University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Sofia Yaker/UGAAA
Jackson Delivering Historic Season For Bulldogs
April 29, 2026 | Baseball
Kyle Tatelbaum
UGA Sports Communications
The marriage of elite power and high-end speed is a collegiate rarity; finding it behind the plate is nearly unheard of. In a historic 2026 campaign, Daniel Jackson has mastered both, rewriting the Georgia baseball record books in the process.
After becoming the first Bulldog and first SEC player to ever record 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, a feat reached during a three-homer performance against Arkansas on April 18, Jackson hasn't slowed down. Heading into the final nine SEC games for the fifth-ranked Bulldogs, who sit atop the conference standings with a 15-8 record in league play, he boasts a .389 batting average, 23 home runs and 21 steals. He leads the SEC in batting average and homers, and is sixth in steals, and he's one of two players in the country with at least 20 home runs and 20 steals.
For a position traditionally defined by defense and game management, the 6-foot-2 and 200-pound Jackson's offensive production stands alone. From a power standpoint, the closest primary catcher to Jackson has seven fewer home runs and one career stolen base. Catchers are rarely expected to carry a lineup, but Jackson has done exactly that, providing heart-of-the-order power while also creating pressure with his speed on the bases. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways has made him one of the most dynamic players in college baseball.
The path to Athens has only amplified the significance of his rise. After transferring from Wofford, Jackson has spent two seasons developing into one of the SEC's most complete players. What began as a promising addition has evolved into a historic campaign, one that continues to elevate Georgia's offensive ceiling.
As a freshman at Wofford in 2024, Jackson, from Sandy Springs, Ga., started 54 games, mostly at catcher, and batted .357 with 12 home runs and 69 runs batted in, and he stole four bases. Last season, his first with the Bulldogs, he hit .240 with 14 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 steals. The versatile Jackson also started games at five different positions: 12 at catcher, 10 in right field, eight as the designated hitter, four in left field and two at first base.
This season, Jackson has started every game — 39 at catcher and seven as the designated hitter — and has hit multiple homers four times, including a two-homer performance in the Bulldogs 11-1 win over Troy on Tuesday. He's also been very effective swiping bases, getting 21 steals in 22 attempts.
Jackson's impact is not limited to the batter's box and base paths. Behind the plate, he has been a rock, committing just two errors all season and posting a .995 fielding percentage. His reliability defensively complements his offensive production, giving Georgia a rare advantage at catcher, a strength on both sides of the game. Jackson was on the mid-season watch list for both the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year and the Golden Spikes awards.
In an era where specialization often defines roles, Jackson's all-around performance has broken the mold. His season is not just about numbers, but about reshaping expectations for what a catcher can contribute.
As Georgia continues its push through conference play, the Bulldogs host Missouri this weekend, Jackson's historic production remains at the center of its success — a season that is as unprecedented as it is impactful.
UGA Sports Communications
The marriage of elite power and high-end speed is a collegiate rarity; finding it behind the plate is nearly unheard of. In a historic 2026 campaign, Daniel Jackson has mastered both, rewriting the Georgia baseball record books in the process.
After becoming the first Bulldog and first SEC player to ever record 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, a feat reached during a three-homer performance against Arkansas on April 18, Jackson hasn't slowed down. Heading into the final nine SEC games for the fifth-ranked Bulldogs, who sit atop the conference standings with a 15-8 record in league play, he boasts a .389 batting average, 23 home runs and 21 steals. He leads the SEC in batting average and homers, and is sixth in steals, and he's one of two players in the country with at least 20 home runs and 20 steals.
For a position traditionally defined by defense and game management, the 6-foot-2 and 200-pound Jackson's offensive production stands alone. From a power standpoint, the closest primary catcher to Jackson has seven fewer home runs and one career stolen base. Catchers are rarely expected to carry a lineup, but Jackson has done exactly that, providing heart-of-the-order power while also creating pressure with his speed on the bases. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways has made him one of the most dynamic players in college baseball.
The path to Athens has only amplified the significance of his rise. After transferring from Wofford, Jackson has spent two seasons developing into one of the SEC's most complete players. What began as a promising addition has evolved into a historic campaign, one that continues to elevate Georgia's offensive ceiling.
As a freshman at Wofford in 2024, Jackson, from Sandy Springs, Ga., started 54 games, mostly at catcher, and batted .357 with 12 home runs and 69 runs batted in, and he stole four bases. Last season, his first with the Bulldogs, he hit .240 with 14 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 steals. The versatile Jackson also started games at five different positions: 12 at catcher, 10 in right field, eight as the designated hitter, four in left field and two at first base.
This season, Jackson has started every game — 39 at catcher and seven as the designated hitter — and has hit multiple homers four times, including a two-homer performance in the Bulldogs 11-1 win over Troy on Tuesday. He's also been very effective swiping bases, getting 21 steals in 22 attempts.
Jackson's impact is not limited to the batter's box and base paths. Behind the plate, he has been a rock, committing just two errors all season and posting a .995 fielding percentage. His reliability defensively complements his offensive production, giving Georgia a rare advantage at catcher, a strength on both sides of the game. Jackson was on the mid-season watch list for both the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year and the Golden Spikes awards.
In an era where specialization often defines roles, Jackson's all-around performance has broken the mold. His season is not just about numbers, but about reshaping expectations for what a catcher can contribute.
As Georgia continues its push through conference play, the Bulldogs host Missouri this weekend, Jackson's historic production remains at the center of its success — a season that is as unprecedented as it is impactful.
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ BaseballGeorgia Baseball vs Troy - Postgame Interviews
Tuesday, April 28
Georgia Baseball vs Troy - TV Highlights
Tuesday, April 28
Georgia Baseball vs Arkansas - Coach Johnson Postgame Interview
Sunday, April 19
Georgia Baseball at Arkansas - Saturday Highlights
Sunday, April 19