D1Baseball ranks NC State’s Luke Nixon as the #35 2B Heading Into 2026

D1Baseball has released its 2026 Preseason Second Baseman rankings, and NC State Junior Luke Nixon checks in at No. 35 nationally, which places him 10th among ACC second basemen heading into the season.

The ACC is once again loaded with middle infield talent, and Nixon finds himself firmly in the conversation after a strong sophomore campaign in Raleigh.

ACC 2B Preseason Rankings

2) Jarren Advincula, Georgia Tech
3) Gavin Gallaher, North Carolina
6) Joe Tiroly, Virginia
9) Jarren Purify, Clemson
10) Jimmy Nati, Stanford
13) Jacob French, California
14) Eli Putnam, Florida State
18) Vance Sheahan, Miami
23) Austin Hawke, Wake Forest
35) Luke Nixon, NC State
42) Trey Fenderson, Pittsburgh
49) Kade Elam, Louisville

Nixon’s 2025 Recap

Nixon was one of only two Wolfpack players to start every game last season, and his development from Year 1 to Year 2 was hard to miss.

He finished the 2025 season hitting .295, a significant jump from his freshman average of .238. He was even better once conference play rolled around, batting .306 against ACC competition.

Speed remains a huge part of Nixon’s game. He was NC State’s primary burner last season, leading the team in stolen bases (14) and triples (3).

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Nixon’s profile is just how much improvement showed up across the stat sheet.

Year-to-Year Improvement (2024 → 2025)

• Runs: 37 –> 54
• Hits: 41 –> 65
• 2B: 5 –> 15
• 3B: 1 –> 3
• HR: 4 –> 5
• RBI: 34 –> 42
• SLG: .349 –> .459
• OPS: .743 –> .845

With Nixon returning for his junior season, NC State brings back a reliable everyday starter, an elite speed threat, and a player whose offensive ceiling is still rising.

Being ranked 35th nationally might not jump off the page, but in an ACC this deep, being Top-10 at your position in the league means you’re doing a lot of things right.

If Nixon continues on his current trajectory, don’t be surprised if he climbs well above that number once the season gets underway.