One thing that is always talked about is the JuCo Route. From how well it works, to it is the best option for many, to a restart for others. Also there is the Stigma that is “D1 or Bust”, “If i go Juco i won’t go D1 ”, “You can’t get seen at Jucos” ext. Well this piece is here to show you how wrong those statements can be.
The lineup is set! It’s almost that time.
First pitch set for 2 pm. against @RaginCajunsBSB.#RollWave pic.twitter.com/4doDoMpie9
— Tulane Baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) February 19, 2021
Braden Oltoff – Palomar, Golden Spikes Watch List, Walker Burchfield – Hinds, Haydan Hastings – Palomar, Trevor Minder – Parkland, and Luis Aviles – Wallace-Dothan all started fo Tulane Opening Day
Starting to feel real, ain’t it? 👀
Opening weekend starters 💪💪💪
G1 – @Bryce_miller9 ⌚
G2 – @Dustin10Saenz 🚧
G3 – @jonchilly32 ❄️#FamilyF1rst | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/k45VijLjvP— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 20, 2021
Texas A&M Friday Night Starter Bryce Miller – Blinn
A couple new faces and lots of staples in our Opening Day lineup! Baseball coming your way soon! #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/UjuauSKrk2
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) February 20, 2021
TCU Friday Night Starter Johnny Ray – John A. Logan
This past week (Feb. 19th-21st), was the NCAA Division 1 Opening weekend. Over the past few years we have put out our “Former Junior College guys to Watch”, “Junior College Recruiting Classes” and other pieces of content that show who is going to have junior college guys. This however combines both of those and is going to answer the question “How Many Former Junior College Athletes Played Opening Weekend at the Division 1 Level?”. And Honestly this was not what i expected when i set out to find this answer. And that is in a good way.
30 minutes to tip and here’s how the Flames will take the field behind head coach Mike Dee!
Freshman Cole Conn gets his first collegiate start in the DH spot while Tanner Shears makes his UIC debut on the hill.#FireUpFlames pic.twitter.com/45wXimmlYD
— UIC Baseball 🔥⚾️ (@UIC_Baseball) February 19, 2021
Illinois-Chicago Friday Night Starter Tanner Shears – Modesto
Galicia with the big strikeout for the first out here in the sixth.#JoinThePride pic.twitter.com/Lagl2DK92W
— LMU Baseball (@lmulionsBSB) February 20, 2021
Loyola Marymount DH/#2 Pitcher Jimmy Galicia 2020 2-Way JBB Player of the Year – El Camino
First to answer that exact question ,give or take a few, the number of former junior college players is a staggering 973. 973 Former Junior College Players spanning all 3 major junior college athletic bodies (NJCAA, CCCAA, and NWAC) Played Division one baseball opening weekend.
The Cowboys’ first hit of the 2021 season is a 1B off the bat of @JakeT34. @juhjuh162710 follows with a 1B of his own, and the bases are FOC with 1 out in T1#MakeItHappen #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/IrrXwYCaD3
— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 21, 2021
Oklahoma State 1st hit for the 2021 Season off Jake Thompson’s bat – Palomar
Welcome to the club, @c_encarnacion13! Christian leads off T2 with a 2B to LCF in his first career at-bat in an #okstate uniform.#MakeItHappen #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/7ICDKyjnLD
— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 21, 2021
Oklahoma State Starting 3B and 2-time 1st Team JBB All-American Christian Encarnacion-Strand – Yavapai
Those 973 Players represent 300 different Junior College institutions. With the Top 5 being #2. Florence-Darlington Tech (13), #2. Wabash Valley (13), #2. Jefferson (MO) (13), #2 Weatherford (13), and #1 San Jac (20). The complete list is below.
CRUSHED @brady_slavens @FloBaseball: https://t.co/trmkiqbGwJ pic.twitter.com/Ht25FMsVvm
— Razorback Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) February 22, 2021
2020 JBB Player of the Year Brady Slavens – Johnson County
Sheeeeeesh @WebbBraydon
Big-league park, big-league catch. pic.twitter.com/ssJKVmtiTh
— Razorback Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) February 21, 2021
Braydon Webb – Grayson
In those three days, over 150 schools had at least 1 game over this span. Those teams spanned 29 Conferences all of which had at least 1 Former Junior College Player. Below will be the complete list, but the Top 5 Conferences with the most Junior College players goes as followed #5. Big South (56), #4. Ohio Valley (56), #3 WAC (62), #2. Sun Belt (84), and #1. Southland (91). Yes, those 5 are all what many would call “Mid-Majors” but if you have followed the 2021 College Baseball season to this point you know those “Mid-Majors” are good and making a lot of noise. Of the “Power 5” Conferences the SEC has the most Former Junior College Players with 55 which comes in at 6th overall.
Today’s lineup with @BrannonJordan4 on the bump!!#Gamecocks | #ForeverToThee pic.twitter.com/fM7dx5GXvw
— Gamecock Baseball (@GamecockBasebll) February 20, 2021
David Mendham – Connors State, Jeff Heinrich – McHenry, and George Callil – McLennan all startin on the opening day South Carolina Roster
Got one back 💪
📺 @FloBaseball ($)
💻 https://t.co/hglp1d9Cs7 pic.twitter.com/y8jX8Lh2ZB— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 21, 2021
Dylan Neuse McLennan
When looking at the teams that had the most Former Junior College Players. This was interesting. The top 5 went as follows #4 UL-Lafayette (16) #4. Campbell (16) #3. South Alabama (17) #1. Houston Baptist (19), #1. UT-Rio Grande Valley (19). What got fun was when we looked at a few of the teams single day rosters. 2 Different teams in single games played with all but at most 2 players having junior college ties. Those were UT-Rio Grande Valley who played 17 with 15 having Junior College Ties, and Houston Baptist playing 13 with 12 having Junior College ties.
B5 | Triple by O’Connor brings in two more!! LET’S GO CHOS!!!! pic.twitter.com/4ro8MhrG0b
— UCSB Baseball (@UCSB_Baseball) February 20, 2021
McClain O’Connor starting SS – Lassens
The lineup behind @Conor_Angel ⤵️#GeauxCajuns ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/wsjWx6gDFV
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Baseball (@RaginCajunsBSB) February 20, 2021
UL-Lafayette Started 7 of 9 Junior College Players their opening day Kevin Fitzgerald (3B) San Joaquin Delta, Sam Riola (SS) Iowa Western, Nick Hagerdorn (C) Jefferson (MO), Jonathan Brandon (2B) Murray State, Tyler Robertson (CF) Shelton State, Connor Kimple (DH) South Mountain, Conor Angel (SP) Northwest Florida State