“Burn, baby burn” will likely ring out at Swayze Field once again, with Ole Miss first baseman Will Furniss announcing a return for a fifth season. Third baseman Judd Utermark also announced intentions to run it back with the Rebels.
Both players announced their return on social media on Wednesday. Furniss’ post entailed a highlight reel, with The Trammps’ “Disco Inferno,” playing in the background. The familiar chorus is notably Furniss’ walkout song. He was arguably Mike Bianco’s most consistent hitter last season, as he boasted a .306 batting average, with 71 hits, 9 home runs, and 57 RBI.
— Will Furniss (@WillFurniss) August 19, 2026
Utermark had a .309 batting average, with 75 hits, 22 home runs, and 55 RBI. He notably broke the all-time Ole Miss home run record in a 17-9 midweek win over UT Martin in May.
The two players’ veteran presence at the plate also helped the Rebels reach the College World Series for the first time since 2022 — the year Ole Miss won the national championship.
Hotty Toddy pic.twitter.com/rtzxDIoUjK
— Judd Utermark (@JuddUtermark) August 19, 2026
The infielders’ path to eligibility was opened by a federal judge issuing a preliminary injunction allowing NCAA Division I student-athletes who began college in the 2022-2023 academic year and exhausted their four years of eligibility by spring 2026 to gain a fifth season, with certain exceptions.
Furniss and Utermark were part of the 2022 class and began their time with the program in the 2023 season and did not sign any professional contracts following the 2026 campaign. The two players are expected to join ace pitcher Hunter Elliott as the elder statesmen of the team.
Bianco and company would also welcome their leadership, as the Ole Miss coaching staff had to reload the roster in the offseason after losing multiple key pieces, including catcher Austin Fawley, and right fielder Tristan Bissetta, along with a myriad of pitchers.