AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dylan Volantis and Sam Cozart have been the bookends of an outstanding Texas pitching staff this season, and organizations that hand out postseason awards recognize that.

Volantis was named a finalist for National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation on Thursday, earning the distinction for the second consecutive season. He had the honor last season as a relief pitcher.

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AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 22: Pitcher Dylan Volantis #99 of the Texas Longhorns pitches the ball during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Michigan State Spartans on February 22, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The sophomore made the switch from the bullpen to the starting role seamlessly, compiling the third-best ERA in Division I at 1.94 with the second-best FIP at 1.75. FIP stands for “fielding independent pitching” and only takes into account what pitchers have the most control over — strikeouts, walks, hit batsmen and home runs.

Volantis has struck out 116 batters in 83.1 innings, and is 9-1 in 14 starts. He leads the Southeastern Conference in FIP, ERA, WHIP (0.94) and batting average against (.181).

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He joins Mason Edwards (Southern California), Jackson Flora (UC Santa Barbara), Aidan King (Florida) and Maxx Yehl (West Virginia) as finalists for the honor.

Cozart is among 14 finalists for Stopper of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Volantis was a finalist for the award last season.

The freshman closer leads the country in WHI at 0.72 and batting average against at .137, and he’s second in Division I in ERA at 1.72. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has eight saves with a 6-0 record. He’s also on the short list for National Freshman of the Year by Baseball America.

He’s the fifth Longhorn to be a finalist for the award, joining J. Brent Cox in 2005, Chance Ruffin in 2010, Corey Knebel in 2011 and Volantis last year.

Texas (43-13) hosts Oregon (43-16) in the super regionals starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.

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