Two North Springs High School graduates crossed paths on college baseball’s national stage in June when Daniel Jackson received the Dick Howser Trophy from fellow alumnus Craig Ramsey.

Jackson, a 2023 graduate, accepted the award June 12 in Omaha, Nebraska, during the College World Series festivities. Ramsey, a 1976 graduate, chairs the College Baseball Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

North Springs highlighted the connection in an Oct. 20 post on X. The school also shared that Jackson recently returned to campus to visit former teachers.

The Howser Trophy recognizes the nation’s top NCAA Division I baseball player, with selection criteria covering athletic performance, leadership, character and courage.

Jackson won after a standout junior season as the University of Georgia’s catcher. The Sandy Springs native finished with a .379 batting average, 32 home runs, 87 RBI and 26 stolen bases, according to his MLB profile.

He became the first Division I catcher to combine at least 30 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season. He also earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Year honors and won the conference’s Triple Crown.

“I’m very grateful for this award. I wouldn’t be able to do it by myself,” Jackson said in UGA’s announcement.

At the presentation, Jackson thanked his father, Dan, stepmother Brandi, sister Alex, coaches and teammates.

His production helped Georgia win its first SEC Tournament championship, with Jackson named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He then hit .450 across five NCAA regional and super regional games in Athens, contributing four home runs and seven RBI.

One of those homers broke an extra-inning tie against Mississippi State and helped send the Bulldogs to Omaha.

Jackson became Georgia’s second Howser Trophy winner, following Charlie Condon in 2024.

More national recognition followed. On June 13, he won the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s top collegiate catcher. He added the Golden Spikes Award, recognizing the country’s top amateur baseball player, on June 29.

Strong start in professional baseball

The Colorado Rockies selected Jackson with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

He made his professional debut Aug. 11 with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies and hit a home run in that first game. Later that month, he earned California League Player of the Week honors for Aug. 18–23, according to the Grizzlies’ announcement.

Jackson finished his first professional season batting .309 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 22 games for Fresno. MLB Pipeline lists him as the Rockies’ No. 6 prospect.