Ole Miss Baseball’s Elliott and Utermark Named 2026 NCBWA Preseason All-Americans

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss baseball landed national recognition Friday as two of its cornerstone players were honored on the 2026 NCBWA Preseason All-America Teams, further underscoring the expectations surrounding the Rebels heading into the spring.

Left-hander Hunter Elliott earned a spot on the First Team, while infielder Judd Utermark was named to the Third Team, giving Ole Miss multiple preseason All-Americans from the National College Baseball Writers Association.

For Elliott, the selection adds to an already growing list of preseason accolades, marking the third publication to recognize him ahead of the 2026 season. Utermark’s inclusion, meanwhile, represents the first All-America honor of his collegiate career.

Elliott anchored Ole Miss’ rotation in 2025 as the Rebels’ Friday night starter, making 16 starts and delivering one of the most consistent seasons of his career. He finished the year with a 10–3 record, a 2.94 ERA, and 102 strikeouts, while holding opposing hitters to a .197 batting average. His ability to control the running game stood out as well, as he picked off 13 runners — the most by any Ole Miss pitcher in the modern era.

The junior etched his name further into the program record book by becoming just the fifth pitcher in school history to post a season with at least 10 wins and 100 strikeouts. Elliott also joined rare company as only the fourth Rebel to reach 100 strikeouts in multiple seasons. His ERA was the lowest by an Ole Miss starting pitcher since his own freshman campaign, when he finished at 2.70.

Utermark’s breakout 2025 season earned him national recognition after a year defined by power and production. Starting 63 games — primarily at second base — the veteran infielder paced the Rebels in home runs, RBIs, and total bases. His 22 home runs ranked second on Ole Miss’ single-season list, while his 69 RBIs placed him fourth in program history.

Utermark was at his best when the stakes were highest. During the Oxford Regional, he homered in every game, launching six long balls across five contests. He finished the postseason stretch batting 7-for-24 with nine RBIs and eight runs scored, performances that earned him spots on both the Oxford Regional All-Tournament Team and the SEC Tournament All-Tournament Team.

With Elliott leading the pitching staff and Utermark anchoring the lineup, Ole Miss enters 2026 with proven star power — and national expectations to match.