Athletic Profiles: 10 Prospects With Baseball Backgrounds

Baseball is a common sport many high-profile recruits played when they were younger, and some still are. For QBs, the translation from baseball to football is obvious, especially when you factor in the ability to make unique throws while off-platform and with interesting arm angles. However, even for non-QBs, the instincts and focus from baseball apply to all sports. Here are just a few noteworthy players in Georgia who double as baseball prospects.    [player_tooltip player_id='212305' first='Nate' last='Russell'] has one of the best multi-sport backgrounds in the entire state. Not only did he lead Cartersville to a regional title this year, but he is also a premier baseball player in GA. Russell has some serious horsepower in his arm, often touching the upper 80s with his fastball. Russell makes big play after big play with his arm, consistently hitting the deep ball and doing it efficiently. He can launch the ball 50+ yards downfield, as shown on tape, and he doesn't look to have a problem manipulating touch and trajectory. Russell plays within himself in the pocket and appears relaxed, stepping into his throws and climbing to escape. He does all of this on a 6'3 190 frame. He has a P4 caliber arm and improved from sophomore to junior year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1576165' first='Trey' last='Smith'] has been one of the breakout QBs in the state this fall and is putting up good numbers against stiff competition. Smith is a sudden and slippery athlete who escapes pressure exceptionally well and is dangerous in the open field. He can break down would-be tacklers and weave in and out of running lanes to create yards. He is a middle infielder in baseball, and you can tell when watching him throw. Not only does he have plenty of zip on the ball, but he consistently makes impressive off-platform throws while having to alter his arm angle. He is a bit unorthodox in the pocket and should be considered a gunslinger. There are glimpses of fine touch on tape. The raw tools are there for coaches to harness. Smith should be viewed as a potential lottery ticket prospect and reminds me of Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos.     [player_tooltip player_id='283870' first='Kaleb' last='Narcisse'] has been well-covered for us at Prep Redzone. His fastball is sniffing 90 MPH and he has one of the strongest, if not the strongest arm in the state. He is up to 6'1 210 now, giving him some durability in the pocket and adding more explosiveness to his game. When you turn on the tape, Narcisse throws rocket after rocket on tape. He has the horsepower in his arm to place it into hard-to-reach areas and can throw the ball with whistling spin. This is his first year as a starter, so his best ball is still in front of him. There are P4 tools here for Narcisse and I expect his stock to continue to rise as more and more coaches watch him throw in person.     [player_tooltip player_id='681166' first='Jonathan' last='Granby'] is one of the more intriguing prospects I have evaluated in the 2026 class. I have long viewed him as a QB prospect, but he is starting to pick up some buzz as an athlete. The reasoning is obvious. He has is both fast and explosiveness, allowing him to create his own yards and drive through contact while also running away from defenders in the open field. He flipped around and played some DB this year, and surprised me with both his ability and willingness as a tackler/striker. He is a ranked baseball prospect here in Georgia with plenty of juice in his arm. Similar to [player_tooltip player_id='1576165' first='Trey' last='Smith'] and Narcisse, he can attack down the field while also making unique, off-platform throws. Every coach might have a different idea for what position they want him to play, but he is a good enough athlete to adjust to wherever he ends up.     Mason Hester is another ranked baseball prospect with plenty of athletic indicators. He is a baseball first guy, but is explosive on top of a 6'3 180 frame and is a productive playmaker for Lumpkin County. Hester is a big body that can settle into soft areas of the field. He has some horsepower after the catch, allowing him to drive through contact and get vertical in a hurry. He has played sparingly at QB, and I imagine there is a chance he will take over QB duties for Lumpkin County as a senior. Hester is a big-time baseball prospect but still makes plays on the gridiron.     [player_tooltip player_id='283907' first='Steele' last='Ingram'] is one of the more established prospects on this list with several FBS offers under his belt. He is also a ranked baseball player here in Georgia, which paints an impressive multi-sport picture. Ingram is a playmaker at all levels of the field. He is quick off the line and has the speed to get behind quality defensive backs. He is a north/south threat after the catch, putting his foot in the ground and wasting no time taking the yards available. His ready-made frame at 6'2 195 makes him hard to defend as he can battle against press coverage and use his strength to protect the catch pocket. I watched him in person this fall, and it was evident he was not scared at all of contact, and initiated it at times.     Watkins plays both ways for GAC and is yet another ranked baseball prospect. He handles some QB duties for GAC, where he proves that he can extend plays and make unique throws while off-platform. I believe he projects best as a DB. He plays with solid mechanics and has enough speed to get to a spot and make a play on the football. He plays with good instincts, frequently under-cutting routes, and tracking the football nicely. At corner, receivers seem to have trouble consistently creating separation. Even without prototype length, his instincts and ball skills should allow him to stick at DB. He reminds me a little of Liberty DB Devin Henderson.     [player_tooltip player_id='1096368' first='Hudson' last='Hill'] has generated plenty of buzz early in his HS career. He had over 1300 receiving yards as a freshman and despite a drop in production in 2024, he is still a top playmaker for PACS. On top of that, he is a nationally ranked baseball prospect and one of the best baseball players in the state. He won't scare you off the bus, but he is a savvy route runner with the tendency to make difficult catches. He is deceptive, allowing him to separate at the top of routes and settle into soft spots. I imagine his junior season will be more comparable to his freshman season as fast as production is concerned. He will generate recruiting buzz in both sports.     [player_tooltip player_id='1544909' first='Brodie' last='Campbell'] is a ranked baseball player in GA in the 2027 class and I believe he will pick up some recruiting buzz on the gridiron this offseason. There are plenty of developmental traits for college coaches to harness. For starters, he is tall and has room to add more weight, which will only make him a more durable force in the pocket and give him more velo on the football. He is still developing fundamentally, but even without perfect mechanics, he has enough juice in his arm to muscle the ball outside the numbers on the far side of the field. His touch and timing are advanced for his age, frequently throwing receivers open and giving them room to run after the catch. On top of his developmental traits, he has starting experience as an underclassman and was excellent throughout his sophomore season. I wouldn't be shocked to see Campbell pick up FBS recruiting buzz this offseason.     Ashton Clare is a potential breakout QB prospect to track over the next two years and is ranked amongst the best 2027 baseball prospects in Georgia. He has played sparingly on varsity through his first two years, where off-platform throws translate from baseball. He operates smoothly, especially when on the move. When rolling to his non-dominant side, he is fluid enough in his hips to flip and point toward receivers. He puts decent spin on the ball and has a quick release from his ear, allowing him to fit the ball into tight windows. Clare is yet another QB with impressive multi-sport context.

Baseball is a common sport many high-profile recruits played when they were younger, and some still are. For QBs, the translation from baseball to football is obvious, especially when you factor in the ability to make unique throws while off-platform and with interesting arm angles. However, even for non-QBs, the instincts and focus from baseball apply to all sports. Here are just a few noteworthy players in Georgia who double as baseball prospects.