Erik Bakich wastes no time reloading the roster on portal day, securing a massive transfer commitment

The first day of the NCAA transfer portal brought some gut punches for Clemson fans, but Erik Bakich wasted no time firing right back.

Only a few hours after seeing key starters enter the portal, Clemson landed a huge win: Georgia Southern star catcher and outfielder Bennett Edwards is coming home to play for the Tigers.

Edwards, a Laurens native, is exactly what the Tigers needed: a proven, versatile underclassman who can handle business both behind the plate and out in the field.

A Spark Plug in the Sun Belt

Edwards rolls into Tigertown after a breakout freshman year at Georgia Southern, where he turned heads as one of the Sun Belt’s most electric young bats.

He played in 49 games, starting 44, and absolutely caught fire early in 2026, flirting with a .400 average deep into March before locking down the leadoff spot for the Eagles.

Bennett Edwards: 2026 Freshman Bio Snapshot

• The Slash Line: Posted a strong .287 batting average and a highly disciplined .381 on-base percentage.
• The Hit Tool: Logged 50 total hits, including an impressive stretch of seven consecutive multi-hit games in mid-March. Finished fifth on the roster with 15 multi-hit games.
• Defensive Utility: Split time efficiently across the outfield and behind the plate, showcasing a powerful arm by gunning down six base-stealers from the catcher position.
• Hardware: Officially named to the Sun Belt All-Freshman Team.

Bringing the Palmetto State Product Home

For Edwards, suiting up in Clemson orange is the dream come true. Before making noise on the national stage, he was already a legend at Laurens District 55 High.

A three-time All-Region selection and two-time South Carolina All-State recipient, Perfect Game originally rated him as the No. 49 overall prospect and the No. 10 catcher in the state of South Carolina for the 2025 class. Football and baseball genetics run thick in the family, as his father, Chris, played tight end and pitched at Presbyterian College.

The Immediate Roster Impact

Bakich wasted no time making a statement, locking down Edwards on day one as a direct answer to the morning’s roster shakeup. With All-ACC catcher/outfielder Nate Savoie and starting center fielder Bryce Clavon heading to the portal, Edwards steps right in as that elite, do-it-all catcher/outfielder Clemson needs.

With three years left to play and big-time athleticism, Edwards is a cornerstone for the Tigers as they reload the lineup. Portal season is wild, but Clemson just scored a huge piece for the future.

"I’m blessed to announce that I will be pursuing my dream of playing baseball at Clemson University," Edwards shared on social media. "I’m so grateful for the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity! Go Tigers 🐅"

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