Before Mercer: Played for one season at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, OR under head coach Nathan Pratt … Hit .326 in his only season at Chemeketa while leading the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) with 12 home runs and ranked third in the league with 43 RBI … Was named to the 2011 All-NWAACC first team as a designated hitter.

Personal: Son of Mike and Carol Backlund … Has two younger sisters, Lindsey, 18 and Janet, 15 … Born on December 21, 1990 in Huntington Beach, Ca. … Plans to major in economics at Mercer … Lists Josh Hamilton as his favorite athlete and Modern Family as his favorite TV show.