Ole Miss Baseball’s Utermark and Townsend Named Finalists for Ferriss Trophy

Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum announced the finalists for the 2026 Ferriss Trophy, which honors the most outstanding college baseball player in the state. Both Judd Utermark and Cade Townsend from Ole Miss are among the five finalists.

Utermark leads the Rebels with a .665 slugging percentage, 62 runs scored, 64 hits, 19 home runs, and 131 total bases. His 62 runs rank fourth in the Southeastern Conference, and he averages 1.19 runs per game, the fifth highest in the SEC. Utermark is one home run shy of his second 20-home run season, a feat that would make him the first Rebel with multiple 20-homer seasons. His next home run would give him a career total of 49, making him the program’s all-time leader in home runs. Two more homers would also make him the first Rebel to hit 50 in a career.

Cade Townsend ranks fifth in the SEC in WHIP (1.01), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.50), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.52). He leads Ole Miss in all three categories, as well as in batters struck out looking (24) and wins (five). Townsend is also second in opponent batting average (.202) and total strikeouts (77). He posted three consecutive quality starts from April 4 to April 18, the first Rebel to do so since Hunter Elliott and Dylan DeLucia in 2022. Townsend was named SEC Pitcher of the Week after a standout start against Tennessee, where he held a no-hit bid into the sixth inning.

The winner of the Ferriss Trophy will be announced during the presentation luncheon on May 18 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson. Tickets are available online or at the Hall of Fame’s office. Fans are encouraged to follow Ole Miss baseball on social media for updates and exclusive content.

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