Connor Cuff, Daniel Jackson, Ryan Kroepel and Sergio Lopez Earn National Recognition from College Baseball Foundation

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Connor Cuff (Southeastern Louisiana), Daniel Jackson (Georgia), Ryan Kroepel (Utah Tech) and Sergio Lopez (UTRGV) earned weekly honors from the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) for their respective performances last week, it was announced on Tuesday.

Cuff earned the Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week while Jackson was named the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Week. Kroepel earned the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week. Lopez was selected as the National Pitcher of the Week.

Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop)

Connor Cuff, SS, Junior, Southeastern Louisiana, Carthage, Texas

Cuff turned in a prolific week at the plate, going 9-for-20 (.450) with nine runs scored, nine RBIs, two doubles and three home runs, including a grand slam. He also drew four walks and was successful on his only stolen base attempt. He did not commit an error in 19 chances in the field, earning seven putouts and 12 assists. Cuff helped lead the Lions to a 5-0 week with a pair of wins over ULM and a weekend sweep of Grambling. The junior now has three home runs and 12 RBIs and is fielding at a .986 clip this season.

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Week

Daniel Jackson, C, Junior, Georgia, Sandy Springs, Georgia

Jackson had a monster week at the plate for the Georgia Bulldogs going 11-for-23 (.478) with five home runs, 14 runs scored, 13 RBIs and six walks. The junior posted a 1.304% slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage. Jackson had three hits in five at bats, including two home runs and six RBIs in the Bulldogs’ Sunday win over Queens. He was flawless behind the plate last week with four assists, no errors or passed balls in six total games. Jackson helped lead the Bulldogs to a 5-1 week, including four run-rule victories, with a series sweep of Queens and a single win over Kennesaw State. He is now hitting .408 with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs on the season.

John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week Award

Ryan Kroepel, 3B/RHP, Junior, Utah Tech, Poway, California

Kroepel was pivotal for the Trailblazers in capturing two games of a four-game series against Austin Peay. The right-handed closer appeared on the mound twice during the series earning a save in game one of the series, while picking up the win in the series finale on Sunday. Kroepel pitched a total of 3.2 innings, allowing no runs, while walking and striking out three. His season ERA now stands at 0.87 in seven appearances. The junior picked up four hits against the Governors, including tallying four runs scored, four walks, three RBIs, a home run and a stolen base.

National Pitcher of the Week

Sergio Lopez, RHP, Graduate, UTRGV, Eagle Pass, Texas

Lopez scattered three hits and did not allow a run over 7.2 innings of work in a 10-0 win over New Orleans. It was the first Southland Conference win of the season for the Vaqueros. The right-hander racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts and walked only one batter on a total of 94 pitches in earning the victory. Lopez retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced, including six strikeouts. His 13 strikeouts were the most by a UTRGV pitcher since Angelo Cabral fanned 15 against Central Michigan in 2023.

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College Baseball Foundation Weekly Honors

Each week the CBF recognizes weekly award winners in conjunction with the Brooks Wallace Award, Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and the National Pitcher of the Year Award.

2026 Brooks Wallace Award Weekly Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 – Dee Kennedy Jr., SS, Junior, Kansas State, Fort Worth, Texas

2/24 – Roch Cholowsky, SS, Junior, UCLA, Chandler, Arizona

3/3 – Jake Schaffner, SS, Junior, North Carolina, Janesville, Wisconsin

3/10 – Connor Cuff, SS, Junior, Southeastern Louisiana, Carthage, Texas

2026 Buster Posey Award Weekly Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 – Sergio Guerra, C, Senior, Tarleton State, San Diego, Texas

2/24 – Jon Embury, C, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast, Port Charlotte, Florida

3/3 – Cider Canon, C, Junior, Duke, San Marino, California

3/10 – Daniel Jackson, C, Junior, Georgia, Sandy Springs, Georgia

2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player Weekly Award Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 – Max Knight, LHP/1B/OF, Junior, Missouri State, Bixby, Oklahoma

2/24 – Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast, Tampa, Florida

3/3 – Josiah Overbeek, 1B/RHP, Freshman, Army, Weatherford, Texas

3/10 – Ryan Kroepel, 3B/RHP, Junior, Utah Tech, Poway, California

2025 National Pitcher(s) of the Year Weekly Award Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 – Grant Govel, RHP, Sophomore, USC, Rolling Hills Estates, California

2/24 – Dax Whitney, RHP, Sophomore, Oregon State, Blackfoot, Idaho

3/3 – Andrew Herrmann, LHP, Graduate, Louisiana, Kennesaw, Georgia

3/10 – Sergio Lopez, RHP, Graduate, UTRGV, Eagle Pass, Texas

Brooks Wallace Award

The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to honor the nation's most outstanding shortstop. It is a tribute to Brooks Wallace, a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977-80 who passed away at age 27 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Prior to 2009, the award recognized the national player of the year.

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award

Established in 2000, by the Wichita Sports Commission, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award is presented annually to honor the nation's most outstanding catcher. Posey began his collegiate career as a shortstop, before moving to catcher where he won the 2008 Johnny Bench Award, Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. In his MLB career with the San Francisco Giants, Posey earned three world series titles, seven All-Star Game selections, five Silver Slugger Awards, the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP and was a 2016 Gold Glove Award winner.

John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award

The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation to honor the nation's top combo pitcher-position player. Olerud, who was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, was a standout pitcher and first baseman at Washington State University from 1987 through 1989.

National Pitcher of the Year Award

The Pitcher of the Year award, college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award which was created in 2009, is given annually to the nation's top collegiate pitcher.