JACKSON — JB Middleton took home the first of what will likely be many postseason awards.

The Southern Miss pitcher was named the 2025 Ferriss Trophy winner as the top college baseball player in Mississippi, at a ceremony Monday at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson.

Middleton, a junior right-hander, has a 9-1 record, 2.07 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings pitched this season. He is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, a member of the College Pitcher of the Year Watch List, and a frontrunner for the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year award.

Middleton is the fifth Southern Miss player to win the Ferriss Trophy, and second in the last four years. The other finalists were Delta State pitcher Drake Fontenot, Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese, Ole Miss third baseman Luke Hill, and Southern Miss infielder Nick Monistere.

Middleton ranks among the top pitchers in the country in a number of key statistical categories. He is No. 2 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.

Opponents are batting only .169 against him. He leads the Sun Belt in innings pitched, and is second in wins and ERA.

Middleton won his last seven decisions and allowed zero or one earned run in an outing eight times. He’ll lead Southern Miss (41-13) into the Sun Belt tournament this week in Montgomery, Ala. The Golden Eagles are the No. 2 seed and will play Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. against Texas State, App State, Arkansas State or Georgia Southern.

Southern Miss has won 15 games in a row, which is tied for a school record.

Ferriss Trophy winners
Winners of the Ferriss Trophy, given annually to the top college baseball player in Mississippi:
2025 – JB Middleton, P, Southern Miss
2024 – Dakota Jordan, OF, Southern Miss
2023 – Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
2022 – Tanner Hall, P, Southern Miss
2021 – Tanner Allen, OF, Mississippi State
2020 – No winner (COVID-19)
2019 – Jake Mangum, OF, Mississippi State
2018 – Nick Sandlin, P, Southern Miss
2017 – Brent Rooker, OF, Mississippi State
2016 – Jake Mangum, OF, Mississippi State
2015 – James McMahon, P, Southern Miss
2014 – Auston Bousfield, OF, Ole Miss
2013 – Hunter Renfroe, OF, Mississippi State
2012 – Chris Stratton, P, Mississippi State
2011 – Tyler Koelling, OF, Southern Miss
2010 – Drew Pomeranz, P, Ole Miss
2009 – Craig Westcott, IF/P, Belhaven
2008 – Scott Bittle, P, Ole Miss
2007 – Ed Easley, C, Mississippi State
2006 – Thomas Berkery, IF, Mississippi State
2005 – Brian Pettway, OF, Ole Miss
2004 – Stephen Head, IF/P, Ole Miss