Jackson Wins Golden Spikes, Dawgs Cash In Via Portal

Not to overstate things, but June 29, 2026 may end up being the most consequential day when it comes to the current state of the Georgia baseball program.

If you just took Monday night’s news that Dan Jackson won the Golden Spikes Award, the honor given to the top player in college baseball, that would have been monumental on its own. In Jackson, the Diamond Dawgs have now had a player take that prize in two of the past three seasons. That stretch, of course, coincides with Wes Johnson being the Bulldogs’ head coach.

The message is clear. If you want to be college baseball’s best, the confines of Foley Field are a pretty good place to spend your time.

Certainly, it would have been nice for Jackson to get a send-off last week as a national champion in Omaha, but Georgia was one of the last four teams standing in college baseball’s mecca.

Jackson’s Monday coronation proves what this program has been able to do.

Earlier in the day, however, hammered home what Georgia plans to do – seeing to it that this year was not a one-and-done trip to the College World Series.

Or to call back to Kirby Smart’s famous post-game quote after the 2018 National Title Game – “we’re not going anywhere.”

Dislike the transfer portal or embrace it, the reality is that those who utilize it well help themselves the most. Those who don’t in the current landscape…well, just check in on Dabo Swinney when you get a chance.

Guys like Kolby Branch and Dan Jackson are not easy to replace, that’s for sure. But the Diamond Dawgs being able to cook with gas in the transfer portal on Monday helps, without a doubt.

Among the incoming transfers will be Oregon DH Naulivou Lauaki Jr., having hit .321 with 14 dingers last year.

More offensive firepower will be on the way through Utah outfielder Jet Gilliam, who hit .362 last year as well as Indiana first baseman Jake Hanley, who hit .338 this past spring and ripped 14 homers the last two years.

The arrival of infielder Casey McCoy from Louisiana Tech and previous add of FSU catcher Hunter Carnes should bolster things even more.

And yes, pitching help is also incoming via Matthew Cuccias from Wichita State, who in 15 starts had a 3.53 ERA with 76 strikeouts.

For Georgia, the message on Monday was clear – that it does not want its current window to close anytime soon.

Go Dawgs!