CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Infielder Jackson Raper signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Illinois baseball team for the 2021 season. Raper comes to Champaign from Division II Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., where he played from 2017-20.

Raper had a hot start to the 2020 season, hitting .436 with nine homers in Catawba's first 22 games before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season. Raper hit over .350 in each of his final three seasons with Catawba. 

"I'm excited about Jackson and the many qualities and skills that he brings to our team," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "Jackson is an outstanding student and person. His baseball skills and leadership give us another high quality left-handed hitting infielder. His communication skills and leadership qualities impressed me the first time I had the opportunity to talk with him.  

Adam Christ did an outstanding job of identifying and recruiting another high quality student-athlete."

Raper will enroll at Illinois as a graduate transfer and have one year of eligibility remaining. 

Jackson Raper

Redshirt Senior - 2021
• Enrolled at Illinois as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining 

Catawba - 2017-20
• Played for Division II Catawba College from 2017-20
• Division II national leader in hits in 2020
• 2020 Academic All-District
• 2019 NCBWA All-America Honorable Mention
• Two-time All-SAC Second Team (2018, 2019)
• Two-time SAC All-Tournament Team (2018, 2019)
• 2019 SAC Defensive Team third baseman
• 2019 All-Region
• South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week 3/17/2020
• .436/.442/.819, 9 HR, 35 RBIs, 3-3 SB in COVID-19 shortened 2020 season
• .352/.414/.563, 8 HR, 55 RBIs, 7-9 SB in 2019
• .356/.464/.623, 9 HR, 47 RBIs, 3-5 SB in 2018
• .296/.391/.424, 2 HR, 23 RBIs in 2017

High School
• Three-year starter at Robinson High School
• Defensive MVP as a junior
• Helped Bulldogs to a conference tournament title
• Played on the state championship basketball team
• Kannapolis Legion Offensive MVP

Personal
• Born March 11, 1998
• Son of Norris and Sandy Raper 
• Two younger brothers, Marshall and Lincoln 
• Majored in accounting at Catawba