Hunter Elliott has unfinished business at Ole Miss, the Rebel ace pitcher announced on Saturday.
Instead of testing his pro prospects, the Tupelo native and Friday night starter has elected to return to Oxford for his sixth, and final, season of collegiate eligibility. He is likely the only starting weekend arm to take the mound at Swayze Field in 2027, as Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe are projected to be early selections in the MLB Draft.
Elliott, the lone remaining member of the 2022 Ole Miss national championship club, got a taste of the joy he experienced his freshman campaign this year, with the red and blue making it to Omaha for the first time since winning the title. But the Rebels were a quick exit from the College World Series after being defeated by North Carolina and Troy, and Elliott has expressed wanting to finish his Ole Miss career on a higher note.
“‘The Champ’ is back,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco wrote on X, in reference to Elliott’s return.
The NCAA allowed Elliott the option to compete in both 2026 and 2027 after suffering an elbow injury his sophomore year that ultimately led to him undergoing Tommy John surgery. This past season, the lefty made 17 starts and posted a 5.40 ERA with 111 strikeouts, while allowing 51 earned runs on 86 hits in 85 innings of work.
Elliott will be the elder statesman of the 2027 team, but will not be the only veteran running it back with the Rebels. Other notable returners include left-handed pitcher Walker Elliott, center fielder Hayden Federico, second baseman Dom Decker, and shortstop Owen Paino. Bianco and company have already worked the transfer portal to fill roster holes left by third baseman Judd Utermark and first baseman Will Furniss, along with the pitchers the team is expected to lose as a result of the draft.
Ole Miss will begin the 2027 season in February.
