Patrick Mahomes usually keeps his recruiting cards close to the vest. But following a breathtaking College World Series no-hitter by Arkansas fireballer Gage Wood, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback couldn’t help himself – he went public with his admiration, posting a stunned emoji reaction on X, declaring he was “blown away”.
While many expect Mahomes to quietly scout talent behind the scenes, his evident excitement marks a shift. Mahomes, once rumored to mentor Nebraska phenom Dylan Raiola – nicknamed “mini-Mahomes” due to their uncanny physical resemblance – seems to now have a new NCAA prospect capturing his full attention. Gage Wood‘s 19-strikeout masterpiece in Omaha has clearly earned it.
For Arkansas, Wood etched his name into history. He delivered just the third men’s College World Series no-hitter ever, and the first since 1960, mashing record books with nine innings and 19 punchouts.
That dominant performance, highlighted by a blazing 97 mph fastball on pitch 119, vaulted Wood straight into the national spotlight-and onto Mahomes’s radar.
A new face to Mahomes’ NCAA radar
Wood’s dominance offers exactly what Mahomes admires: a combination of raw talent, resilience, and field-leading presence. It wasn’t the first time Mahomes publicly engaged with NCAA baseball-he’s been spotted at Texas Tech and Royals games before – but this marks the first instance where he’s openly lobbied for a rising star via social media.
By shifting focus to Wood, Mahomes is signaling an expansion of his mentorship. Raiola, while still admired, appears to be supplanted in the moment by Wood’s electric burst onto the national scene.
This doesn’t quash Raiola’s emergence; instead, it broadens the quarterback’s platform-and shows Mahomes is keen to spotlight exceptional talent wherever it shines.
Ultimately, Mahomes’s reaction isn’t just about admiration – it’s an endorsement. And if Mahomes is paying attention, it’s safe to assume scouts and MLB teams already are, too.
Gage Wood didn’t just wow in Omaha, he earned a backer in one of football’s most influential figures. And that could change the trajectory of his baseball journey – starting with a farewell wave to past favorites, and opening the door to fresh, national fame.
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