Brian O’Connor Puts SEC on Notice with Transfer Portal Rebuild at MSU

If the transfer portal had a leaderboard, Brian O’Connor would be sitting in the VIP section with a glass raised. The former Virginia baseball architect is now engineering something bold in Starkville and it’s happening fast.

Mississippi State is making waves in the portal, reeling in a tidal wave of talent that could reshape the SEC. Among the early gems are Tomas Valincius, a lefty arm with juice, who went 6-1 in 12 starts this season with a 4.59 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and just 17 walks. With another year under O’Connor’s guidance, Valincius could be a legitimate weekend starter by 2026 and maybe even better than current standout Piko Kahn.

But that’s just the start. His brother, Vytas Valincius, is coming over from Illinois after a monster year at the plate, batting a .348 average, seven homers, 58 RBIs, and 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors. Add in Aidan Teel who has one of the top bats in the portal (.317/.442/.538, seven HRs, 20 doubles, nine stolen bases). It’s clear MSU is building an offensive machine.

The Cavs pipeline continues with James Nunnallee, a contact demon who struck out only 13 times all year while batting .296, and Chone James, who flashed major upside with a .373 average and a .455 OBP in limited at-bats. What about freshman Ryder Woodson? He's quietly lethal after batting .361 with three homers. It all came in the Auburn Regional.

Mississippi State is paying for the talent they're bringing in. With the school’s NIL infrastructure among the most aggressive in the country, and baseball as the only national championship sport on campus, Starkville is suddenly one of the most attractive destinations in college baseball. An elite head coach with a championship pedigree is exactly what the Bulldogs need.

Don’t be surprised if a few more UVA names like Henry Ford and Eric Becker join the party. O’Connor isn’t just stacking a roster. He’s flipping the script. Mississippi State is turning into a top option and the rest of the SEC better take notice.