The 2026 Ole Miss baseball pitching staff just got a lot stronger after ace Hunter Elliott made it clear that he will be spending his final collegiate campaign in Oxford.
After not hearing his name called through 10 rounds of the MLB Draft, the Tupelo native took to social media to announce his intentions for the upcoming season. Elliott, a southpaw who impressed in the 2022 championship-winning season before having to battle back from injuries that set him back two years, was a shining star again in 2025. He started 16 games, posted a 10-3 record, had 102 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.94.
‘26 pic.twitter.com/7VWIbBg4Bj
— Hunter Elliott (@elliotthunter10) July 14, 2025
Elliott’s efforts helped lead Ole Miss back to the postseason as a host team in the NCAA Tournament, where the Rebels ultimately fell short to a scrappy Murray State club that made a run to the College World Series.
He will be the only returning starter to the 2026 roster as Jackson Prep alums Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols were selected by MLB franchises. Ole Miss is now waiting to see if relief arm Will McCausland, who was drafted in the seventh round, and High Point transfer Grant Richardson, who was selected in the sixth round, will be on the team next year or will move on to the professional farm system.
Meanwhile, Mike Bianco and company went to work in the offseason, filling other crucial spots via the transfer portal. A full list of players the Rebels reeled in can be found here.
