June has become college baseball’s second recruiting season, and Southern Miss has wasted little time treating the transfer portal like a path back to postseason baseball.
After another 40-win season, another Sun Belt championship run, and another Hattiesburg Regional that ended with heartbreak at Pete Taylor Park, Christian Ostrander and his staff entered the summer with a clear mission: replace veteran production without losing the identity that has made Southern Miss one of the most consistent programs in the South.
So far, the Golden Eagles have built a transfer class with a little bit of everything — a power-hitting first baseman, a productive right fielder, a left-handed hitting catcher/outfielder, an experienced second baseman, and a Mississippi junior college arm with weekend starter experience.
The portal window opened June 1 and runs through July 1, but Southern Miss has already done some of its most important work.
Drew Harrison, RHP, Pearl River Community College
The first major addition of the transfer class came from one of the nation’s top junior college programs.
Southern Miss landed right-handed pitcher Drew Harrison from Pearl River Community College, fresh off helping lead the Wildcats to the 2026 NJCAA National Championship. Harrison was one of the biggest reasons Pearl River finished atop junior college baseball, serving as the ace of a staff that dominated throughout the postseason.
The Madison native and former Germantown High School standout began his college career at Tulane before transferring to Pearl River. After showing promise as a freshman, Harrison emerged as one of the premier pitchers in junior college baseball during the 2026 season.
In 17 starts, Harrison posted an 11-1 record with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 96 batters in 81.2 innings pitched. His 11 victories tied for the second-most wins in a season in Pearl River history, while his 96 strikeouts ranked among the top marks in Mississippi junior college baseball. He also tossed two complete games and earned First Team All-MACCC honors during the Wildcats’ championship season.
As a freshman, Harrison worked out of the bullpen and posted a 1.76 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. In 2026, he moved into the weekend rotation and finished 11-1 with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 96 batters over 81.2 innings.
That is the kind of arm Southern Miss has made a habit of finding in the junior college ranks. Camden Clark made the jump from PRCC to Southern Miss and became a major piece of the Golden Eagles’ staff. Harrison now gets a chance to follow that same path.
The role will be interesting. Southern Miss returns major weekend pieces, but the Golden Eagles also lose veteran innings. Harrison could compete for a midweek starter role, become a multi-inning bullpen weapon, or push for an expanded weekend role if he proves himself in Fall practice.
Either way, the fit makes sense. Southern Miss needed another experienced arm. Harrison gives the staff a Mississippi pitcher who has already handled a starter’s workload and pitched in big junior college games.
Cannon Peery, 1B/DH, Grand Canyon
Southern Miss also had to address the middle of the order.
With Matthew Russo gone, first base became one of the biggest holes on the roster. The Golden Eagles answered by adding Cannon Peery from Grand Canyon.
The Peoria, AZ started every game for GCU in 2026 and hit .287 with 54 hits, 12 doubles, nine home runs and 32 RBIs. He also posted a .986 fielding percentage, giving Southern Miss an experienced first-base option who has already played every day at the Division I level.
Peery looks like a direct candidate to compete for the first-base job and help replace some of the power Southern Miss lost from its senior-heavy lineup.
He will not have to be Russo. Nobody should expect a one-for-one replacement for one of the fan favorites of the past four years. But Peery brings the profile the Golden Eagles need: size, experience, power, and a defensive home at first base.
If his bat carries over to Pete Taylor Park, he could quickly become one of the most important newcomers in the class.
Cade Baker, RF, Toledo
One of the biggest offensive additions came from Toledo. Junior Cade Baker committed to Southern Miss after a strong 2026 season with the Rockets.
The Whitney, TX started all 61 games in right field and became Toledo’s leadoff hitter. He finished with 79 hits, 23 doubles, eight home runs and 49 RBIs. His 23 doubles ranked among the nation’s best during the regular season, making him one of the most productive extra-base bats Southern Miss has added this summer.
Southern Miss is losing serious outfield production. Joey Urban and Ben Higdon were all major pieces of the 2026 team, and replacing their experience was never going to be easy.
Baker gives the Golden Eagles a player who has already handled an everyday role, hit at the top of a lineup, and produced extra-base damage. He also fits the style Southern Miss fans appreciate: aggressive, productive, and battle-tested.
The right field connection is impossible to miss. Higdon became a familiar face in front of The Roost and the 16oz Lounge. Baker now enters as a candidate to step into that kind of role in 2027.
Brock Clayton, C/OF, Northwest Florida State
Southern Miss added another intriguing bat and defensive option with Brock Clayton, a left-handed hitting catcher/outfielder from Northwest Florida State.
Clayton has an interesting background. He was previously at Florida, where he was listed as a catcher/outfielder and earned SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll recognition, but did not appear in a game for the Gators. Before that, he was a standout at Pensacola Catholic, where he hit .466 with a .584 on-base percentage and .727 slugging percentage as a senior.
In 2026 at Northwest Florida State, Clayton hit .353 with power and on-base ability, giving Southern Miss another left-handed bat and a player who can potentially help in more than one spot.
Southern Miss returns Tucker Stockman and Lawson Odom behind the plate, but Clayton gives the roster another catching option while also being athletic enough to factor into the outfield picture. His bat may be the thing that gets him on the field, but his ability to move around gives the coaching staff options.
He also fits the Gulf Coast footprint. A Gulf Breeze native and Pensacola Catholic product, Clayton is the kind of regional addition that makes sense for Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles have always recruited the Mississippi-Alabama-Florida-Louisiana corridor well, and Clayton keeps that tradition going.
Brady Waugh, 2B, UAB
The latest addition may be the most polished everyday player of the group.
Southern Miss landed UAB infielder Brady Waugh on June 18, giving the Golden Eagles an experienced second baseman coming off a breakout season in Birmingham.
Waugh, a Hoover, AL native started all 58 games for UAB in 2026, with 55 starts coming at second base. He hit .322 with 12 doubles, 49 RBIs, 67 runs scored and a .431 on-base percentage. He also finished with a .970 fielding percentage and tied for the team lead with 21 multi-hit games.
That is production Southern Miss can use immediately.
Waugh brings a mature offensive profile. He gets on base, drives in runs, handles the middle infield, and has already played a full Division I season. He also finished his UAB season on an 11-game hitting streak and had a walk-off grand slam against Middle Tennessee.
With Southern Miss losing veteran bats and needing stability around the infield, Waugh could be one of the most important additions in the class. He gives the Golden Eagles an older player who should not need a long adjustment period.
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