Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin announced Friday that 10 student-athletes have signed with the University of Georgia to comprise the Class of 2021.
This latest recruiting class features nine players from the high school ranks and one from junior college. The 10-member class has eight Georgia natives and one each from Florida and Pennsylvania. Below is a look at the group that will be here for the 2022 season.
Daniel Braswell: A 6-3, 210-pound left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder who attends Loganville High School…Posted a combined .344 average with six home runs, 51 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 54 games the past two seasons for the Red Devils and coach Jeff Segars…An All-State selection and has been a part of two state championship teams including going 34-6 as a sophomore in 2019… Earned a pair of letters in football… Named team’s Scholar-Athlete each year…Member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Georgia Certificate of Merit, Principal’s Honor Roll… Summer baseball action with Team Georgia…Son of Lisa and Ben Weaver and Jason and Jodie Braswell.
“Committing to UGA was an easy decision for me because my whole life I have been a ‘Dawgs fan,” said Braswell. “I used to go to the UGA baseball games and dream of being out there on Foley Field and wearing those same uniforms. When I got the offer, it was like a dream come true.”
Coach Stricklin on Braswell: “Daniel is a very advanced hitter that is going to hit for a lot of power. We see him as a player that will be a major run producer for us. He is versatile defensively and is a good athlete.”
Charlie Condon: A 6-5, 200-pound right-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder who attends The Walker School…A four-year starter, he led the team in several categories including hits, RBI, doubles and a .515 batting average as a junior for the Wolverines and coach Dan Garofano…A four-year letterman in football and starting quarterback the past two seasons…Member of National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society…Summer baseball action with 643 DP Cougars and hit .407 with six home runs in 2020…Named MVP of the Perfect Game 2020 17U Southeast Selection Championships and to All-Tournament Team at the WWBA World Championships…Son of Rebecca and Jim Condon…Cousin Owen is an offensive lineman at Georgia.
“I chose UGA because it provides me the opportunity to play baseball at the highest level while also receiving a great education,” said Condon. “I’m excited to get to work with a great group of guys and coaches.”
Coach Stricklin on Condon: “Charlie is a big, strong hitter that has a lot of upside. As he continues to get stronger, we feel like he will have a lot of home run power.”
Glenn Green, III: A 6-2, 195-pound right-handed pitcher and right-handed hitting third baseman who attends Sandy Creek High School…A two-way standout for the Patriots and coach Nick Pou, he led the team in batting, home runs along with posting a 0.00 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched as a junior…Also earned letters in basketball…Top-ranked third baseman in the state according to Perfect Game and named a MBP All-American and Perfect Game/Rawlings preseason All-American in 2019 and 2020…Member of the Honor Roll…Summer baseball action with the East Cobb Astros and Upstate Mavs Scout Team…Son of Karen and Glenn Green…Uncle Litterial was an All-SEC basketball player for Georgia and its all-time leading scorer who went on to play 11 years professionally including five seasons in the NBA.
“It’s a dream come true to go to Georgia,” said Green. “It is home with a first-class coaching staff.”
Coach Stricklin on Green: “Glenn is a very talented two-way player. He has big time arm strength on the mound with a fastball that has gotten into the mid 90’s. He is also an accomplished hitter and infielder that has a high ceiling.”
Garrett Madliak: A 5-10, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher who attends Carrollton High School…Named a preseason All-American in 2019 and 2020…Has made 90 starts for the Trojans and coach Scott Johnson and batted a combined .465 with four home runs, 58 RBI and 22 stolen bases the past two seasons…Earned Academic letters and Honor Roll student…Summer baseball action with Canes Southeast including winning the 2019 WWBA World Championship…Son of Kim and Loren Madliak.
“I am looking forward to continuing my education at the University of Georgia,” said Madliak. “I’m proud to be given the opportunity to be a part of a great team and hope to win a few national championships.”
Coach Stricklin on Madliak: “Garrett is a plus defender behind the plate with advanced catch and throw skills. He has gained a lot of strength over the last year and has the potential to be a very good offensive player in the SEC.”
Chandler Marsh: A 6-5, 235-pound right-handed pitcher who attends Wellington High School…Made five starts for the Wolverines and coach Scott Riddle in 2020, going 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched…Also lettered in cross country and track…Named a DECA District and State qualifier and member of the Academic Honor Roll…Summer baseball action with Team Elite/Braves Scout Team…Son of Patty and Jim Marsh…Patty was on the swimming team at Eastern Michigan.
“UGA is going to give me the opportunity to compete for a College World Series title and develop and grow as a student-athlete,” said Marsh.
Coach Stricklin on Marsh: “Chandler has made a huge physical jump in the last year. He has gotten bigger and stronger and his stuff on the mound really stood out to us. His fastball gets into the low 90’s and he really competes.”
Jake Poindexter: A 6-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who attends Gordon Lee High School…Has combined to go 10-1 with a 1.56 ERA the past two seasons, registering 105 strikeouts in 75.1 innings for the Trojans and coach Mike Dunfee…Part of two state championships as the squad went 43-7 in that span…Named All-State and Walker County Pitcher of the Year…Also lettered in basketball…An Honor Student…Summer baseball action with eXposure Baseball…Son of Mindy and Will Poindexter…Cousin Tucker Bradley played for the Bulldogs from 2017-20.
“UGA will give me the best opportunity to develop as a player and as a person,” said Poindexter.
Coach Stricklin on Poindexter: “Jake can flat out pitch. He has always been a strike thrower that gets a lot of swing and misses but now he has gotten stronger and his velocity has jumped. He has a chance to make a big impact on our program.”
Dylan Ross: A 6-5, 250-pound right-handed pitcher who attends Northwest Florida State College and is coached by Doug Martin…Went 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in five starts for the Seminole County Snappers in the Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL) in 2020…Tallied 23 strikeouts in 15 innings for the Snappers and earned FCSL honors in 2020 after playing for the Leesburg Lightning of the FCSL in 2019…Spent his freshman season at Eastern Kentucky where he played for Edwin Thompson and the Colonels went 12-2 in 2020…Made three appearances, going 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four innings with three strikeouts…Saw action versus Siena College, Norfolk State and Northern Kentucky…Began prep career at Statesboro High School and played final two seasons with Georgia Premier Academy…Went 4-2 with a 4.52 ERA in nine starts for the Sox and coach Gene Reynolds…Tallied 42 strikeouts in 31 innings as team went 32-4-1…Son of Mary Allison and Tony Ross…Athletic family includes his grandfather John K. Small who was an NFL first round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons as a defensive tackle, Dylan’s brother Dalton is a pitcher at the University of Tampa…Cousin Terry Childers Jr., was a catcher on Georgia’s 1990 national championship team…Cousin Will is a freshman pitcher for the Bulldogs.
“I’m excited to come back home to Georgia and compete in the SEC,” said Ross. “Go Dawgs!”
Coach Stricklin on Ross: “Dylan has one of the strongest arms in the country. He is mature and physical and is very aggressive on the mound. He can throw his slider for a strike at any time and attacks hitters with a mid to upper 90’s fastball.”
Dylan Taylor: A 6-1, 180-pound left-handed hitting shortstop/second baseman who attends Schley (pronounced “sly”) County…Started 61 games the past two seasons and batted .430 with a team-high 16 home runs and 31 RBI for the Wildcats and coach Chuck Cheek…Also went 9-3 with a 1.02 ERA and a team-high 81 strikeouts in 74 innings in prep career…A two-time All-State and Offensive Player of the Year selection, a three-time All-Region pick and named Defensive Player of the Year…Part of two region championships and state finalist in 2019…Also a four-year letterman in basketball…A four-time Gold Honor Roll selection and Honor Graduate…Played summer baseball with 5 Star National…Son of Tracy and Corey Taylor.
“I chose UGA because it has always been my dream school, and the coaches made me feel at home there,” said Taylor. “I feel like Coach Stricklin and his staff will help me reach my full potential.”
Coach Stricklin on Taylor: “Dylan is a very polished infielder and hitter that has gap to gap power. He will be a run producer at the college level while being a plus defender on the infield.”
Cole Wagner: A 6-1, 205-pound left-handed hitting first baseman and pitcher who attends Red Land…Batted .375 with three home runs, 22 RBI and six stolen bases for the Patriots and coach Nate Ebbert…Helped team to 2019 PIAA 5A state title, going 25-3 with 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic…Also lettered in football as a junior…Ranks first in his class and earned a National Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation…Summer baseball action with Team Elite and won the 16u WWBA Championship…Son of Colleen and Bret Wagner…Bret pitched at Wake Forest and was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1994….Cole was a key part of Red Land’s Little League World Series team that won the 2015 United States Championship…Cole’s cousin Luke is a freshman pitcher/outfielder on the Georgia baseball team.
“It felt like home the moment I stepped on campus,” said Wagner. “The coaching staff is more knowledgeable and genuine than anywhere in the country.”
Coach Stricklin on Wagner: “Cole is one of the best hitters in the country. He can hit for power and for average and will develop into a middle of the order hitter for us. We also feel like he can make a major impact on the mound for us as well.”
Coleman Willis: A 6-6, 210-pound right-handed pitcher who attends Houston County…Posted a 3-1 mark, 3.49 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 26.1 innings as a sophomore for the Bears and coach Matt Hopkins…Also batted .312 with two home runs and 26 RBI in 2019…Team advanced to the Elite Eight of the 6A GHSA state playoffs…2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic…Also lettered in basketball…An Honor Student…Summer baseball action with Game On…Son of Amy and Gary Willis…Gary played baseball for South Georgia College.
“UGA is where I’ve always wanted to be, and I’m excited to make my dreams a reality,” said Willis.
Coach Stricklin on Willis: “Coleman has a huge upside. His is tall and athletic and the ball really jumps out of his hand. His fastball gets in to the low to mid 90’s right now and there is a lot more in there.”