He can steal bases, block a pitch in the dirt behind the plate, run down fly balls in the outfield and stretch his body to get the out on a close play at first base. And, he can hit.
That’s Daniel Jackson.
Jackson is one of the 16 transfers that head coach Wes Johnson brought to the No. 8-ranked Georgia Bulldogs this season. A sophomore transfer from Wofford, Jackson is exactly the kind of player Johnson was looking for: a utility player who can do it all.
“Part of the construction of this roster from an offensive standpoint was the ability to have different lineups and matchups, and guys play different positions,” Johnson said.
Johnson put Jackson at three different positions throughout this weekend’s home-opening series versus the University of Illinois Chicago. Among those were catcher, first base and right field. He finished the series with 18 putouts and a perfect fielding percentage.
Offensively, Jackson blasted his first home run as a Bulldog in Sunday’s final game of the series versus UIC, a no-doubter to center field. Jackson’s two-run home run contributed to Georgia’s 17-3 run-rule victory over UIC, securing a series sweep.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Johnson said. “He gets on [base], steals bases. He’s a very, very dynamic player.”
Defensively, Jackson ran down a deep fly ball toward the right field fence to help the Bulldogs out of the third inning. Jackson isn’t the only one moving around on the diamond.
“We have tons of depth,” Jackson said. “Tons of great guys that can do a lot.”
Another transfer who played different spots on the diamond against UIC was senior Robbie Burnett, who spent his last three years at UNC Asheville.
Burnett switched between second base and outfield during the weekend, but his impact at the plate and on the base paths added a new element to the roster.
In Burnett’s first game as a Bulldog, he tied the Georgia single-game record for stolen bases with four. Burnett knocked three balls out of the park in this weekend’s series.
He started Game 4 today with a two-RBI triple to left field, followed by a home run into the center field trees.
Burnett and Jackson are only two examples of Johnson’s lineup that he meticulously crafted during the offseason. Sunday’s win brings the Bulldogs to an 8-1 record as they prepare to go to Atlanta on Wednesday to face Georgia State at Truist Park.
