Rutgers-Camden's Watson earns ABCA All-Region IV Third Team
CAMDEN, N.J. (May 26, 2026) – Rutgers University-Camden junior center fielder
Jacob Watson was honored today when the American Baseball Coaches Association announced its All-Region teams for the 2026 season.
Watson was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region IV Third Team after another stellar season, which also saw him earn recognition on the New Jersey Athletic Conference First Team.
Watson finished his season leading the Scarlet Raptors with a .371 batting average and a .484 on-base percentage, aided by a single-season program record reaching base 21 times as a hit batsman. He was second on the team in hits (56), doubles (8), home runs (2), RBIs (35), total bases (72), slugging (.477) and stolen bases (20), while placing third in runs (39) and at bats (151). He led the team with 20 multi-hit games and tied for the club lead with 11 multi-RBI games.
Watson was moved from his customary leadoff spot to the cleanup position this season, where he continued his electrifying presence in the Scarlet Raptors' lineup. Among his accomplishments in 2026 was a cycle against Centenary University on March 10, which included his first career home run. In the opener of a conference doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark on April 4, he had three stolen bases, including home plate, while becoming the first player in program history to reach the 100-steal milestone for his career.
One of the Scarlet Raptors' four captains this season, Watson was a three-time NJAC Rookie of the Week in 2023 and followed up his spectacular rookie season with another stellar year in 2024. He was off to a .321 start through his first 14 games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury, allowing him to retain junior eligibility this season.
Among his single-season program records, Watson ranks first and second in stolen bases (39 in 2024 and 33 in 2023), and first in HBP (21 in 2026).
For his career, Watson is far and away the program's all-time leader in stolen bases with 107, almost doubling the old mark of 54. He is second in career runs (144), fourth in on-base percentage (.450) and HBP (40), seventh in hits (175) and walks (67), eighth in at bats (513), tied for ninth in games (134), 12th in batting average (.3411), 13th in total bases (204) and tied for 16th in RBIs (82).
Among the program records he realistically has a shot to break in his senior season are ones for runs scored (he's 16 shy of tying the program mark), HBP (eight shy), hits (45), walks (16) and at bats (112).
ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. III All-Region Teams
