Yazoo County native and Southern Miss pitcher JB Middleton brings home the 2025 Ferriss Trophy, presented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Pearl River Resort. The award is given annually to the most outstanding college baseball player in Mississippi.
The Benton Academy graduate accepted the honor Monday at a luncheon held at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson.
Named in honor of Hall of Famer and Mississippi baseball legend Dave "Boo" Ferriss, the trophy celebrates excellence on the diamond across the state's four-year colleges and universities. This year's finalists were selected by a panel of coaches and scouts and represent the top talent in Mississippi collegiate baseball.
“The Ferriss Trophy is one of the most meaningful awards we present each year because it honors not only athletic achievement but remembers the character and leadership of the trophy’s namesake, Boo Ferriss,” said Bill Blackwell, Executive Director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. “JB Middleton exemplifies those qualities. He’s a fierce competitor, a team leader, and a fantastic representative of Southern Miss and Mississippi baseball.”
Middleton was chosen by scouts and Mississippi coaches from an exceptional group of finalists representing some of the best collegiate talent in the state including Drake Fontenot (Delta State University), Luke Hill (University of Mississippi), Nick Monistere (University of Southern Miss), and Ace Reese (Mississippi State University).
Middleton finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and a 2.07 ERA with 104 strikeouts and only 23 walks and 53 hits in 91 1/3 innings, while opponents hit .169 against him. He led the Sun Belt in innings pitched and ranked second in both ERA and wins.
The Golden Eagles top starting pitcher ranks No. 2 nationally in WHIP (0.83), No. 3 in hits allowed by nine innings (5.22), fifth in ERA, No. 12 in wins and No. 15 in strikeouts. During the year, he pitched at least five innings in 13 of 14 starts, while posting 10 or more strikeout games four times during the year including a career-high 12 against both South Alabama and Georgia State.
Middleton won his last seven decisions and allowed zero or one earned run in an outing eight times. He was the only two-time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week and is a finalist for Ferriss Trophy, the award for top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi, semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and a member of the College Pitcher of the Year Watch List.
USM Coach Christian Ostrander said that Middleton’s “numbers speak for themselves.” He admits he kept his eye on Middleton before the BA graduate arrived at USM.
“We heard about his stats and how strong those were,” Ostrander said. “They are pretty impressive numbers, but the progress JB has made, the growth he has made to be where he is at right now is tremendous.”
Coming from a smaller high school, Ostrander said Middleton had to adapt mentally to compete at his current level. His drive and dedication were always there, he added.
“He doesn’t like the spotlight,” Ostrander said. “He is not the most vocal pitcher-player on the team. But he is one heck of a leader. He’s a guy who inspires his teammates, does things right, stays to himself. And that is a good thing sometimes. He leads by example.”
Ostrander added that Middleton has also found success in the classroom, balancing both in a true leadership fashion.
“We wouldn’t be where we are at in the program this year and with what we have ahead of us without JB,” Ostrander said.
The award for Middleton gives Southern Miss its fifth winner of this award, which dates back to 2004, and fourth pitcher. The other Golden Eagle Ferriss Trophy winners include Tyler Koelling (2011), James McMahon (2015), Nick Sandlin (2018) and Tanner Hall (2022).
“It is such an honor to be up here,” Middleton said, upon accepting his award. “I wouldn’t be up here if it wasn’t for my family, my coaches or my teammates.”
Middleton is the son of Byron and Kelly Middleton.
