Georgia’s Daniel Jackson named finalist for Dick Howser Trophy

Staff Reports

ATHENS — Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson’s remarkable season has earned him a spot among the five finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded annually to the top player in college baseball.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced the finalists Thursday for the award, which will be presented June 12 during a news conference at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., the site of the College World Series.

Jackson is joined on the finalist list by UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Louisville first baseman Tague Davis, UC Santa Barbara pitcher Jackson Flora and Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston.

The Sandy Springs native has been one of the nation’s most productive players while helping Georgia capture its first Southeastern Conference regular-season championship since 2008 and add an SEC Tournament title.

Jackson earned SEC Player of the Year honors after leading the conference in several offensive categories. He enters the postseason batting .396 with 29 home runs, 93 hits and a .860 slugging percentage. His 29 home runs rank fourth nationally, while his batting average ranks among the nation’s top 15.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior has also excelled behind the plate and on the basepaths. Jackson has stolen 25 bases this season, becoming the first catcher and only the sixth Division I player to record at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in the same season.

His all-around play helped Georgia earn the Athens Regional title and a No. 1 national ranking heading into NCAA Super Regional play against Mississippi State.

A Georgia player has won the Dick Howser Trophy once before. Former Bulldogs star Charlie Condon captured the award in 2024 after one of the most prolific offensive seasons in college baseball history.

Named in honor of former Florida State coach and major league manager Dick Howser, the trophy has been awarded annually since 1987, with the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Past winners include Georgia Tech’s Jason Varitek and Mark Teixeira, Florida State’s Buster Posey, Vanderbilt’s David Price, LSU’s Paul Skenes and Georgia’s Condon.