University of Tennessee Athletics
Arvidson, Ford & Clark Earn Preseason All-SEC Acclaim
February 05, 2026 | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee was picked to finish sixth in the 2026 Southeastern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll and had three players named to the preseason all-conference teams, as announced by the league office on Thursday.
Henry Ford and Brandon Arvidson were both tabbed as first-team selections while Levi Clark earned a spot on the second team.
Ford was selected as an outfielder to the All-SEC preseason first team but has the ability to play multiple positions and will likely see time at third base as well this season. Following two productive seasons at Virginia that resulted in 2024 Freshman All-America honors and 2025 All-ACC acclaim, Ford is projected to be a middle of the order bat for the Vols this year and is considered a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft.
The Charlottesville, Virginia, native, started all 111 games he played in for the Cavaliers over the past two seasons and is a career .348 hitter with 102 runs scored, 22 doubles, 28 home runs and 115 RBIs. Ford also boasts a .587 slugging percentage and .414 on-base percentage for his collegiate career.
Despite plenty of draft interest following an impressive finish to the 2025 season, Arvidson opted to return to Rocky Top this year and is expected to play a major role on UT's pitching staff.
The big left hander went 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 30 appearances last season and posted an incredible 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings, racking up 70 punchouts in 38.2 innings of work. Arvidson also held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average on the year, which is the top mark among returning pitchers on this year's team.Â
Clark will look to build off an impressive 2025 campaign that saw him garner Freshman All-America honors from Perfect Game after posting a 1.053 OPS with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs for the Big Orange. The Georgia native is expected to be an everyday starter and will likely be a key bat in the middle of the Tennessee lineup as a sophomore this season.
The 2026 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll is listed below. The full Preseason All-SEC teams can be found HERE.
 No. 3/14 Tennessee opens its 2026 season at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 4:30 p.m. next Friday against Nicholls.
Single-game tickets for non-conference games can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Vols' full 2026 schedule can be found HERE.
2. Texas (1) – 214
3. Mississippi State (4) – 205
4. Arkansas (2) – 203
5. Auburn – 175
6. Tennessee – 162
7. Florida – 156
8. Vanderbilt – 151
9. Georgia – 133
10. Ole Miss - 110
11. Kentucky – 99
12. Alabama – 87
13. Texas A&M – 86
14. Oklahoma - 84
15. South Carolina – 49
16. Missouri – 31
( ) – First place votes
Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – RS-Junior – Dripping Springs, Texas
Preseason All-SEC – 1st Team (Coaches)Â
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Levi Clark – UTL – Sophomore – Marietta, Ga.
Preseason All-SEC – 2nd Team (Coaches)Â
Henry Ford – OF/INF – Junior – Charlottesville, Va.
Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 1st Team (1B)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (DH)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Coaches, Perfect Game)Â
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – Sophomore – Gettysburg, Pa.
Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (SP)
Henry Ford and Brandon Arvidson were both tabbed as first-team selections while Levi Clark earned a spot on the second team.
Ford was selected as an outfielder to the All-SEC preseason first team but has the ability to play multiple positions and will likely see time at third base as well this season. Following two productive seasons at Virginia that resulted in 2024 Freshman All-America honors and 2025 All-ACC acclaim, Ford is projected to be a middle of the order bat for the Vols this year and is considered a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft.
The Charlottesville, Virginia, native, started all 111 games he played in for the Cavaliers over the past two seasons and is a career .348 hitter with 102 runs scored, 22 doubles, 28 home runs and 115 RBIs. Ford also boasts a .587 slugging percentage and .414 on-base percentage for his collegiate career.
Despite plenty of draft interest following an impressive finish to the 2025 season, Arvidson opted to return to Rocky Top this year and is expected to play a major role on UT's pitching staff.
The big left hander went 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 30 appearances last season and posted an incredible 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings, racking up 70 punchouts in 38.2 innings of work. Arvidson also held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average on the year, which is the top mark among returning pitchers on this year's team.Â
Clark will look to build off an impressive 2025 campaign that saw him garner Freshman All-America honors from Perfect Game after posting a 1.053 OPS with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs for the Big Orange. The Georgia native is expected to be an everyday starter and will likely be a key bat in the middle of the Tennessee lineup as a sophomore this season.
The 2026 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll is listed below. The full Preseason All-SEC teams can be found HERE.
 No. 3/14 Tennessee opens its 2026 season at the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 4:30 p.m. next Friday against Nicholls.
Single-game tickets for non-conference games can be purchased by clicking HERE. The Vols' full 2026 schedule can be found HERE.
2026 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. LSU (9) – 2312. Texas (1) – 214
3. Mississippi State (4) – 205
4. Arkansas (2) – 203
5. Auburn – 175
6. Tennessee – 162
7. Florida – 156
8. Vanderbilt – 151
9. Georgia – 133
10. Ole Miss - 110
11. Kentucky – 99
12. Alabama – 87
13. Texas A&M – 86
14. Oklahoma - 84
15. South Carolina – 49
16. Missouri – 31
( ) – First place votes
2026 Tennessee Preseason Honors (Sorted Alphabetically by Player)
Cam Appenzeller – LHP – Freshman – Chatham, Ill.Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year Watch List
Brandon Arvidson – LHP – RS-Junior – Dripping Springs, Texas
Preseason All-SEC – 1st Team (Coaches)Â
Blaine Brown – OF/LHP – Sophomore – Houston, Texas
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (TWP)
Levi Clark – UTL – Sophomore – Marietta, Ga.
Preseason All-SEC – 2nd Team (Coaches)Â
Henry Ford – OF/INF – Junior – Charlottesville, Va.
Baseball America Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 1st Team (1B)
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (DH)
Preseason All-SEC -- 1st Team (Coaches, Perfect Game)Â
Brady Frederick – RHP – Junior – Knoxville, Tenn.
D1Baseball Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – 3rd Team (RP)
Tegan Kuhns – RHP – Sophomore – Gettysburg, Pa.
Baseball America Preseason Pitcher of the Year Watch List
Baseball America Preseason All-American – 2nd Team (SP)
Players Mentioned
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