DALLAS – Tennessee’s Blade Tidwell and Jordan Beck earned more preseason recognition after being named to the preseason All-America teams by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
Tidwell earned his third first-team preseason All-America selection and fourth overall (see list below), while Beck garnered his third preseason All-America nod.
The SEC led all conferences with 16 All-America selections, followed by the Big 12 with 12 and the ACC with nine.
Tidwell and Beck both played major roles in helping lead the Vols to an historic season in 2021, which included the program’s first SEC eastern division title since 1997 and culminated with UT’s fifth trip to the College World Series and first appearance in Omaha since 2005.
After an impressive debut season on Rocky Top, Tidwell earned freshman All-America honors last year after posting a 10-3 record in 18 starts with a 3.74 ERA and 90 strikeouts. Tidwell’s 10 victories are tied for the second most in program history by a freshman. The Loretto, Tennessee, native is draft eligible following this season and is a potential first-round pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.
Beck enters his junior season with high expectations after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him lead the team with 15 home runs and 64 runs batted in. The Alabama native is regarded as one of the most talented players in the country and is another potential first-round draft pick for the Vols.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official website, www.ncbwa.com. The preseason All-America squads are considered the first step toward the eventual selection of the 2021 Dick Howser Trophy presented by the Game Headwear and voted upon for 24 seasons by members of the NCBWA.
To view the complete NCBWA Preseason All-America Teams, click HERE.
The Vols open their 2022 campaign by hosting Georgia Southern for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium from Feb. 18-20.
Tennessee Baseball 2022 Preseason Honors
RHP Blade Tidwell
Baseball America Preseason All-American – First Team
NCBWA Preseason All-American – First Team
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – First Team
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – Second Team
OF Jordan Beck
NCBWA Preseason All-American – Second Team
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – Second Team
Baseball America Preseason All-American – Third Team
C Evan Russell
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – Third Team
-UT Athletics
