophomore righty from Cleveland State. And then three incoming freshmen, Chris Brown, catcher from Brentwood High School. Owen Fogle, an outfielder from the Webb School in Bell Buckle. Tommy Baker is an infielder from South Gibson High School. So three Tennessee State signees.

[00:20:02] So this upcoming year, with where their roster stands, and I'll save you from that laundry list of players, but you've got 17 seniors, potentially, for the 2027 campaign. Again, I don't know that anyone would be entering the portal when I sat down with SID Willie Failer at the end of the year and asked him, what do you anticipate happening? He did say that there would be two guys that have contributed this year. One would be a big loss. And I would assume

[00:20:32] that was Brett Rogers. And it sounds like he had made the decision rather early, or at least that he knew about it rather early, going into that last home series against Liberty. But this team collectively, with 17 seniors presumably on board for next year, this could be a very big year for Coach Jerry Myers and staff. And what do they need moving forward into their, I would say, a pivotal year, at least for a lot of fans anyways, on Jerry Myers?

[00:21:02] What does this team need? Well, we've been saying this all along, they need pitching depth. Well, from what I've listed, they've got four incoming community college pitchers, all right-handers, coming in for this next year. They're going to need a catcher and a first baseman, mostly to replace Tyler Minnick, who is your all-star catcher, and then Dean O'Neill, who was your backup catcher, and also a guy that played a ton of first base and was a great middle of the lineup bat for you. But you've got two catchers coming in, Bastidas,

[00:21:32] the sophomore catcher from Heartland, and then Chris Brown from Brentwood High School. Those are your two catchers that are coming in. On top of already having Janilla on roster, so you've got three incoming, you've got three catchers on roster, none that are necessarily proven bats. That's something that I think would need to be addressed. But the outfield depth looks good. The infield depth, you're really returning everybody there, except for Clay Badalak, who's graduating, played a lot of shortstop for you. But if Matt Wolfe can figure out the defensive side of the ball,

[00:22:01] because he hits the ball just fine, actually just as well, if not better than Clay Badalak, over the course of the season, but just needs to be more consistent with the glove to stay in the lineup. But you're going to return Brett Von Dolan at third base, Cooper Clapp at second base, so you feel great there. Owen Nowak in center, and then Nate Brewer out in the left. So if you can shore up that right side of your field in first base and right field, I think that this team is in really good shape. It's just a matter of finding

[00:22:31] the pitching depth and finding some level of consistency on the mound to make them competitive. Because I know when Connor was on a couple weeks ago, we've talked about this. This team competes with these other Conference USA teams that are in the NCAA tournament right now as we speak. And Conference USA has three teams in the tournament. Liberty, Jack State, Missouri State. In Jack State, Missouri State, you were in five of those six ball games against those two clubs. There's no reason,

[00:23:00] I don't think that from the offensive standpoint, that MTSU doesn't have a lot of potential. It's just a matter of can they shore up defense? Can they shore up a good starting rotation form? Because they're going to need to find a starting rotation outside of Alderman. And then hopefully Drew Horn again doesn't hit the portal and can stay healthy for next year. But they still need to find a consistent third arm form on that weekend rotation to be competitive. Because game three is typically where, obviously, where series are won and lost. But when you're talking

[00:23:30] about the depth facing the liberties in the Missouri States and the Jack States, Sunday games are normally coin tosses because pitching dwindles. I think if Alderman can get back to who he was his freshman year, I know I keep calling back to that, but if we can get back to who he was freshman year, find someone to shore up day two with Drew Horn. If he goes back to day one, then it'd be Chandler Alderman. But then finding someone who can shore up day three for you, making yourself competitive in these weekend series. But Jerry Myers will be tasked with that his offseason.

[00:24:00] He's going to have to supplement that pitching depth for very top-heavy conference USA. Thanks again for tuning in to another episode of the Blue Raider podcast presented by Gold Gym at Tennessee. Remember to follow us on our social medias at BlueRaiderPod at X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. And if you're tuning to our live stream on YouTube, subscribe so you don't miss another one of our weekly episodes. Thanks to my producer, Jackson Smith. You're listening to the Blue Raider podcast presented by Gold Gym at Tennessee. This has been

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