Road to Number 49 | Judd Utermark Breaks 39 Year Old Program Record: ‘I’m just so blessed that Oxford welcomed me with open arms’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss Rebels third baseman Judd Utermark cemented himself into program history in Tuesday evening’s matchup against the UT Martin Skyhawks when he crushed his 49th career home run high and deep into the left field stands to claim the Ole Miss all-time home run record.
HE’S DONE IT.
Introducing your new home run leader, @JuddUtermark pic.twitter.com/jxz8KLPKMO
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 12, 2026
Utermark claims that spot over Kyle Gordon, who previously held the school record with 48 —Â a record that stood for 39 years ever since Gordon’s tally concluded in 1987.
Ole Miss All-Time Home Run Leaders:
- Judd Utermark (2023-2026) – 49 (New Leader)
- Kyle Gordon (1984-1987) – 48
- Tim Elko (2018-2022) – 46
Utermark’s record-breaking blast also gave him another mark in the Ole Miss record book, as he became the first player in program history to tally multiple 20-home run seasons, and more impressively, doing it in consecutive seasons.
Following the 17-6 victory on Tuesday, Utermark spoke to the media about the moment, the journey, and more.
“First, I want to thank so many people, because a lot of this can’t be done without their help. My fiance, who comes to every single game, every intersquad, and videos it for the families back home. She’s put in probably just as many hours as I have. My family, obviously, and my Lord Jesus Christ. There’s so many things that have to go right.”
Judd Utermark after breaking the home run record
Utermark described the at-bat: “I saw the big slurve right out of his hand. The shadow was a little iffy here, but it felt good off the bat; it was at a good angle. I checked the wind to make sure it wasn’t blowing straight in, but after that, whenever I saw it clear that fence, it was a little bit of a relief.”
Prior to Utermark speaking with the media, the festivities continued as a congratulatory video was displayed on the scoreboard, with Utermark surrounded by teammates and being congratulated by the past and present Rebels, which caught him by happy surprise.
“Oh, man. I did not know that was going to happen, and I’m so glad it did because those are the guys and those are the people that deserve the glory. I mean, Luke Hill popped up there as one of the first guys that I played with, and you know, there’s so many times where me and him are up late at night hitting at the cages at 2 a.m. Don’t tell coach B (Bianco) we were up at 2 a.m., but we we invest this as a team, and Cade Townsend likes the joke that those are our home runs, but they really are. You know, it’s a team effort. It’s not an individual sport. You know, there’s individual aspects to it. And I’m just glad I could share those moments with all the special people.”
Judd Utermark
As Utermark is a senior, his record-breaking home run may well have come in his final game at Swayze Field.
“A lot of my teammates were telling me, you know, ‘don’t break it away’ or ‘you got to hit it today,’ and that just adds to the pressure, of course,” Utermark said. “It is awesome. You know, I hope that we host a regional, and that’s what we’re shooting towards, but knowing that it’s my last regular season game here, it’s a little emotional for sure, and I’m glad that if there was a time to break the record, it’d be obviously here.”
The five-tool senior is currently in the midst of his fourth season in Oxford, playing his entire career as a Rebel.
He began his career coming out of Charlotte Christian High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, appearing in just 17 games as a freshman, batting .135 with an OPS of .476, notching just 2 home runs.
During his sophomore campaign, his improvements led to a jump in every notable statistical category, batting .230 with an OPS of .753, with 5 home runs in 36 games.
“I think one, I physically matured. I probably gained some weight. I can’t really remember what exactly I changed. But also my swing, and I think Coach (Mike) Clem (Clement) helped me a lot with that, and just ‘how do we approach the game?’ And at that point, I had two seasons under my belt of inconsistent play, which was nobody’s fault but mine. I just wasn’t performing, and I was lucky enough to gain a spark of confidence down in Globe Life that junior year, and ever since then, you know, it’s kind of been my swing kind of in the field.“
Utermark on what changed after his sophomore campaign
Last season, Utermark played a crucial role in the Rebels’ return to the postseason when they hosted a regional, notching a .294 batting average, .975 OPS, 22 home runs, and 69 RBIs while being a versatile fielder playing outfield, third base, and primarily finding himself as a 6-foot-five second baseman.
Utermark concluded his press conference discussing why spending four years in Oxford was a no-brainer for him.
“It’s home. I don’t knock the people that leave here. I don’t knock the people that want to transfer. You know, certain situations may call for it. That’s not really my cup of tea. Whenever I got on campus here, I knew that this is where I was going to be for the next three to four years, whether that was me going to the draft or coming back for my senior year, which I did. I’m just so blessed that Oxford welcomed me with open arms.“
Utermark on Oxford
Utermark’s road may be nearing an end as he has no more eligibility remaining after this season, but he will live forever in Ole Miss history.
Billy Kuhl
Billy Kuhl joins The Rebel Walk as a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Journalism with a Sports Media concentration. He is from Jefferson Township, New Jersey and graduated from Jefferson Township High School where he played varsity baseball, and soccer, and swam competitively in his summers. You can contact him at wpkuhl88@gmail.com or DM him on X @Billykuhll or instagram @Billykuhll_
