Mock Draft Monday 7/7 '25
Blessings
Blessings
- MLB Draft ‘25
- NFL Draft Board ‘26-
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Big Sean’s Blessings featuring Drake because some 2015-16 feature fill-ins are needed before the next album.
This song peaked at #28 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but perhaps its legacy is best remembered for Riley Curry singing the hook during a postgame interview with Steph.
On to the sports…
With the MLB Draft this upcoming weekend, here are 5 players projected to go in the early rounds…
Marcus Phillips, SP, Tennessee
Marcus Phillips is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He attended Roosevelt High School, topped out at 93 mph and was an All-State selection. His first stop in college was at Iowa Western Community College. In his one year at IWCC, Phillips only pitched 12.1 innings, but it caught SEC eyes as he had LSU and Tennessee competing for scholarship offers. As primarily used as a relief pitcher in ‘24, Phillips threw 20 innings and finished with 22 strikeouts. This past season with the Vols, Phillips entered their starting rotation and had his best season. In 17 starts in ‘25, Phillips threw to a 3.90 ERA while striking out 98 batters in 83 innings. His fastball can touch triple digits on the radar gun and he also has a slider that can get up to 90 mph. With only one year of elite production, Phillips is likely a 2nd Round prospect. Given his pitch repertoire, Phillips is perhaps better suited for an MLB pen.
Cam Leiter, SP, Florida State
Cam Leiter is from Bayville, New Jersey. His father, Kurt Leiter, played college baseball at Oklahoma State and within the Orioles’ organization. His uncles, Al and Mark, combined to play over 3 decades worth of years in the MLB. His cousins, Mark Jr. and Jack, play for the Yanks and Rangers. So, there are plenty of MLB bloodlines here. Cam Leiter graduated from Central Regional High School, where he was named First-team All-State and Shore Conference Player of the Year as a senior. He spent his first year out of high school at Central Florida, earning AAC All-Freshman recognition as he made 14 starts with a 4.92 ERA and striking out 80 batters in 56.2 innings. Leiter then transferred to Florida State in ‘24, where he made 7 starts, going 5-1 with 56 strikeouts in 35 innings. Unfortunately, Leiter injured his throwing shoulder in ‘24 and could not return to pitch in ‘25. While still rehabbing his way back from injury, Cam Leiter may be a mid-round prospect with high upside as fastball reached high-90s, and he comes from a family of pitchers.
Quentin Young, 3B/OF, Oaks Christian
Quentin Young is from Camarillo, California. The nephew of Dimitri and Delmon Young, the teenager already has a big league swing. Young has committed to LSU but is eligible to be drafted by the MLB. At 6’6”, Young already has the size and bloodlines for The Show. Scouts aren’t yet sure where he is best situated in the field, as he can play either RF or 3rd Base. Given that he hasn’t played College Baseball, Quentin Young is still a pretty big projection, but one that a team like the Yankees drafting in the late 1st Round may want to take a risk on. While Young does have leverage to play for LSU, not many people can say the Yankees drafted them, and even fewer can say they passed up on joining.
Kane Kepley, OF, North Carolina
Kane Kepley is from Salisbury, North Carolina. He attended South Rowan High School and helped them win a state title in 2022. Kepley’s first stop after South Rowan was Liberty. As a freshman in ‘23, Kepley batted .310 with a .457 OBP, earning him a spot on the ASUN All-Freshman team. During his sophomore season in ‘24, Kepley hit leadoff for Liberty and saw a boost in production. Kepley hit 9 homers and stole 25 bases while batting .330 with a .482 OBP. This past season, Kepley transferred back to his home state at UNC. With the Tar Heels, Kepley batted .291 with a .451 OBP while swiping 45 bags. At 5’8” and speedy, Kepley would be quite a different type of outfield prospect that the Yankees don’t tend to draft, but he has the look of a big league leadoff hitter.
Ryan Wideman, OF, Western Kentucky
Ryan Wideman is from Marietta, Georgia. The son of a former Clemson hoops center, Tom Wideman, Ryan was born in Spain while his dad played in the Spanish League. Before playing at Western Kentucky, Wideman spent two seasons at Georgia Highlands College, where he batted .423 with 22 homers. He transferred to Western Kentucky this past baseball season and proved he could still dominate Division 1. Hitting 3rd in the lineup while playing CF every day, Wideman batted. .398 (.466 OBP), hitting 10 homers, 6 triples, 20 doubles, and 68 RBIs. He also stole 45 bases. He was named a 2nd Team All-American for his ‘25 season. Wideman has again entered the transfer portal and plans to attend Clemson if he doesn’t sign on with the MLB team that drafts him. A 5-tool player, scouts are most concerned about his chase and ground ball rate. That said, as a mid-round prospect, his speed and power give him plenty of upside if he can make the right adjustments to his swing.
Building A Board ‘26
Iapani Laloulu, C, Oregon
Iapani Laloulu is from Honolulu, Hawaii. A 4-star recruit out of Farrington High School, Laloulu was recruited by Miami, Tennessee, and Penn State, but decided to play for the Oregon Ducks. As a freshman in ‘23, Laloulu earned snaps at all 3 interior line positions, contributing as a backup in blowouts and filling in for injury. He earned his first career start at center at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Laloulu began his sophomore season in ‘24 as the Ducks’ RG for two games before switching inside to play center for the team’s remaining 12. Between both positions, Laloulu allowed zero sacks and zero pressures. The sophomore stud graded out as one of the best pass-blocking performers in the nation.
Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
Zane Durant is from Lake Nona, Florida. The Durant family is full of athletes, as Zane’s father played College Football at Florida A&M, and his sisters were collegiate athletes in track & hoops. A standout at Lake Nona High School, Durant played 4 seasons on the varsity team and finished with 24.5 sacks. After deciding to play for Penn State, Durant recorded a solo sack and 8 QB Hurries during his freshman season. His playing nearly doubled in ‘23 as Durant made 11 starts while finishing with 17 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery. In ‘24 as a junior, Durant’s playing time nearly doubled again as he took on a 3-down role on the Nittany Lions’ defensive line. Durant finished his junior year with 42 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 3 sacks. The ‘24 All-Big Ten honorable mention is considered one of the top returning defensive tackles in the nation.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
David Bailey is from Irvine, California. He attended Mater Dei High School, finishing his career with 20.5 sacks. Bailey’s older brother, DJ Bailey, played defensive end at Harvard from 2015 to 2017, so he comes from a family with a ton of brains and knows how to rush the passer. The 4-star high school recruit decided to play for Stanford. As a freshman, Bailey finished with 2.5 sacks and 8.5 TFLs, while being awarded Stanford’s Outstanding Freshman award. At Stanford in ‘23, Bailey built off his freshman campaign by leading the Cardinals in sacks (5) and TFLs (6). During his junior season in ‘24, Bailey again improved as he led the Cardinals with 7 sacks, 8 TFLs, 6 QB Hits, and 5 forced fumbles. After completing his Stanford bachelor’s degree in technology and science, David Bailey transferred to Texas Tech. As the top transfer portal pass rusher, Bailey will join a Red Raiders team with an elite offense that could really use a sack artist in their high-scoring games. With plenty of opportunity to rush the passer in Lubbock, Bailey could land inside the 1st Round of the NFL Draft.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Carnell Tate is from Chicago, Illinois. A 4-star prospect, Tate finished his high school career at IMG Academy, where he averaged 20 yards per catch and scored 8 TDs as a senior. During his freshman season in ‘23, Carnell Tate caught 18 passes for 264 yards and a score. Despite being buried in a wideout room with plenty of depth, Tate still played in every game that season and earned his first start in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl. As a sophomore in ‘24, the 6’3” wideout played alongside Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. He caught 52 passes for 733 yards and 4 scores. When Ohio State played Northwestern at Wrigley Field, Tate scored 2 of his 4 TDs in his homecoming. With more opportunity as Egbuka is in the NFL and Smith receiving the lion's share of gameplanning, Carnell Tate may be able to take on an even larger role in the Buckeyes’ offense.
Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
