Top Recruits, Players To Know For Every 2024 SEC Baseball Recruiting Class

Image credit: Tennessee coach Tony Vitello (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)

The Southeastern Conference has established itself as arguably the premier conference in all of college baseball.

It has won the last five National Championships—including six of the last seven—and in this year’s draft, four of the top-eight overall picks were from the SEC. The already-loaded and ultra-competitive conference somehow got even better this offseason, as the SEC welcomed both Texas and Oklahoma as new members.

Below, you can find a breakdown of each school’s incoming recruiting class. The vast majority of SEC programs put together top 25 classes, but even those who didn’t have every reason to be excited about their respective crop of freshmen.

Tennessee

Recruiting coordinator: Josh Elander
Top recruit: Tegan Kuhns, RHP
BA 500 freshmen: 10
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 1

The wins keep on coming for Tennessee, who after a record-setting 2024 season capped off by the program’s first-ever national championship, netted the nation’s top recruiting class. The Volunteers have a whopping 10 players who ranked on the final BA 500, led by righthanders Tegan Kuhns and Anson Seibert. Both possess impressive stuff—headlined by fastballs that have been clocked in the upper-90s—and the arm talent to make an immediate impact for the Vols. The position player group is led by Jay Abernathy, a quick-twitch and wiry infielder who is also a double-plus runner. Abernathy has plenty of bat speed, though right now he is very much a hit-over-power profile at the dish. Tennessee’s infield is as loaded as any team in the country so Abernathy might not see a ton of playing time right away, but expect him to make a sizable impact down the road.

A potential pick-to-click from the class is righthander Nic Abraham. The 6-foot-5 righty has an advanced feel for his four-pitch mix, especially his secondaries. Abraham’s fastball sits in the high-80s and has been up to 92 mph, so there is room to grow into more velocity. He has the prototypical look of a starter and could eventually make his way into the weekend rotation. The strikes are there, but the next step is for Abraham’s stuff to take a jump.

LSU

Recruiting coordinator: Josh Jordan
Top recruit: William Schmidt, RHP
BA 500 freshmen: 8
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 2

In what has become the norm in Baton Rouge, LSU once again boasts one of the most impressive recruiting classes in college baseball. The clear headliner is righthander William Schmidt, who had legitimate first-round interest in this year’s draft before announcing his intention to head to campus. Schmidt’s fastball has been up to 98 mph, but the best pitch in his arsenal is a borderline double-plus curveball that has massive depth and spin rates that are consistently in the 2,900—or higher—range. LSU’s rotation is loaded, but Schmidt still figures to log his fair share of innings. Fellow righty Casan Evans ranked No. 100 on the final BA 500 and has an intriguing arsenal of his own. His fastball has been up to 95, but his secondary offerings are his calling card. Evans throws two distinct breaking balls in a slider and a curveball, and his best pitch right now is his low-80s split-changeup.

He isn’t a deep sleeper, but keep close tabs on switch-hitting shortstop David Hogg II. Hogg has long possessed an advanced feel for the game, and his tools have only gotten better over time. He is a plus runner, but also has above-average arm strength on the dirt where his actions and athleticism could allow him to stick at shortstop. Hogg has present bat speed from both sides of the plate, and he has a chance to grow into more power with added physicality.

Auburn

Recruiting coordinator: Karl Nonemaker
Top recruit: D’Marion Terrell, OF
BA 500 freshmen: 9
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 3

While 2024 was a disappointing season on the diamond, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Tigers as the 2025 season approaches. Auburn landed a fantastic transfer class, though its incoming crop of freshmen will serve the program well both this season and beyond. The class is led by a pair of top-100 players in the 2024 class in outfielder D’Marion Terrell and righthander Connor Gatewood. Terrell is a dynamic athlete with a loud set of tools to boot, while Gatewood boasts a mid-90s fastball and a high-80s power slider that has plus potential.

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Terrell and Gatewood are certainly the crown jewels of the class, but righthander Christian Chatterton also has the look of an arm who could make an immediate impact. He possesses an intriguing blend of strikes and stuff, and his stuff took a bit of a step forward last spring. The strength of the class is without a doubt its pitching, but an additional position player to watch is Anthony Tralongo. There isn’t much left in terms of physical projection, and his tools aren’t necessarily the loudest, but he has a hitterish look in the box with present bat speed and an advanced approach.

Mississippi

Recruiting coordinator: Carl Lafferty
Top recruit: Owen Paino, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 8
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 4

It’s no secret that the last two years have been underwhelming in Oxford. Since capturing the program’s first-ever national championship in 2022, the Rebels have failed to make the tournament in each of the last two seasons. However, this year’s recruiting class has the chance to breathe new life into the program. It is unfair to stick high expectations on freshmen right out of the gate, but this class has the chance to leave Ole Miss way better than it found it when all is said and done.

The Rebels’ highest-ranked recruit is shortstop Owen Paino. Paino has long been a famous name in the recruiting world, and the 2024 New York Gatorade Player of the Year could be an impactful player in year one. His swing decisions are sound, though his hit tool will need to improve for him to achieve his offensive upside. On the other side of the baseball, Cade Townsend is a dynamic, lean righthander who has seen his stuff take a noticeable jump over the last year. He was up to 97 mph at this year’s draft combine, while both his slider and curveball—especially the curve—have the chance to be above-average secondary offerings. Another mighty intriguing arm to keep tabs on is Cooper Johnson. Johnson is a 6-foot-5 southpaw who is a bit lacking right now in the stuff department, but there is plenty to dream on with his frame and strike-throwing ability.

Texas

Recruiting coordinator: Nolan Cain
Top recruit: Jason Flores, RHP
BA 500 freshmen: 8
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 5

Perhaps no program in the country had a more eventful offseason than Texas. After firing former head coach David Pierce, the Longhorns sent shockwaves throughout the college baseball world when it was announced that they would be hiring former Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle. Even though it was an offseason filled with change, Texas was able to keep its top-five recruiting class largely intact.

Its two top recruits—Bryce Rainer and Theo Gillen—were both selected in the first round of this year’s draft, but Texas’ eight freshmen in the BA 500 are tied for the third-highest mark nationally. Physical righthander Jason Flores is the leader of the pack, and he is an arm who relies heavily on his low-to-mid-90s fastball. He varies its shape well and has an advanced command of the offering. Flores will need to improve his feel for his secondary pitches, but he looks the part of a durable strike-thrower. Fellow righthander Drew Rerick—a 6-foot-5 workhorse from North Dakota—was a late flip from Texas A&M and has no shortage of pure stuff. He will need to improve in the pitchability department, but Rerick is an exciting ball of clay for pitching coach Max Weiner to mold.

Sticking with the Longhorns’ wealth of pitching depth, southpaw Dylan Volantis has the highest upside of the bunch. He has an ultra-projectable 6-foot-6 frame, and the headliner of his arsenal is a plus curveball that generates plenty of whiffs. Volantis’ fastball sits in the high-80s-to-low-90s, but it is easy to dream on a considerable uptick in velocity as he continues to add strength and physicality.

Florida

Recruiting coordinator: Aric Thomas
Top recruit: Brendan Lawson, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 6
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 6

As it seems to do each season, Florida was once again able to put together a talented recruiting class. The Gators lost just one BA 500 recruit, Kellon Lindsey, to the draft, and the pitching depth of the class stands out. Shortstop Brendan Lawson leads the way for the position players, and the 6-foot-3 shortstop was the top ranked Canadian prospect on the final BA 500. He has a rather unorthodox setup with an ultra-high handset, but he has above-average bat speed and an intriguing blend of hit ability and raw power. Currently a shortstop, Lawson’s skillset could be best suited for third base long term where his above-average arm will translate.

Righthanders Joshua Whritenour and Jackson Barberi both have loud stuff, especially the former, and both have the potential to log their fair share of innings this spring. Given the returning talent for Florida on the mound, it will be hard to crack the rotation, but both have the upside to earn a spot in the weekend rotation.

Texas A&M

Recruiting coordinator: Caleb Longley
Top recruit: Sawyer Farr, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 5
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 7

When talking about eventful offseasons, the only school that has Texas beat is Texas A&M. What exactly went down is discussed above, but the Aggies eventually hired former hitting coach Michael Earley to take the reins of the program. It was a hire that was universally praised, and it speaks volumes that coach Earley and his staff were able to largely keep together the recruiting class. Shortstop Sawyer Farr had day one draft interest, though he opted to take his talents to College Station. His body is akin to former Aggie and current big leaguer, Braden Shewmake, and is a high-level athlete with a sound approach. Making consistent contact is the key for Farr, who has plenty of upside in the box.

Speaking of high-level athletes, outfielder Terrence Kiel II is a tremendous runner whose speed and athleticism translate to centerfield, where he is a comfortably-plus defender. There are some hit tool questions, but Kiel II has flashed gap-to-gap power. On the mound, projectable 6-foot-4 lefthander Cooper Williams has plenty of upside. He is already an advanced strike-thrower, but his stuff should only continue to tick up as his frame fills out.

Georgia

Recruiting coordinator: Brock Bennett
Top recruit: Erik Parker, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 5
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 10

The first year and change of the “Wes Johnson era” has gotten off to about as good of a start as anyone could have hoped. Last year, Georgia made its first super regional since 2008, was one win away from its first trip to Omaha since that same year and coach Johnson took home SEC Coach of the Year honors. The Bulldogs rode the momentum they built during the spring into the offseason, as they landed a top 10 class of newcomers and a top 10 recruiting class.

The ‘Dawgs did not lose a single member of their recruiting class to the draft, and dynamic infielder Erik Parker leads the way. The 6-foot-3 shortstop has an athletic build and is a twitchy player who figures to grow into more power as he continues to add strength. On the dirt, Parker’s arm and actions play at shortstop where he has a chance to stick long term. Fellow infielder Cade Brown is plenty physical with present pullside power, while outfielder Michael Mullinax has a tantalizing set of tools. He is a double-plus runner with a plus arm to boot—both of which translate well to centerfield—but the key will be ironing out his operation in the box, particularly from the left side.

Vanderbilt

Recruiting coordinator: Ty Blankmeyer
Top recruit: Rustan Rigdon, SS/OF
BA 500 freshmen: 4
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 12

When you think of the “gold standard” of college baseball, Vanderbilt is one of a handful of programs that immediately comes to mind. The Commodores have made the tournament in every season since 2005, a stretch in which they have also captured and impressive five national championships. Head coach Tim Corbin and his staff consistently bring in loaded recruiting classes, a trend that figures to continue with rising star Ty Blankmeyer now leading the charge on the recruiting trail.

Though the Commodores lost righthander Owen Hall to the draft, their class is still chock-full of talent. The switch-hitting Rustan Rigdon is one of the more fascinating freshmen to make it to campus, given his unique ambidextrous throwing ability. Though he got Tommy John surgery on his right arm last fall, Rigdon this spring manned centerfield and was able to throw with his left arm. He’s a plus runner—a trait that translates well to the outfield—and is a polished hitter with present bat-to-ball skills. Aukai Kea has thunderous raw power that has resulted in some of the loudest batting practice showings of anyone in the 2024 class, though he doesn’t tap into it consistently in game. Both his hit tool and defense will need to gain significant polish, but his power is an intriguing building block. Six-foot-three righthander Tristan Bristow is a bit of a project right now on the bump, but he is an above-average athlete with plenty of projection remaining.

Two incoming freshmen also enjoyed standout summers in their respective summer leagues. Physical infielder Brodie Johnston was an Appy League all-star and slashed .284/.351/.479 with six doubles, six triples, five home runs and 47 RBIs in 43 games, while utility-man Ryker Waite hit an impressive .344/.516/.489 with a South Florida Collegiate Baseball League single-season record 54 stolen bases. Johnston will be in the mix to earn a starting job this fall, while Waite’s versatility and speed should give him an opportunity to earn reps this spring.

Arkansas

Recruiting coordinator: Nate Thompson
Top recruit: Carson Wiggins, RHP
BA 500 freshmen: 2
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 16

Over the course of the last 15-plus years, Arkansas has cemented itself in the upper echelon of college baseball. Since 2008, the Razorbacks have appeared in the College World Series an impressive eight times but have yet to capture the program’s first national championship. Last year, they entered the tournament as the No. 5 overall seed but were shocked on their home field by Southeast Missouri and saw their season come to an abrupt end. Coach Nate Thompson is one of the top assistants and recruiters in college baseball, and 2024 was par for the course for Thompson and the rest of the coaching staff.

It’s somewhat strange to see Arkansas “down” at No. 16 in our top 25 rankings, but it put a heavy emphasis this offseason on the transfer portal and boasts the No. 2 transfer class in college baseball. Many of the fresh faces you will see this season in Fayetteville will be transfers, but the Hogs have a dynamic freshman pitching duo who profile as impact arms down the road. 6-foot-5 Carson Wiggins—younger brother of former Arkansas righthander and current Chicago Cubs prospect, Jaxon Wiggins—features a thunderous fastball that has been up to 99 mph, a pitch he pairs with a sharp above-average slider and a promising split-change. His strike-throwing ability will need to improve, but Wiggins is a mighty intriguing ball of clay that the Arkansas staff will be able to mold.

Lefty Cole Gibler is a totally different type of pitcher than Wiggins given that he is a strike-throwing lefty who fits the pitchability-over-stuff mold. He has a quality four-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball, a high-70s curveball that is his best pitch, a low-80s slider and a budding changeup. Wiggins has already impressed this fall and was up to 101 with his heater in a scoreless appearance. Gibler has plenty of starter traits and could jump into the Razorbacks’ rotation as soon as 2026. One position player to keep close tabs on is 6-foot-2 shortstop Gabe Fraser. A product of Southern California powerhouse Orange Lutheran, Fraser both has the tools to potentially stick on the left side of the infield, as well as some upside with his bat.

Mississippi State

Recruiting coordinator: Jake Gautreau
Top recruit: Charlie Foster, LHP
BA 500 freshmen: 3
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 18

After winning its first-ever national championship in 2021, Mississippi State went on to miss the tournament in both 2022 and 2023. There is no doubt that the heat was turned up in Starkville heading into 2024, and the Bulldogs delivered. They won 40 games before their season came to an end against Virginia in the Charlottesville regional final. Mississippi State produces deep and talented recruiting classes on a regular basis, and the 2024 recruiting cycle was par for the course.

Its class is led by 6-foot-3 lefty Charlie Foster, who was a consistent riser as last year’s draft cycle progressed. He is armed with advanced pitchability, as well as a low-90s fastball that has seen an uptick in velocity. Foster’s breaking ball and changeup are fine secondary offerings, and both his stuff and velocity should only continue to improve as his frame fills out.

Speaking of projection, 6-foot-4 righthander Cade O’Leary fits the bill to a tee. At 180 pounds, there is plenty of room for him to fill out physically. He features a fastball that has been up to 96 mph, while both his curveball and changeup could both end up as above-average pitches when all is said and done. Outfielder Landis Davila has an intriguing toolset, headlined by his plus power. His hit tool lacks polish, but he is an excellent athlete and an above-average runner, which are two traits that translate well to the outfield.

South Carolina

Recruiting coordinator: Terry Rooney
Top recruit: Kamden Scobey, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 3
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 20

Following a disappointing end to its season, the 2024 offseason was a tumultuous one in Columbia. Former head coach Mark Kingston was relieved of his duties, and he was subsequently replaced by legendary coach Paul Mainieri. Though there was plenty of turnover on the staff, the new regime was able to retain most of the class.

Unsurprisingly, the Gamecocks lost Summerville (S.C.) high school teammates PJ Morlando and Carson Messina to the draft, but there is no shortage of depth throughout the class, that is headlined by Kamden Scobey, Dalton Wentz and Beau Hollins. Scobey is a 6-foot-2, switch-hitting shortstop who boasts present power, particularly from the right side, but much of his offensive upside hinges on how big of a stride his hit tool is able to take. His defensive skillset will allow him to stick on the dirt, the only question is where. Wentz has experience both on the dirt and on the mound and while he may be able to do both—at least for some time—he projects as a hitter long term. He has plenty of power, but there is a lot of swing-and-miss to his game that he will need to clean up. Wentz’s arm strength plays on the mound and he pitches in the low-90s with his fastball, and he could be effective for an inning or two at a time collegiately. Hollins has a massive 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame that is accompanied by plenty of raw power and exciting offensive upside. Like Wentz, he also has experience on the mound but he is a surefire hitter both in college and beyond.

Kentucky

Recruiting coordinator: Austin Cousino
Top recruit: Tyler Bell, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 2
BA Recruiting class rank: No. 25

2024 was an historic year in Lexington that culminated in the Wildcats’ first-ever trip to the College World Series. On top of going to Omaha, Kentucky won the regular-season SEC title for the first time since 2006, and its 46 wins were the most in program history. There is tons of talent to replace on both sides of the baseball, but the ‘Cats again welcome an impressive crop of newcomers to campus.

Kentucky’s recruiting class appeared to take a serious blow on the first night of the draft, as shortstop Tyler Bell was selected 66th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. Just over two weeks later, the Lincoln-Way East (Ill.) product announced he would not be signing and would instead be headed to Lexington. The switch-hitting shortstop packs a sound approach from both sides of the plate and has shown the ability to drive the baseball. He has an above-average arm with impressive actions, and he projects to be Kentucky’s opening day shortstop. Catcher Ryan Schwartz has a massive (for the position) 6-foot-4 frame and is armed with plus power and a plus arm. However, his hit tool will certainly need to improve and his actions defensively could be best suited for a corner outfield spot. Righthander Bradley Ferrell has intriguing upside on the mound thanks to an ultra-projectable frame to go along with a low-90s fastball and potentially above-average curveball.

Alabama

Recruiting coordinator: Jason Jackson
Top recruit: Andre Modugno, 3B
BA 500 freshmen: 1

It was a successful first year at the helm for head coach Rob Vaughn, as he guided the Crimson Tide to 33 wins and their second-straight tournament appearance. Vaughn, who previously built Maryland into one of the best programs in the Big 10, is a strong identifier and developer of talent, which are two traits that will serve him incredibly well in the SEC. Coach Jason Jackson is an excellent recruiter, which is reflected in the quality of the Tide’s 2024 class.

The top recruit in the class is 6-foot-5 Adonis, Andre Modugno. Modugno is an absolute toolshed who has long been known on the prep circuit, but he has struggled to tap into his immense upside in-game. He has plus power and has the ability to generate high-end impact, but the biggest issue has been his swing-and-miss. Modugno is armed with a double-plus arm that plays both at third base and in right field, and he is also an above-average runner who moves well for his stature. Six-foot-five righthander Nash Wagner has an impressive frame and has been into the low-90s with his fastball while mixing in a high-70s slider and a changeup, while 6-foot-6 Ashton Alston has immense upside and could turn into a monster during his time in Tuscaloosa.

Oklahoma

Recruiting coordinator: Todd Butler
Top recruit: Drew Dickerson, INF
BA 500 freshmen: 0

Don’t let the Sooners’ lack of BA 500 freshmen fool you; head coach Skip Johnson and his staff have yet again compiled a strong recruiting class that will help Oklahoma continue its recent success. Last season, the program made the tournament for the third-straight year before being upended by Connecticut in the Norman regional. Though the Sooners’ season came to an abrupt end, they are well-positioned for a deep run in 2025.

Six-foot-four infielder Drew Dickerson has a loud set of tools that could allow him to be an impactful player from the get-go. He has no shortage of bat speed and ability to impact the baseball, while also being an above-average runner and advanced athlete. The key for Dickerson, like it is for a lot of incoming freshmen, will be how his hit tool progresses. There is some swing-and-miss to his game right now, which will be something to monitor during his time in Norman.

On the other side of the baseball, the Sooners got a late commitment from righthander Landon Victorian who was previously committed to LSU. An advanced strike-thrower with projection remaining, Victorian has already been up to 95 mph with his heater and has also flashed an effective low-80s slider with late tilt and a low-80s changeup that plays well off his fastball. The pitching depth is the apparent strength of this year’s class, and the trio of Jordan Stribling, James Nesta and Berkeley Roddy are all arms to follow.

Missouri

Recruiting coordinator: Jose Carballo
Top recruit: Chris Patterson, SS
BA 500 freshmen: 0

Following back-to-back seasons in which it finished at least five games over .500, 2024 was a bit of a step back for Missouri. The Tigers won just a single SEC series, though that was an impressive sweep over an eventual College World Series team in the Florida Gators. However, they were dealing with a handful of injuries—especially to their pitching staff—and with an intriguing crop of returners and a solid recruiting class, the Tigers will look to recapture some of the momentum they built in 2022 and 2023.

Infielder Chris Patterson leads the way and packs an interesting set of tools. He’s a strong athlete, has some present bat speed in the box and runs reasonably well. Six-foot-three infielder and righthanded pitcher Trey Lawrence provides positional versatility given his two-way ability, which should lead to him seeing at least some playing time this spring. He might need to move off of the shortstop position in the future, but he has above-average arm strength which is also evident on the mound. Outfielder Brady Picarelli will also compete for immediate playing time, and the toolsy outfielder boasts big-time bat speed. Lastly, Aden Malpass is a true burner whose speed translates well to the outfield where he is able to cover plenty of ground. It might not be in 2025, but expect head coach Kerrick Johnson and his staff to right the ship in Columbia.