Colin Lacy
What Colton Nussmeier Will Bring To Georgia Bulldogs
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Nussmeier. It’s a name that has been around the SEC for over a decade in multiple different roles and now the third Nussmeier will be entering the SEC in 2027. Colton Nussmeier committed to play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Colton carries on the Nussmeier legacy after his older brother Garrett Nussmeier played quarterback for the LSU Fighting Tigers.
The older Nussmeier brother finished his 5-year LSU career with over 7,500 yards and 52 career scores. Garrett Nussmeier was the 7th round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2026 NFL Draft and is now learning as the backup to Patrick Mahomes.
The Nussmeier brothers learned under their father Doug Nussmeier, who is currently the New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator and a veteran assistant in the NFL and College Football. He also worked with Kirby Smart under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2012-2013.
Colton has blazed his own trail as a standout quarterback as he enters his senior season of high school. Nussmeier is a four-star quarterback and ESPN’s No. 4 pocket passer for the 2027 class. The 6-3, 190 Texas native chose the Bulldogs over Arkansas and UCLA that had made up his “Final Three Teams.”
The rising senior will suit up for a new team for his final season in the high school ranks as earlier this year he transferred from Flower Mound Marcus Hs to the Dallas-Fort Worth powerhouse Denton Ryan Hs after injuries limited his junior season with Flower Mound Marcus.
As a first-year freshman starter in 2024, Nussmeier threw for over 1,900 yards, 16 touchdowns, with only 3 interceptions. Last season, Colton was hampered by a knee injury that limited his junior season to just eight games.
The commitment from the 4-star quarterback prospect closes the Bulldog’s search for a QB in the 2027 class that was a longer than normal search but marks the 4th top-300 pledge in the class.
Georgia has already landed commitments from the top running back in the class with Kemon Spell. The Dawgs also have one of the top tight ends Jaxon Dollar (#82 in the ESPN Top-300) and offensive tackle Kelsey Adams (#109 in the ESPN Top-300).
While the older Nussmeier (Garrett), took a lot of flack at times at LSU, there was consistency with him as a solid leader for the Tigers in his career (no surprise with his dad’s tutelage).
I know at times the “family heritage” playing a factor can get overblown, but this is one that feels that it has some legs.
The impact that Garrett had on the Tigers program on and off the field shows what this family is about, and while it can’t fully predict what Colton will be, it gives a great glimpse of where the upbringing started.
Pair that with the coaching from Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo in Athens, and even as someone that’s not a Georgia Fan, I’m excited to what Colton Nussmeier can turn into for the Bulldogs in a few years.
Georgia will have returner Gunner Stockton leading the offense in 2026.
Stockton has a 24-5 record as a starter for the Dawgs last few seasons. Next season (when Colton Nussmeier will be a Freshman in Athens), it’s expected to be Ryan Puglisi’s offense after serving as the backup to Stockton in 2025-2026.
The line of Georgia Quarterbacks has been a long and illustrious history and looks like the line continues with the newest Dawgs slinger committing recently.
Does Skubal To Braves Make Sense?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As summer starts to run the thermostat up a couple degrees each day, another element begins to heat up as well…The MLB Trade Market.
One name that keeps being brought up is the back-to-back reigning Cy Young Award Winner in Terik Skubal. While Skubal has been on the 15-day Injured List since the start of May with “Loose bodies in his left elbow” Skubal’s name is still the top target available in the trade market in 2026.
While there is a hefty portion of Braves Country that scoff at the notion of the Braves throwing their hat in contention for the prized left-hander and think “just another year we’re in the discussion, but no move,” this year may be the year that the blockbuster trade calls Atlanta home.
Skubal has been a Tiger his whole career since being the 9th round selection by Detroit in 2018 out of Seattle University.
The lefty made his MLB Debut about 2 years later in 2020 with 7 starts and 8 appearances with the big club, and the numbers have improved ever since.
Ever since 2023, Skubal hasn’t had an ERA above a 3.00 for the last 4 seasons. The 2024 and 2025 AL Cy Young Award Winner, recorded the most strikeouts in the AL in 2024 and 2nd most Ks in the AL last season in 2025.
So why now? Why would the Braves be the prime landing spot for the 29-year-old south paw?
One of the big reasons is when you look at all of the moves that Alex Anthopolous has made the last 4-5 years to lock up fixture pieces to long-term extensions, there are very few open spots in the lineup and defensive positions, so pitching is one of the few areas for opportunities.
Shortstop is the only position that would be up for grabs after 2027 if the current landscape for the Braves holds, and the only other contract that expires before 2029 is Ozzie Albies who comes to the end of his extension in 2028.
So not only is there not a ton of space to go and get another bat to bolster this already stout lineup, but it also has a backlog of talent in the minor leagues that is appealing to other teams (including the Tigers).
Cam Caminiti and JR Ritchie seem to be the prize picks for the Braves minor league organization but position players like Tate Southisene and Alex Lodise are young (19 & 22 respectively), but profile to have huge upsides down the line.
Alex Anthopolous has shown his willingness to part with young minor league pieces in order to bring in “right now” talent to win a World Championship and Skubal could be the next piece in this.
Now you may be asking “Why would the Braves go after someone that’s on the injured list right now?” Reports have stated that Skubal would start his rehab appearance beginning this weekend and could rejoin the big club after just one rehab start with High-A Western Michigan, so he is close to his return.
No doubt the price will be high. Skubal signed a 1 year, $32 million contract prior to this season, but I believe it could be worth it to not only have Skubal the rest of the season, but to sign him for a 3–4-year deal in addition to in order to bolster the already dangerous rotation for the next few years.
Chris Sale is 37, and has the club option throughout the 2028 season, but after that you’re probably looking for someone to replace the top of your rotation, and what better place to look than right down the line that’s already in place.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Buzzing Into ACC Baseball Tournament
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Some (me included) would argue that Postseason Baseball is some of the best times of the year, and it begins this week.
This week the ACC flocks to Charlotte for the 2026 ACC Tournament at Truist Field, the home of the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox Charlotte Knights.
The 1-seed for the ACC is the back-to-back ACC Regular Season champions in the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. First-year Head Coach James Ramsey opened his head coaching career by bringing home the ACC Coach of the Year award and a 45-9 overall mark and 25-5 conference record.
Georgia Tech tied a program record with 5 First Team All-ACC selections when the postseason awards were handed out by the league office Monday afternoon including Ramsey as Coach of the Year along with catcher Vahn Lackey taking home the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
The Jackets tied the ACC record with 25 conference wins after sweeping 6 ACC Series throughout the year.
The white and gold have been laser focused on team goals that they’ve written on the bathroom mirror in the clubhouse with the top reading the word “Omaha,” but the team-minded squad has raked in the individual accolades in 2026.
Shortstop Carson Kerce reset the GT record for single season doubles with 28. Second baseman Jarren Advincula recorded 100 base hits for the first Jacket since 2005 to do so. Drew Burress sits tied for the program record for career homers with Jason Varitek with 57 career long balls.
While the regular season has been historic for the Ramblin Wreck, the time this team has been waiting for is just beginning. The regular season title was just the first milestone to check off the to-do list, and now each weekend provides an opportunity for another which begins this week with the ACC Tournament.
With the single-elimination format for the bracket in the ACC, the top four teams in the tourney earning double-byes straight to the quarterfinals as 1-seed Georgia Tech, 2-seed North Carolina, 3-seed Florida State and 4-seed Boston College will watch the first two days of the action in Charlotte until Thursday and Friday for the quarters.
Of the teams not in the top four, in my mind, there are only 2 additional teams that could make a push for a title with the 7-seed Virginia Tech that won their final four ACC series to wrap the regular season. The other would be the 8-seed Virginia under first year Chris Pollard that comes over from Duke prior to the season and have looked good down the back stretch of the season.
Obviously, Georgia Tech and North Carolina are the two leaders in the clubhouse to leave Charlotte with a trophy, and it’s been those two that have stood above the rest by a considerable margin. Those two have jockeyed back and forth all season. Carolina was the only team to beat Georgia Tech in a series all season. That said Georgia Tech won the ACC regular season by three full games.
Charlotte is a phenomenal location for the ACC Tournament. Flawless ballpark, elite surroundings around the park all to go along with high level baseball all week. While the SEC gets touted by the national media as the best league in the country, the ACC is very much in the conversation too.
Postseason baseball is the best. It’s the marathon from the beginning of February to now turning into a sprint for the next month for the lucky teams that make a run deep into June, but it begins with conference tournaments this week.
Rising Up?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
First year for the new regime for the Atlanta Falcons hit the first landmark with the NFL Draft this past weekend.
Ian Cunningham as the GM spearheaded his first draft week in line with new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and Director of Football Matt Ryan and made an impact especially on the defensive side of the ball.
After the deal last season to trade up and pick Michael Penix Jr, the Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick in 2026, so the Birds didn’t make a selection until the 48th overall pick in the 2nd round.
The Falcons went to the ACC for their first selection with a cornerback from Clemson and kept the football in the family. Avieon Terrell, younger brother of current Falcons DB AJ Terrell, became the newest Falcon after 3 years with Clemson, including an All-ACC season last year for the Tigers.
In 2025, Terrell had a nose for football forcing a Clemson single season record 5 forced fumbles to go along with 9 pass breakups, 4.5 TFLs and 3 sacks. There are questions where Terrell will land if he stays at corner or comes inside at safety but could be an impactful piece for the Falcons in the fall.
In the 3rd round, Atlanta kept it close to home with pulling Georgia receiver Zachariah Branch off the board.
Branch molded into a slot receiver who can turn a medial gain into an explosive play with his speed in his time in Athens. Branch brings a multitude of weapons to the NFL both as a receiver but also on special teams as a kick/punt returner. There is some fine tuning of routes and mechanics that NFL scouts have pointed out, but Branch expects to contribute early for the Falcons.
The page turned to the 4th round and the Falcons had pick number 134. With that 4th round selection, Atlanta turned to Oklahoma to snag former Sooner linebacker Kendal Daniels.
Daniels converted from safety to linebacker in his time at Oklahoma and earned a reputation in the SEC as being able to use his speed to fill the gap in run defense. After 4 seasons at Oklahoma State, Daniels moved to Norman and racked up 9 TFLs in 13 starts in the middle of the Sooner defense.
Without a selection in the 5th round, the Falcons made a move to pick up an extra 6th round selection.
With the first 6th round pick, the Falcons looked to beef up the defensive line that made a huge step forward in 2025 and added Washington D-Lineman Anterio Thompson.
Thompson spent his time at Washington as a defensive tackle on the interior of the D-line, but may see a move to the edge in the NFL. The leaps that Thompson has made in his time in college profiles him to be able to do it.
What, in my opinion, could be most impactful pick for the Falcons in 2026 when it’s all said and done came with the second 6th round pick when the ATL called upon the LSU Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. Perkins missed all of 2024 with an ACL tear but was the key to the LSU success in his time in Baton Rouge.
The Falcons wrapped up the draft with their 7th round pick and the 231st overall selection of O-lineman Ethan Onianwa from Ohio State. The 6’6” 333 pounder tackle looks to give depth to the Falcons O-Line and progress under leadership and experience of Jake Matthews on the Falcons’ front.
While there’s not the first round, high profile talent in the draft class, but an extremely solid class that could prove to be impactful in the near future as a whole for the ATL.
Flying To New Heights?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For the first time since the 2022-23 season, the Atlanta Hawks have marched into the postseason as the 6-seed in the Eastern Conference side of the NBA Playoffs bracket.
The Hawks finished the regular season with a 46-36 overall record and with a late push in the second half of the season propelled their way to the South Division title finishing with a 20-6 record after the All-Star Break.
As odd as it sounds, the shift in the season came when the Hawks traded away All-Star Trae Young in the first half of the year, but the team molded together.
Thanks in part to emerging stars CJ McCollum & Nickeil Alexander-Walker along with a commitment to the defensive side of the ball, the Hawks found the secret sauce in the ATL.
Now don’t get me wrong, one of (if not the single) headlines for Atlanta was Jalen Johnson who paced the team with 22.5 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and just shy of 8 assists per game in his first All-Star selection year.
As much as defense can be optional at times in the NBA, that wasn’t the case for Atlanta this year. Led by Dyson Daniels, the Hawks turned in a top 10 defensive rating this season.
In the Opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Hawks drew the 3-seeded New York Knicks who finished the season 53-29 and secured the home court advantage in the opening round.
Game one of the series at Madison Square Garden went the way of the Knicks who leaned on the back of Jalen Brunson who scored 28 points along with Karl-Anthony Towns who helped seal the game with 19 of his 25 points coming in the second half of the game.
The second game of the series from “the Garden” came with dramatics. The Knicks led by 12 after three quarters, but the Hawks chipped back until taking a lead with 2:09 to play at 101-100.
A back-and-forth affair the last 2 minutes of the game traded baskets until Jalen Johnson slammed one home with 10 seconds left to make the game 107-103 Hawks.
Brunson would knock down a 3 to cut it to a 1-point game. The Knicks fouled CJ McCollum (who finished with 32 points on the night) with 6 seconds remaining.
As McCollum tried to ice the game at the line, he would end up missing both free throws. The Hawks would be able to take a sigh of relief as a Knicks’ fadeaway jumper would miss and give the Hawks the win and even the series at one each with the 107-106 final.
The series would come home to the ATL for game three on, but the dramatics would make the plane flight too. CJ McCollum once again found the ball in his hand at the end and would connect.
After the Hawks led by as many as 18 in the first half, the Knicks rallied to take the lead 108-105 with 1:03 remaining, but a few possessions later with 12.5 seconds left, CJ McCollum hit a 15-foot fadeaway to put the Hawks back on top and secure the Game 3 win 109-108.
Game four in Atlanta would swing the pendulum back in the way of New York with a 114-98 Knicks win. The Knicks would lead virtually the entire game thanks in large part to Karl-Anthony Towns finishing with a triple-double (20pts/10reb/10ast) to knot the series at 2 games apiece and send the series back to New York for Game 5.
The Hawks haven’t advanced past the Opening Round of the NBA Playoffs since the 2020-21 season but will rely on Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum to try to change that in 2026 with a couple road wins at Madison Square Garden.
Same Old Tricks
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the 2025-26 Georgia Men’s basketball season will be looked at with multiple conflicting feelings.
On one hand, this rendition of Bulldog’s Basketball was the winningest and highest scoring team in program history with a 22-11 record and averaging 89.4 points per game, but on the flip side, Georgia’s season ends with another embarrassing loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the 8/9 matchup.
Georgia got off to a red hot start out of the gate and carried it thru the first half of the season with a 14-2 thru the first sixteen games of the season.
That said, the start of the questions began in late January when Georgia lost five of the next six games, with the only win in that four-week stretch came at LSU who finished in the cellar of the SEC standings.
So, what do you take away from Georgia hoops in 2025-26? Let’s break it down:
Positive: First and foremost, even with the tough four week stretch, 22 regular season wins are the most ever in the regular season in the 121 seasons on the hardwood in Athens.
With those 22 wins, it earned the Dawgs a second straight NCAA bid for just the fourth time in Georgia history and the first since the 2001 and 2002 postseasons.
The biggest change in the Dawgs program this season was the offensive prowess. Again, this Georgia team could almost score at will. 89.4 points per game were the most in the history of the Dawgs and shattered the old record of the 89-90 squad by 6.7 points per game.
The nickname of “Dunkyard Dawgs” spawned because of the proficiency for rim-rattling dunks. Georgia led the country in percentage of field goals that were dunks at nearly 20% of the buckets were dunks. Somto Cyril led the way of all Division 1 players with 83 regular season dunks.
The Negative: The negative boils down to 2 different portions of the season. From January 24th through the Feburary 14th matchup at Oklahoma, Georgia went 1-5.
At the beginning of the stretch, Georgia was flirting with the top of the SEC and looking to have turned a corner in the history of Georgia Basketball.
It began with three straight losses on the road at Texas and home against Tennessee and Texas A&M.
While disappointing for Georgia fans, its somewhat understandable with all of those teams making the NCAA tournament but compiled with losses at home against rival Florida (who did win the SEC regular season), but the big blow cane with a loss at Oklahoma 94-78 who was near the bottom of the SEC standings.
While you could chalk that stretch as just a tough portion of the schedule, the ending is tough in postseason play for the Dawgs.
In the SEC Championship, Georgia saw the opening matchup with the 15 seed Ole Miss and fell 76-72.
Ok..Ole Miss got hot and the matchup wasn’t the best… Then we get to March Madness.
Georgia was announced as an 8-seed in the tournament and drew a match-up with the 9-seed St. Louis Bilikins.
The Billikens out of the A10 Conference flat out dominated. SLU throttled the Dawgs 102-77 making back-to-back years that Georgia has been embarrassingly knocked out of a first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament. Last season ended with a #8 Gonzaga knocking off the #9 Georgia 89-68.
The last 5 NCAA Tournament appearances have seen the Dawgs bow out in the first round with the last NCAA Tournament win coming back in 2002 as a 3-seed in the West.
It would be ignorant to say that Head Coach Mike White hasn’t elevated the Georgia program back into prominence after missing the tournament altogether from 2015 until 2025, but the tough part to swallow for Georgia fans and supporters is the abysmal performances in the postseason.
In the day and age of the transfer portal, Mike White and company will be scouring the portal to find the next group of Dawgs to help get them over the hump.
Diamond Buzz
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As we hit mid-March on the calendar, most sports fans are filling out a bracket for the March Madness college basketball tournament, but in Atlanta the focus is solely on the diamond.
Georgia Tech baseball is off to a historic start at 17-3 and winning each of their first two ACC Series against Virginia Tech at home then on the road against #8 Clemson. The 17-3 mark on the year is the best start to a season since 2013.
When folks think about Ramblin Wreck Baseball, offense is the first thing that comes to top of mind and that’s still the case in 2026. The “Buzz Bombers” have scored 254 runs thru the first 20 games (12.7/game) which are the most runs in the first 20 games in program history.
Every Yellow Jacket has an average over .300 with 4 Jackets boasting an average over .400. Vahn Lackey has been off to a hot start after entering 2026 projected as a top 15 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Lackey (who played all 8 defensive positions in one game last week against West Georgia) has already launched a career high 9 homeruns and driven in 31 this season.
Reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, Alex Hernandez has also followed suit in his sophomore campaign. “Herny” is hitting .449 and driven in 18 with 4 long balls.
The question around Georgia Tech in recent history has been the pitching. Well guess what, they’ve answered that too in 2026. Georgia Tech finds the team ERA under 4.00 two weeks thru conference play and are striking out just shy of 10 per game.
The pitching staff is anchored by Friday night starter Tate McKee. McKee has made every single game 1 start for the Jackets each of the last 2 years including 6 scoreless innings against the #8 Clemson Tigers this past weekend. Tate (who pitched on both sides of a 2-hour first-inning rain delay against Virginia Tech to open ACC play) sits at a 2.82 ERA through 5 starts and a 3-0 record.
The numbers for this squad are impressive, but off the field, the 2026 Jackets are just special.
First-year Head Coach James Ramsey made it quite clear early on in his official tenure as the head man at Georgia Tech that two important pieces of his philosophy were consistency in the coaching staff, and emphasis on the high school recruiting while sprinkling in transfer pieces.
As far as the coaching staff goes, Ramsey did just that. Matt Taylor stays in Atlanta as the pitching coach, Jason Richman as the director of pitching, and Josh Schulman remains as an assistant on staff.
Coaching veteran Scott Stricklin moves from Director of Ops into the vacant assistant position (with Ramsey being promoted to head coach). The consistency with the staff is huge for this Jackets team that has used the high school recruiting approach to build a core that has been together 2 and 3 years.
That said, Georgia Tech was able to add a few transfer portal pieces, but they have had to be the right fits. James Ramsey has talked about the importance of fitting not only into the lineup or rotation, but also the fit in the clubhouse. This is as close-knit of a college baseball clubhouse as you’ll find in the game.
The additions of Jarren Advincula (Cal transfer) and Ryan Zuckerman (Pitt transfer) have been impressive in the heart of the dangerous Jackets order but have been a puzzle-piece fit into the clubhouse as well. Zuckerman has talked about it feeling like a “kid in a candy store” of the feeling being in Atlanta part of this team.
Another big addition has been Dylan Loy who bolsters the pitching rotation from Tennessee and has secured the Saturday starter role in the rotation.
Getting to travel and be around this team day in and day out is special. I know it’s an overused term, but there’s no other way to describe it.
Talented players, elite coaches, unbelievably great people make for a special season on the Flats with hopes for Omaha on the horizon.
Play Ball
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Just barely into March, and it already feels as if the Braves have been put through the ringer with unwelcome news as the organization works through spring training in North Port, Florida.
First it began with newly re-signed shortstop Ha-Seong Kim sustaining a finger injury in January that will keep him sidelined until May.
Soon after flocking to the Grapefruit League, right-handed pitchers Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach went down with injuries that required different arthroscopic surgeries on each. That will have two of the potential five man starting rotation sidelined until at least the summer.
Then as the squad was getting into the swing of things and the calendar turned to March, another bombshell was dropped when Jurickson Profar was popped with performance enhancements for the second consecutive season, and this time (barring an appeal from the MLB Player’s Association) Profar will miss the entirety of the 2026 season.
So, before questions are answered and roles are solidified from camp, Atlanta has lost two starting pitchers and a bat that was expected to be in the top four hitters of the lineup.
After you digest that predicament, I believe that puts the Braves safely as the team that has the most questions to answer going into the 2026 campaign. However, with all of those questions, there are some potential answers within arm’s reach.
After a disappointing season last year, the Braves still have a number of high-level pieces in the mix. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to have three All-Stars in the lineup with Ronald Acuna Jr, Austin Riley, and Drake Baldwin.
In addition, there are a number of players that have severely underachieved recently, and if Atlanta is able to get Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Matt Olson back to even close to their average career year, the Braves have an impressive lineup.
With that combination of talent and newly signed pieces of Mike Yastrzemski and Mauricio Dubon, the frontline of the Braves offense could be fine (albeit with very little depth coming from the bench).
On the pitching side, while there are many questions floating around the rotation, the firemen coming from the bullpen could be the best collection in baseball. The biggest addition of the offseason is signing Robert Suarez to bolster the back end of the bullpen in a big way.
Suarez has recorded 77 saves in his four-year big-league career including 40 in 2025 with San Diego. The Braves also re-signed Raisel Iglesias to return as the teams closer which puts Suarez in the 8th inning role.
Another bright spot for the Braves has been the early returns that have been spied around North Port with Spencer Strider getting back to normal.
Last season when Strider returned from injury, the velocity and hence the productivity was extremely down.
On the contrary, in spring training shows that Strider’s velo is mostly back (up to 97 already), which is an unbelievably encouraging site for Spencer who expects to slot into the #2 spot in the rotation behind Chris Sale. Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes are expected to be at full force for the season and factor into the rotation in some fashion.
Then comes the last spot (or two) that will be up for grabs. Bryce Elder looks to be the front runner for the vacancy with Joey Wentz and Martin Perez trying to make a push to break camp with the club.
The Braves are an extremely difficult team to get a read on entering the season. On one hand, you could realistically make a case for the Braves winning 100 games and destined for the top of the NL East.
On the other hand, it feels like Atlanta is relying on the best-case scenario from here on out (which doesn’t follow the script for the Braves the past few years).
There is very little wiggle room on any front for this team at the present moment. With the Profar suspension freeing up between $15-18 million, options are dwindling for the beginning of the season for additions.
It feels as if the organization is confident with running the current selection out to open the year, then make moves around the deadline to bolster the club. I just hope they’re in a position for that to be able to make a difference.
Diamond Buzz In Atlanta
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s finally here. Happy Opening Week to all those who celebrate in the College Baseball world!
With the first pitch of the season coming quickly, there’s as much excitement around the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets program than has been for a while.
A consensus pre-season Top 5 program and has been ranked as high as #2 in the country by Perfect Game, Georgia Tech looks to make Head Coach James Ramsey’s a historic one.
James Ramsey enters his 8th season on the Flats, but his first as Head Coach after Danny Hall retired following the 2025 season.
Ramsey has gained a reputation as both one of the best hitting coaches in the country and also an elite recruiter which has once again proven true this offseason.
Any conversation about Georgia Tech Baseball in recent history has started with the offense which remains true this year. That said, now it’s not a knock on the pitching, it’s the fact that the Jackets are possibly the most explosive lineup in the country.
Georgia Tech returns 7 of the 9 starters from a year ago in an offense that led the country in doubles and hit .314 as a team scoring 8.5 runs per game.
Drew Burress, who was named the permanent team captain for the season headlines the lineup as, what I believe is the best player in college baseball.
Catcher Vahn Lackey joins Burress as a projected top 15 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft after hitting .347 in 2025 with 42 driven in.
The 2025 ACC Batting Champion, Kent Schmidt, reigning ACC Freshman of the Year Alex Hernandez, along with Caleb Daniel, Carson Kerce round out the returners for the Jackets.
Ramsey has been clear that high school recruiting will be the lifeblood of the program and then supplement with transfer portal acquisitions. That rings true in 2026.
Two key transfers round out the lineup with former Cal Bear Jarren Advincula who is one of the purest hitters in college baseball.
The Jackets also added a power bat with Pitt transfer Ryan Zuckerman who racked up 44 extra base hits and drove in 79 RBI last year for the Panthers.
The question around Georgia Tech has been “will they be able to pitch enough?” While some, continue to ask the question, frankly, that’s an old question that has been answered in the last two years with Pitching Coach Matt Taylor and Director of Pitching Jason Richman.
Last season Georgia Tech made an unbelievable jump to 4th in the ACC with a 4.91 ERA (was 12th in 2024). The Jackets return starter in Tate McKee who stepped into the role of opening day starter a year ago and never let go.
Some roles on the pitching staff are still being decided between one of the best bullpen arms last year in Mason Patel potentially jumping into the rotation.
Tennessee transfer lefty Dylan Loy could make a play for a starter or key bullpen piece. The Jackets also added Justin Shadek from Rutgers to the mix. Shadek with electric stuff could slide into a rotation slot or into the back end of the bullpen to close games out.
Last season was the first outright ACC regular season championship for the Jackets since 2005, and the Jackets seem to be not only reloaded, but amplified to make a run to Omaha.
The feeling around this team is special. Stories of transfers taking less NIL money in order to get other transfers, a closeness around a team that still hasn’t played a true pitch with each other yet, but there’s something special brewing on the corner of Ferst and Fowler in Midtown Atlanta!
Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets New Hive Leader
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
After the resignation by Jared Zito as Head Coach at Southeast Bulloch, administration made the quick decision to name Defensive Coordinator Jason Anthony as Interim Head Coach.
Later Bulloch County announced that Anthony would be Head Coach at minimum through the 2026 football season.
Covering the Jackets for the last five years, I’ve been able to see firsthand the level of respect from the players, coaches, and community that Coach “Ant” has which has been incredible to see.
Anthony has been the defensive coordinator for Southeast Bulloch since 2021 leading the SEB Defense to new heights each season while also serving as the Head Coach for SEB Track and Field.
Having spent the past 18 years on the sidelines as an assistant coach, 16 of those as a defensive coordinator, Anthony is ready to take the next step and finally become Head Football Coach of his own program.
In multiple speaking engagements, Coach Ant has used the phrase “My Program, Our Team.” With the meaning that while he is in charge of the program and setting the standard of it, the team is not only his, but the player’s and the community’s as well.
Anytime you hear Coach Ant speak about this team, there’s one main focus that is abundantly clear…these kids. The players are the “why” behind every decision that Coach Ant and the staff makes.
Continuity on the staff has been high on Coach Ant’s list since taking over the SEB program. The majority of the coaching staff from the past year remains in place with Anthony Hammett, Donnie Carr, Jonathan Roddie will stay on as defensive staff members while Matt Smith stays on as tight ends coach.
Brandon Peterson will stay leading the offensive line and take over as offensive coordinator for the Jackets in 2026.
The other key piece staying in place is Randy Lee remaining as the Special Teams Coordinator and will move from Running Backs Coach to coaching the linebackers.
A couple of familiar faces return to the staff under Coach Anthony as former SEB standout and former receivers coach Rand Morgan returns to the staff in the same role. Brent Osborne also returns to the staff as the Director of Football Operations & Recruiting Coordinator.
There’s a new energy around the Southeast Bulloch Football program. Even though we’re still six months away from kickoff, there’s excitement around the program as they get introduced to Coach Anthony as the Head Coach.
The energy and passion that Ant brings to the program is unmistakable. The feeling of countless hours over the 18-year career building to become a head coach for Anthony is palpable when you feel the passion that Ant has for the program, his job, and his family.
While there are some that are still getting to know Coach Anthony, I can assure you that this is a homerun for Jackets Football. Obviously, everyone has seen the schematics that Ant brings to the table as one of the best defensive coordinators in the state, but there a whole new level that people are going to get introduced to…Jason Anthony as a leader.
Ant is an unquestioned leader and is an unbelievable molder of young men. A huge piece of the SEB Program is developing not only football players but developing young men to be exceptional human beings.
Personally, I can’t wait for the season to kick off to be able to begin the Jason Anthony Era of Jackets Football. There’s a new air around the Jackets program and the new breath seems to have new life into the program that will lead to even more success very soon.
