FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University redshirt junior right fielder Charlie Bussey III was named the 2025-26 Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year on Thursday after being crowned Division II National Player of the Year and earning consensus first-team All-American honors.

Bussey III becomes the first-ever Francis Marion male recipient of the conference accolade. He joins Lauryn Taylor (2023-24) of the Patriot women's basketball program as the only two honorees of the league-wide Athlete of the Year.

A 6-2, 200-pound native of Graniteville, S.C., Bussey III produced one of the most exceptional seasons in collegiate baseball history, winning D2 Baseball Player of the Year, Perfect Game Co-Player of the Year, and being the consensus Southeast Region Player of the Year. He is the only player in NCAA Division II history to register 100 hits, 100 runs scored, and 40 stolen bases in a single season. He shattered the DII record for runs scored with 118 and 1.97 runs scored per game in a season. Bussey III also finished in a tie for 10th all-time with 113 hits in a single season.

"First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity, strength, and support to compete at a high level," expressed Bussey III. "I'm also grateful for my family, Coach Jefferson, and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and pushing me to be the best athlete and person I can be. This award means a lot to me because it is a reflection of so many people who have helped and supported me along the way!"

The consensus first-team All-American led the country in batting average (.489), hits (113), on-base percentage (.604), runs scored (118), and total bases (200) while ranking fifth in slugging percentage (.866) and sixth in walks (57). Bussey III reached base safely in 58-of-60 games played while leading the team with 38 multi-hit games. He is the program's all-time home run leader with 35 and has set single-season records for batting average, hits, runs scored, slugging percentage, total bases, and walks.

He helped the Patriots set a school record for wins in 2026 as they finished with a 46-14 record and ranked seventh nationally in the final ABCA and D2 Baseball polls. He contributed to an offense that led the country with 669 runs scored while ranking among the top five in hits (739), on-base percentage (.466), scoring (11.2), stolen bases (173), and batting average (.354). The Patriots spanned a 14-year hiatus from the NCAA Tournament in 2026 and reached their first-ever Super Regional.

Bussey III was selected Conference Carolinas Player of the Week three times in 2026 and was twice tabbed NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week.

"Congrats to Charlie on being named Male Athlete of the Year for our league," said head baseball coach Jeff Jefferson. "Charlie is a special player and person that will go down as one of the all-time greats at our institution, in our league and in all of college baseball!  We can't wait to watch him start his track to the Big Leagues here in a couple weeks."

The Athlete of the Year Award (one male and one female each year) is the most outstanding student-athlete for the year in the league. Per Conference Carolinas Directors of Athletics vote, nominations will be accepted from member institutions to only include conference-sponsored sports and all nomination information, statistics and accomplishments are solely based on athletically-related criteria.

He is a sports management major and a product of Aquinas High School.

Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year Winners
2025-26 – Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion
2024-25 – Dominic Nutter, Mount Olive
2023-24 – KJ Jones II, Emmanuel
2022-23 – Tanner Halvorson, Barton
2021-22 – Reece Fields, North Greenville
2020-21 – John Michael Faile, North Greenville
2019-20 – Jordan Floyd, King
2018-19 – Utah Jones, North Greenville
2017-18 – Adam Craig, Mount Olive
2016-17 – Kevin Reisman, Limestone  
2015-16 – Mike Messenger, Limestone
2014-15 – Kevin Reisman, Limestone   
2013-14 – Bradon Reitano, Mount Olive      
2012-13 – Riley Loewen, Limestone           
2011-12 –  Jake Ternosky, Limestone         
2010-11 – Carter Capps, Mount Olive         
2009-10 – Bryan Fogle, Erskine                 
2008-09 – Michael Crouch, Queens         
2007-08 – Jason Sherrer, Mount Olive        
2006-07 – Anthony Atkinson, Barton         
2005-06 – Brock Godwin, Barton               
2004-05 – Casey Smith, Erskine                
2003-04 – Spencer Ross, Queens               
2002-03 – Andrew McArthur, Pfeiffer          
2001-02 – Ben Case, Pfeiffer                    
2000-01 – Colin Ducharme, Longwood       
1999-00 – Nem Sovic, Pfeiffer                   
1998-99 – Todd Bailess, Barton                 
1997-98 – Soce Faye, Queens
1996-97 – Dan Shanks, Coker
1995-96 – Brett Speight, High Point


   Charlie Bussey III