Backus signed with the Bird Dawgs in early August 2025 and appeared in six games before suffering a season-ending injury.

He began his collegiate career at Walters State Community College, helping lead the program to a 61-7 record and a third-place finish at the NJCAA Division I Junior College World Series in 2022. He was named a Second Team NJCAA Division I All-American after slashing .384/.446/.720 with 19 doubles, 19 home runs, and 75 RBIs.

Backus transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he played a key role on a National Championship team in 2024, hitting .387/.500/.968 over 28 games. In 2025, he appeared in 21 games for Tennessee.