SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State baseball announced the signing of 12 student-athletes during the November early signing period on Wednesday, welcoming the group to the program for the 2028 season. The signing class features nine high school standouts and three junior college transfers, providing upside around the diamond at every position group.

QUOTABLE
Steven Trout, head coach
"I couldn't be more excited for this class to make its mark on Texas State baseball. This group is very talented and will be very impactful as soon as they step on campus. I'm very thankful for Coach Gowins leading the charge and putting this very talented class together along with Coach Blakley and Coach Guarno. The future is very bright in San Marcos!"
 
Brandon Gowins, recruiting coordinator
"We are fired up to add 12 players during the early signing period, with nine high school players and three junior college players signing this week. The thing that really sticks out about this class is its size. It is a physical group, and the thing I am most proud of is that they are all great humans who come from great families. We have a lot of high-end athletes who are talent maximizers. Fired up to see what Coach Blakley and Coach Guarno are going to do with these toolsets."

Brandon Gowins on individual signees
High School Signees
Jackie Bryant – OF – The Bennett School – R/R
"Jackie has done nothing but hit since our staff first saw him. I was lucky enough to coach him at Future Games before coming to Texas State and have been a huge fan since. He played for the Twelve Red Sox in the summer, and you always know you are getting a high-IQ player when you get one of their guys. Jackie can play all three outfield positions."

Max Mangum – RHP – The Bennett School
"The 6-foot-5 righty from East Bernard has all the makings of a weekend rotation piece. He has the size, arm talent and strike-throwing ability. I feel like he is just scratching the surface of what he is going to become. He features a low-90s fastball that I could see continuing to climb under Coach Blakley and Coach Wallace. Excited to see him join up with Jackie and Grant Stafford for his senior season at The Bennett School."

Tyler King – OF – Liberty Christian – R/R
"Tyler is one of the most physically gifted athletes on the diamond in the state. He has true five-tool potential and can do things physically that not many people can do. He plays for an elite coaching staff at Liberty Christian in Argyle and has had awesome coaching in the summer with the Cooperstown Cobras. The sky is the limit for what Tyler can become."

Cash Clayton – OF – The Woodlands – R/R
"Another high-quality athlete to roam the outfield heading to Slam Marcos. Cash is an athletic 6-foot-5 center fielder who can really run and throw. He has had a lot of success at The Woodlands, one of the top high school programs in Texas. He has been on varsity since his sophomore year and gets better year over year. He has a chance to hit for average and power."

Mason Duncan – RHP – Flower Mound
"Mason is another big-bodied righty from one of the better high schools in the state. He can really sink it in the upper 80s and low 90s. I think there are some big level-ups coming for Mason in the next 12 months, and we are excited to see where it goes. He played for Blake Beavan and the Dallas Tigers in the summer, so you know you are getting a well-coached player."

Riggs Gordon – C – Cedar Ridge – R/R
"Riggs is an exciting player who is just coming into his own physically. He is one of the better catch-and-throw guys in the state and can really shut down a running game. He showed he can handle premium velocity while receiving at some big events this past summer. He is athletic enough to play all over the diamond, and as a 6.6 runner, he is a plus athlete for his position. He has really good bat-to-ball skills, and as he gets stronger, I think he has a chance to develop real power."

Gino Tonielli – RHP – Katy
"Gino is a long-limbed righty who may end up throwing absolute fuel one day. With an athletic delivery and a quick arm, he was in the low 90s early last year before getting hurt. He has crushed his rehab, and we are excited for a monster senior season from Gino. He has one of the highest ceilings in the state."

Cooper Voigt – LHP – Bastrop
"Cooper is a guy I had heard about throughout the spring and then fell in love with this summer. He is an athletic lefty who is just realizing how good he can be. He has a projectable frame, his fastball already gets into the low 90s, and he always throws strikes. He could follow in the footsteps of Nolan Moore and Collier Carroll and impact the Bobcats in a big way as a freshman. He played for Shane Davenport and the Stix this summer, so you know he is coming ready to play. The sky is the limit for Cooper."

Grant Stafford – INF – The Bennett School – L/R
"The left-handed-hitting infielder has done nothing but hit since I first met him when he was 14. He has really blossomed over the last 12 months and showed some big power potential this fall. He is a smart player who does everything well. He can play all over the dirt for us and gives us another left-handed bat on the infield. He played for Nico Moran and Performance in the summer, one of the better organizations in the country. He will play his senior year this spring with Jackie and Max at The Bennett School."

JUCO Signees
Kyle Tanksley – INF – Weatherford College – R/R
"Tank is a player I have known for a long time, going back to my PBR days. He is a high-IQ player who can play all over the field. This fall at Weatherford, he took his game to another level and started showing real power. I think he has a chance to come in, help us right away and be a major impact in our lineup. He played at Allen High School and for Cody Cramer and the Stix in the summer, where he was teammates with freshman Bobcat Rylan Alaniz."

Colby Fowler – OF – Wharton County – L/L
"Colby is another kid I feel like I have known forever from my PBR days. He is a left-handed-hitting outfielder and a good athlete who can play all three outfield spots. He has continued to get stronger and has developed some real power since arriving at Wharton. He is a tireless worker who wants to be great, and he adds to the great culture we have built in San Marcos."

Dyllan Thiebaud – RHP – New Mexico Junior College
"I am fired up to be getting another arm from New Mexico JC. With the success of Jesus Tovar and Cade Smith, we know we are getting a guy ready to compete when he comes from Coach Robbins' program. Dyllan is a low-slot righty who should have a clearly defined role at the back end for us. He has a low-90s heater that dances, and I think there are still more level-ups to come. I could see him throwing a lot of meaningful innings for us during his time in Slam Mo."

For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.