Blake Bortles might have been on the biggest stage in sports on May 8, when the Jacksonville Jaguars chose him No. 3 overall in the NFL draft. But the former Central Florida quarterback is giving way to his little brother this summer where the sports spotlight is concerned. Colby Bortles has helped carry the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team to the brink of the College World Series with some postseason heroics that Jaguars fans can only dream of seeing from their new quarterback in the NFL.
The younger Bortles slapped a two-run pinch single to spark Ole Miss' 5-2 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in an elimination game in NCAA Super Regional play Sunday, tying the best-of-three series at 1-1. Bortles also homered and doubled last week in a regional final against Washington to qualify the Rebels for Super Regionals. That's three hits for four RBI over two games, one that clinched a postseason series and one that helped keep his team alive in another.
After being drafted, Bortles immediately said his brother's college education would be among his first purchases with his rookie riches. Baseball scholarships only partially cover educational costs, so Bortles will be handling his brother's shortfall, which varies by player.
The way he is hitting this summer, however, the younger Bortles deserves a full ride however he can get it.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
