In the modern era of college sports, where money is king and NIL and revenue sharing dominate the landscape, there have been questions about whether or not the West Virginia Mountaineers are going to be able to compete.
And while much of that depends on making sure the in-house revenue sharing is in order, another part of it will depend upon West Virginia proving that their athletes can earn ample money on the NIL market. Which is why WVU baseball star Gavin Kelly should be heralded as a model for earning potential for WVU athletes.
The NIL Store platform, which sells officially licensed NIL apparel, recently announced that Kelly had finished the year as the top-earning non-basketball Olympic sport male athlete in the nation, outselling hundred of other male athletes from schools all across the country.
The legend of Gavin Kelly grows 🏆
— West Virginia NIL Store (@WVUNILStore) July 2, 2026
He earns the NIL Store Award for Top Earning Olympic Sport Male Athlete, topping thousands of athletes from around the country
It is a credit to his incredible season and the amazing support shown by every Mountaineer fan
We appreciate you 💛 pic.twitter.com/sTrSrHAuPV
Gavin Kelly should be a model for West Virginia Mountaineers to demonstrate earning potential in Morgantown
West Virginia had a wildly successful season on the baseball diamond his year, winning the most games in program history en route to hosting an NCAA Regional and NCAA Super Regional and eventually qualifying for their first-ever College World Series. A lot of that success was due to Kelly's presence on the roster, as he evolved into a standout and the top 2027 MLB Draft prospect among NCAA players.
And when a West Virginia sports team is having a successful season on the field, the fan base tends to get pretty energized. Most people probably don't view the state as a place with a lot of extra money to spend, and in a lot cases that's true. But if an athlete captures the hearts and minds of WVU fans and a team is having success, you can typically expect fans to throw as much support behind them as possible.
And with West Virginia having no pro sports teams and just one Power 5 university, a WVU shirt or jersey is likely the first go-to sports purchase rather than an NFL or NBA jersey, unlike a lot of other places with their own professional teams or multiple top college teams. It's a cocktail that makes for a profitable experience for athletes in the NIL era when they are excelling on the field or the court – and Gavin Kelly is a prime example.
The Mountaineers made a massive run in baseball and Kelly played a critical role – that turned a lot of attention onto him, and the fans showed their appreciation with their wallets so they could rock some Gavin Kelly gear. This is a model that can be put on display by West Virginia to athletes from every sport, as it shows success in Morgantown can pay off just as much your revenue share deal, event appearances, and commercials.
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