Head Coach Joe Mercadante, Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Brad Wilkerson, and Assistant Coach Parker Bangs secured a No. 41 national ranking for the 2026 incoming class.
Pairing High-School Upside with JUCO Transfers Stabilizes Roster
- Transfer Portal Balance: Staff comments indicate a deliberate strategy to pair high-school developmental upside with battle-tested JUCO transfers to stabilize immediate roster floors.
Building a Top-50 Foundation in Jacksonville
The program’s 2026 recruiting class currently sits ahead of several prominent collegiate programs, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisville, Coastal Carolina, and Missouri, according to Perfect Game. Mercadante and his staff signed 12 freshmen in total: six pitchers, five position players, and one two-way player. North Florida’s incoming freshmen pitchers include Parker Reavis, Lukas McDowell, Jack Wilhoit, MJ Hough, Josh Friedlander, and Colin Slep.
“We’re very excited about this group of arms,” Wilkerson said.
The position player group brings notable athleticism to the diamond. Raymond Llanes, Dominic Demarzo, Cannon Koronka, Mark Metcalf, and Holden Barco comprise the position player arrivals alongside two-way freshman Chris Reali.
“Our focus remains on building a sustainable, championship-caliber program,” Wilkerson stated.
Evaluating the 2026 Signees Across the Diamond
Individual track records highlight the rigorous data profile attached to this incoming class. Raymond Llanes arrives as an outfielder from Seffner, Fla., after posting a career .378 batting average and a 1.032 OPS over three varsity seasons at Alonso High School. During his senior campaign in 2026, Llanes registered a stellar 1.425 OPS across 12 games. Dominic Demarzo, a catcher from Wellington, Fla., who competed for the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team, posted a .417 batting average and a 1.076 OPS as a sophomore at Cardinal Newman High School before following up with a .973 OPS as a junior in 2025.
In the middle infield, Cannon Koronka earned recognition as the No. 12 shortstop in Florida for the 2026 class by Perfect Game. The First Academy product posted a 1.064 OPS and a .436 batting average during his senior year. Mark Metcalf, an infielder from Tallahassee, Fla., recorded a .360 career batting average across two varsity seasons at Sarasota High School, highlighted by a .968 OPS as a junior in 2025.
| Player | Position | High School / Program | Key Stat / Honor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Reavis | RHP | Carolina Forest HS (S.C.) | 9-1 record, 1.19 ERA, 105 strikeouts (2026) |
| Lukas McDowell | RHP | Northern Pre-University (Canada) | 6-foot-8, fastball topped out at 94 MPH |
| Jack Wilhoit | RHP | St. John Paul II Academy (Fla.) | 7-2 record, 1.63 ERA, 85 strikeouts (2026) |
| Mark Metcalf | Middle Infield | Sarasota HS (Fla.) | .450 career on-base percentage |
On the mound, right-hander Parker Reavis from Conway, S.C., posted a 9-1 record with a 1.19 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 59 innings as a senior. Lukas McDowell, standing at 6-foot-8, brings a fastball that has increased 16 MPH since 2022, topping out at 94 MPH. Jack Wilhoit logged a 1.63 ERA with 85 strikeouts in his senior season at St. John Paul II Academy, while MJ Hough recorded a career-best 66 strikeouts as a senior at St. John Neumann High School.
Josh Friedlander and Colin Slep round out the pitching additions, with Slep having posted a 0.00 ERA over 11 appearances and a 7-1 record as a junior in 2025 at Marvin Ridge High School.
