Judd Utermark, the all‑time home run leader for Ole Miss, is set to extend his college career through the 2027 season after a Colorado court granted him a fifth year of eligibility.
A Court Decision Opens a Fifth Year
Utermark capped his most recent season with a career‑high .309 batting average and hit 22 home runs in each of the past two years, breaking the school record.
The ruling, issued by Judge Charlotte Sweeney on July 31, applies to any high‑school graduate from 2022 who has exhausted the traditional four‑year eligibility window.
Because Utermark did not sign with an MLB team in the 2026 Draft, he remained eligible for the additional season, a pathway also available to first baseman Will Furniss.
Both players announced their intentions to return, joining a growing list of college athletes who are leveraging recent NCAA policy changes to prolong their collegiate experience.
The decision has sparked discussion among coaches and analysts about the long‑term impact on scholarship limits, roster construction, and the competitive balance of college baseball.
Fans can expect to see Utermark and Furniss back in the lineup next spring, bringing their power hitting and experience to a team that finished the 2026 campaign with a strong record.