NIU men’s baseball head coach Ryan Copeland announced 13 new signings for the 2025 season on Friday.
Eight of the new recruits are incoming freshmen, four of whom are from Illinois.
Catcher Conner Mendell and pitcher Carter Cox will both be joining the Huskies after their graduation from Fort Zumwalt South High School. Homestead High School pitcher Alex Graber and Antioch High School pitcher Jack Olson have both committed to NIU. Infielders Nolan Sandee from Nicolet High School and Jack Swaney out of Rochester High School, as well as Lake Forest High School outfielder Luca Royer will be joining the team. Rounding out the incoming freshmen is outfielder Jalen House from Downers Grove South High School.
Swaney is ranked No. 2 in Illinois among infielders, according to Prep Baseball’s Report Ranking. Sandee, Mendell, House and Cox are also within the top ten for their respective states and positions.
In addition to the freshmen, five transfer students will also be joining Copeland’s team.
Infielder Will Couchman will join NIU upon graduation from North Iowa Area Community College.
St. Charles Community College pitcher Nick Bassi and Lakeland Community College pitcher Danny Cihocki will be transferring to NIU after two years at their respective colleges. Pitchers Clayton Taylor out of Kaskaskia College and Morton Community College’s Sebastian Guitierrez are also set to join the team.
“I am excited to announce the signing of 13 student-athletes who will join our program next fall,” Copeland said via an NIU Athletics press release. “Our staff identified several position players whose abilities fit our offensive philosophy, multiple high school arms that will have the opportunity to compete for innings as freshman, as well as four transfers whose arm talent and athleticism will help us build the type of pitching staff that has success at this level.”
Copeland also emphasized the importance of player development at NIU.
“Identifying and recruiting talented players is important, but having the resources and information readily available to help those players develop once they get to campus is something we are incredibly intentional about. I believe we will do that as well as any program in college baseball.”
