JACKSONVILLE — Jax State head baseball coach Steve Bieser announced the signing of 10 players in Jax State's 2026-27 recruiting class.
The class includes seven freshman and three transfers, with each student-athlete hailing from a different state, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri.
DREW ABNEY
Catcher | Marietta, Ga. | Pope HS
Four-year letter winner at Pope High under head coach Chris Turco … Played summer ball for the Georgia Jackets in 2024, where he batted over .300 in the middle of the lineup … Dual-sport athlete, earning three letters in basketball at Pope … Currently carrying a 3.7 GPA.
COOPER ANTALEK
Right-handed Pitcher | Land O' Lakes, Fla. | Wharton HS
Four-year varsity letter winner at Wharton High School in Tampa, Florida, under head coach Anthony Markle … Advanced to the FHSAA State Semifinals in 2025 … Earned Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State Academic honors in 2023 … Was an FCA All-Star Selection in 2025 … Ranked in the Top 500 for right-handed pitchers by Perfect Game in 2025.
HAYDEN CRITES
Catcher | Paradise, Texas | McLennan CC
Currently at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas … Joined the Highlanders after a year at Texas A&M … Appearing in three games for the Aggies his freshman year … SEC Academic Honor Roll selection … At Paradise High, he hit .348 with 57 RBI and 24 stolen bases … He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year honoree and an Offensive Player of the Year … Former member of the National Honor Society.
BRADY DAVIS
Right-handed Pitcher | Winchester, Ky. | John A. Logan CC
Currently enrolled at John A. Logan Community College in Carterville, Illinois … Posted a 5.32 ERA in his first year with the Vols, including a 3-0 record with three saves in 19 appearances … Pitched 22.0 innings and allowed 10 hits 15 runs (13 earned), and notched 40 strikeouts to 18 walks (16.36 K/9).
ELI DICKEY
Right-handed Pitcher | Brentwood, Tenn. | Christ Presbyterian Academy
Dual-sport athlete at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tennessee … Earned All-Region recognition in his first three years of baseball, including being named to All-Region Team and First Team All-State in 2025 … Runner-up for Pitcher of the Region … Also plays football, where he was All-Region in 2024 and 2025, including First Team All-Region and All-State in 2025.
BRYCE KRINES
Right-handed Pitcher | Richmond, Va. | DSC Academy
Named a Perfect Game 2025 Preseason All-American prior to his final season of prep baseball … Earned a Top 500 National Ranking from Perfect Game … Trains at Dominion Spots Collective, a baseball prep academy in Richmond, Virginia … Plays high school baseball at Hanver High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
COLE MILES
Outfielder | Decatur, Ala. | Hartselle HS
Won 6A Alabama State Championship with Hartselle High in 2025 … Upset top-seeded Homewood on way to championship … Named All-State this season … Plays travel ball for SBG Sox Prime 26 … Also plays football at Hartselle.
MADDEN TATUM
Utility/Right-handed Pitcher | Jonesboro, Ark. | Valley View HS
Named a 2025 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Honorable Mention … Previously a 2024 Perfect Game Preseason Southeast Region Honorable Mention … Ranked sixth in the state of Arkansas by Perfect Game and eighth by Prep Baseball Report … Back-to-back state champion with Valley View High in 2024 and 2025 … Academically, he holds a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society … Top 25% of his class.
HENRY VEDDER
Right-handed Pitcher | Washington, Mo. | Washington HS
Named GAC Central First Team All-Conference in his junior season … Posted a 1.83 ERA last season … Fastball velocity reached 94 over the summer of 2025 … Plays travel ball for the Inevitable A's … Stands at 6-6.
NICO WILLIAMS
Right-handed Pitcher/Outfielder | Gulfport, Miss. | Pearl River CC
Entering his second year at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi … Became the starting centerfielder for the Wildcats late in the season in 2024, posting a.299 batting average with a .402 on-base and .610 slugging percentage … Scored 30 runs with 15 RBI and notched 10 extra baseballs hits (two 2B, two 3B, six HR) … Also pitched7.1 innings with nine strikeouts and three walks, posting a 3.68 ERA … Led PRCC to a MACC tile, Region 23 title, and was the NJCAA World Series Runner-up.
