North Carolina Central University Athletics

Career: Became NCCU’s third MLB Draft selection in program history, and the highest selection in the 10th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.  Made 53 career appearances on the mound with 21 starts, and pitched 134.2 innings with a 3.54 career ERA and nine wins.  Has the third-lowest career ERA at NCCU, and the fourth-most career strikeouts with 182.  Also has the second-lowest career opposing batting average at .201, and the second-highest strikeouts-per-nine innings mark at 12.16.

2021: First Team All-MEAC.  Made 12 starts with two complete game shutouts and five wins, and pitched 70.2 innings.  Kept a 2.55 ERA, which is the fifth-lowest in the modern era at NCCU, and set a new NCCU modern era record with 109 strikeouts.  Threw the first no-hitter in program history against Delaware State on May 7, and one week later he tied the NCCU single-game record with 13 strikeouts in a win against Florida A&M on May 13.  Ranked 10th in NCAA Division I in strikeouts-per-nine innings at 13.88, and finished 37th in total strikeouts.  Led the MEAC in strikeouts, hits allowed (41), and opposing batting average (.163), finished second in ERA, and was third in innings pitched and earned runs allowed (20).  Struck out five or more batters in an appearance 11 times.  Two-time MEAC Pitcher of the Week winner.

2020: Did not appear due to injury.

2019: Made 22 appearances with seven starts.  Won three games and had finished tied for fifth in the MEAC with a team-lead tying four saves over 44 innings pitched.  Finished third on the team with 57 strikeouts.  Kept the third-lowest opposing batting average in a single season at NCCU in the modern era at .220.  Has the second-highest K/9 in a single season at NCCU in the modern era at 11.66.  Tied for the fifth-most saves in a single season at NCCU in the modern era.  Started the season with 10 strikeouts and just one walk allowed in five innings pitched over three appearances.  Reached a new career-high with seven strikeouts over three innings pitched in a start against Davidson on April 6.  Pitched a career-high five innings three times against North Carolina A&T (April 14), Bethune-Cookman (April 20), and Norfolk State (May 11).

2018:  Made 19 appearances with two starts, and pitched 20.0 innings.  Struck out 16 batters and collected one win.  Notched his first two strikeouts during a spotless inning of relief in the season opener against Wagner (Feb. 16).  Made his first career start and longest appearances of the year at UNC Asheville (April 25) where he threw 3.0 innings with three strikeouts.  Punched out a career-high four batters without allowing an earned run in 1.2 innings of work at Davidson (March 14).  Made 14 appearances without allowing an earned run and eight without allowing a hit. 

High School (Knightdale): Was a two-time All-Greater Neuse River Conference honoree and was also an honor roll member. 

Personal: Born February 8, 1999 in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Parents are James and Wendy Vernon.  A fan of the New York Yankees and likes spending time with his dogs.  Younger brother of former NCCU pitcher Andrew Vernon.  Majoring in business management.