Vanderbilt Captures 2017 Recruiting Title

by • Featured

TUCSON, Ariz. — Vanderbilt landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to Collegiate Baseball’s 2017 evaluation of NCAA Division I baseball classes.

It marks the Commodores’ second national recruiting title by Collegiate Baseball after landing the No. 1 class in 2012.

Seven of the top 10 teams are from the Southeastern Conference. It marks the eighth time in the last nine years that an SEC team has won the recruiting championship.

It is the 35th straight year Collegiate Baseball has evaluated NCAA Division I recruiting classes.

Athletes who initially signed letters of intent with a school, but then signed a pro contract after being drafted, do not count in the overall evaluation. Only athletes who came to school this fall are factored in as points are awarded to drafted players and the round they are chosen, All-Americans, All-State selections and All-Conference picks.

Collegiate Baseball also gives points for Conference Players of The Year, State Players of The Year and National Players of The Year.

The Commodores landed a star-studded class of 17 freshmen with five players drafted last June. Ten of the 17 players are high profile pitchers.

The drafted players include:

  • LHP Jake Eder (Calvary Christian, Ft. Lauderdale, FL), 34th round Mets.
  • SS Austin Martin (Trinity Christian, Jacksonville, FL), 37th round Indians.
  • CF Pat Demarco (Winder-Barrow, Winder, GA), 24th round Yankees.
  • CF Cooper Davis (St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Mississauga, Ontario, Can.), 25th round Blue Jays.
  • RHP Tyler Brown (Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center, OH), 26th round Reds.

Other superb players in the class include:

  • C Philip Clarke (Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, TN), All-American.
  • 3B Garrett Blaylock (T.C. Roberson, Asheville, NC), All-State.
  • INF Jayson Gonzalez (Bishop Amat, La Puente, CA), All-American.
  • LHP Hugh Fisher (Briarcrest Christian, Eads, TN), All-State.
  • RHP Aaron Brown (Mt. Juliet, TN H.S.), All-State.
  • C Tyler Solomon (Battlefield, Haymarket, VA), All-State.
  • RHP David Bates (Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, TN), All-State.
  • LHP Joe Gobillot (St. John’s H.S., Houston, TX).
  • RHP Erik Kaiser (Waterloo H.S., IL)
  • RHP Justin Willis (Memorial H.S., West New York, NJ).
  • RHP Mason Hickman (Pope John Paul II H.S., Hendersonville, TN).
  • RHP Corbin Brooksbank (McCallie School, Signal Mountain, TN).

 “It is the first time in years we were able to keep our entire draft class intact,” said Vanderbilt Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Scott Brown.

 “You never believe that you will land every single player you went after, but this is what happened with this class,” said Brown.

“We have a collection of big bodied pitchers with live arms.”

Every single pitcher throws in the low 90s to 98 mph with their fastballs and are huge physical specimens.

A complete rundown on the top 25 recruiting classes is featured in the Oct. 6 issue of Collegiate Baseball. To purchase a copy or subscribe, CLICK HERE.

 

2017 NCAA Div. I Recruiting Results
By Collegiate Baseball

  1. Vanderbilt
  2. Florida
  3. South Carolina
  4. Arizona St.
  5. Louisiana St.
  6. Arkansas
  7. Oklahoma St.
  8. Auburn
  9. Kentucky
  10. Michigan
  11. Clemson
  12. Oklahoma
  13. Miami, Fla.
  14. Florida St.
  15. Georgia Tech.
  16. Central Florida
  17. Florida International
  18. UCLA
  19. U.C. Santa Barbara
  20. Texas Christian
  21. Texas A&M
  22. North Carolina
  23. Louisville
  24. Mississippi St.
  25. South Alabama
  26. Virginia
  27. Cal. St. Fullerton
  28. Texas
  29. Southern California
  30. Coastal Carolina
  31. Arizona
  32. Stanford
  33. San Diego St.
  34. U.C. Riverside
  35. Oregon
  36. Oregon St.
  37. New Mexico St.
  38. East Carolina
  39. Maryland
  40. Cal. St. Northridge

Other Top Recruiting Classes: Minnesota, San Diego, Texas Tech., Rice, N.C. Wilmington, Memphis, Nevada, Mississippi, Baylor, Iowa, Louisiana-Lafayette, Washington, Missouri St., Hawaii, California, Dallas Baptist, Utah, Kansas, Winthrop, Duke, Southern Mississippi, Indiana, Cal Poly, Houston, U.C. Irvine, Middle Tennessee St., N.C. State, Ohio St., Kennesaw St., Georgia Southern, Sam Houston St., Alabama, Washington St., Wake Forest, Tulane, Marshall, Oral Roberts, St. Mary’s, Florida Gulf Coast, Creighton, Fresno St., Gonzaga, Bryant, Loyola Marymount, Missouri, Virginia Tech., Butler, Western Kentucky, Tennessee, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Florida Atlantic, Wichita St., Pepperdine, Kent St., Central Michigan, Ball St., Long Beach St., Western Michigan, Texas St., Nebraska, College of Charleston, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Stony Brook, Connecticut, Brigham Young, Grand Canyon, Seattle.

Source: Collegiate Baseball

 

Previous NCAA Div. I
Recruiting Champions
By Collegiate Baseball

2016: Arizona St.
2015: Florida
2014: Louisiana St.
2013: Florida
2012: Vanderbilt
2011: South Carolina
2010: Louisiana St.
2009: Florida
2008: Arizona St.
2007: Louisiana St.
2006: South Carolina
2005: South Carolina
2004: Louisiana St.
2003: North Carolina
          South Carolina
2002: Georgia Tech.
2001: Southern California
2000: Cal. St. Fullerton
1999: Southern California
1998: Georgia Tech.
1997: UCLA
1996: Texas A&M
1995: Arizona St.
1994: Mississippi St.
1993: Miami (Fla.)
1992: Florida St.
1991: Miami (Fla.)
1990: Arizona
1989: Florida St.
1988: Miami (Fla.)
1987: Stanford
1986: Stanford
1985: Hawaii
1984: Florida St.
1983: Arizona St.

Source: Collegiate Baseball