UAA Communications photo by Madilyn Gemme
Florida Quartet Collects CSC Academic All-District Honors
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | Baseball
Cade Kurland, Brendan Lawson, Caden McDonald and Liam Peterson were recognized by CSC.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – College Sports Communicators released its 2026 Academic All-District Baseball teams across four NCAA divisions this week, recognizing four Gators in redshirt junior second baseman Cade Kurland, sophomore shortstop Brendan Lawson, redshirt sophomore right-hander/designated hitter Caden McDonald and junior right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson.
The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Among Florida's four recipients, Lawson will advance onto the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members for Academic All-America status – which will be announced on June 23. For McDonald and Peterson, this marks a second-straight year earning Academic All-District honors.
Starting 56 games and batting .312 in his sophomore campaign, Lawson led the Gators in on-base percentage (.511), slugging percentage (.699), homers (19), runs scored (68), total bases (130), walks (53) and hit-by-pitches (24). The Toronto, Ontario native served as Florida's primary shortstop and a key team leader on and off the field while producing a 3.69 cumulative GPA as an advertising major at the University of Florida.
Graduating this past spring with a degree in finance and team-high 3.88 GPA, Kurland has been a four-year starter in Orange & Blue since bursting onto the scene as a 2023 Freshman All-American. As a redshirt junior this past year, Kurland slashed .279/.384/.469 with nine homers, seven doubles, 36 runs and 33 RBI while registering a .994 fielding percentage at the keystone. The Tampa, Fla. product launched four home runs in the Gainesville Regional to conclude with six long balls in his final seven games.
Known affectionately in the clubhouse as "Doc," McDonald has spent the past three years studying biology as a pre-med student. Boasting a 3.59 cumulative GPA, McDonald burst onto the scene this past season as one of the nation's premier two-way stars. Across 94 at bats, the Tampa, Fla. native batted .319/.379/.702 with nine home runs, nine doubles and 28 RBI while pitching to a 5-1 record, 3.42 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 20 relief appearances.
As for Peterson, the third-year sports management student carries a 3.62 cumulative GPA into the summer where he is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Serving as a weekend starter for the third-consecutive campaign, the Palm Harbor, Fla. product fired 84 1/3 innings with a 4.59 ERA and .258 batting average against across 16 starts. Peterson struck out 111 batters to 36 walks, ranking fifth in the SEC and 23rd nationally in strikeouts.
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The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Among Florida's four recipients, Lawson will advance onto the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members for Academic All-America status – which will be announced on June 23. For McDonald and Peterson, this marks a second-straight year earning Academic All-District honors.
Starting 56 games and batting .312 in his sophomore campaign, Lawson led the Gators in on-base percentage (.511), slugging percentage (.699), homers (19), runs scored (68), total bases (130), walks (53) and hit-by-pitches (24). The Toronto, Ontario native served as Florida's primary shortstop and a key team leader on and off the field while producing a 3.69 cumulative GPA as an advertising major at the University of Florida.
Graduating this past spring with a degree in finance and team-high 3.88 GPA, Kurland has been a four-year starter in Orange & Blue since bursting onto the scene as a 2023 Freshman All-American. As a redshirt junior this past year, Kurland slashed .279/.384/.469 with nine homers, seven doubles, 36 runs and 33 RBI while registering a .994 fielding percentage at the keystone. The Tampa, Fla. product launched four home runs in the Gainesville Regional to conclude with six long balls in his final seven games.
Known affectionately in the clubhouse as "Doc," McDonald has spent the past three years studying biology as a pre-med student. Boasting a 3.59 cumulative GPA, McDonald burst onto the scene this past season as one of the nation's premier two-way stars. Across 94 at bats, the Tampa, Fla. native batted .319/.379/.702 with nine home runs, nine doubles and 28 RBI while pitching to a 5-1 record, 3.42 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 20 relief appearances.
As for Peterson, the third-year sports management student carries a 3.62 cumulative GPA into the summer where he is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Serving as a weekend starter for the third-consecutive campaign, the Palm Harbor, Fla. product fired 84 1/3 innings with a 4.59 ERA and .258 batting average against across 16 starts. Peterson struck out 111 batters to 36 walks, ranking fifth in the SEC and 23rd nationally in strikeouts.
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