OXFORD — Ole Miss baseball pitcher Hunter Elliott listened to his heart when he made a career decision this summer.

On July 14, he announced he would return for his super senior season at Ole Miss. It was the second day of the 2025 MLB Draft, when he was almost certain to be picked. After going undrafted in the first 10 rounds, Elliott shut down further talks, choosing to return to college.

“It was a crazy day,” he said Sept. 8. “The draft process is a crazy process. All the things that come with it were wild. (Returning to Ole Miss) was kind of where my heart led me. I had some phone calls and had some teams interested but this place is super special to me. I felt like my time here wasn’t done, so I decided to come back.”

Elliott is heading into his fifth season at Ole Miss and has a career 3.09 ERA. He has been a star since 2022, when he played a major role in the Rebels’ national championship run.

Injuries are the only thing that have slowed him down. He suffered an elbow injury in 2023 that required Tommy John surgery. After missing most of the 2024 season, he was taken in the 20th round of the 2024 draft by the Dodgers.

He decided to return to Ole Miss instead, where he showcased his elite talent. He was 10-3 in 16 starts with a 2.94 ERA and led the Rebels to a host bid in the NCAA tournament.

“(Elliott returning) is neat because obviously you watched him come back from an injury,” coach Mike Bianco said. “Being out for two years and having the year that he had last year, we don’t as a team have the year that we have without him throwing Friday night. To get him back again for another year shows his love for this program and this university . . . it doesn’t happen a lot for guys to turn down professional baseball and come back.”

Elliott was speaking after participating in a League of Angels event on Sept. 8. Ole Miss baseball and softball players hosted a group of people with special needs who participated in baseball drills at Swayze Field. Elliott said he felt the outpouring of support from fans when he announced his return, and enjoyed passing the feeling to others.

“This town rallies around its sports and rallies around the things that happen here,” he said. “I saw a lot of the feedback and a lot of the excitement. I was just as excited. I love these fans. They are awesome.”

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_