The University of Mississippi Athletics
Baseball’s Mason Nichols Named Taylor Medal Recipient
4/8/2025 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss baseball senior Mason Nichols has been named as one of 90 recipients for the Taylor Medal, the highest academic honor awarded by the University of Mississippi.
Nichols is the 28th Rebel athlete to earn the Taylor Medal since 2007.
Nichols has been a mainstay in the Rebels' starting rotation this season, making a start in every weekend series so far. In eight starts, he has posted an ERA of 4.83 while striking out 39 batters over 31.2 innings of work. On March 2, in a start against Wright State Nichols struck out a career-high 10 hitters and is one of only two Rebel pitchers to reach double-digit strikeouts in a game this season.
The Mississippi native has been with the Rebels for all four seasons of his career, appearing in 69 games to date, more than any other pitcher on staff. He was a key contributor for Ole Miss in 2022 when they won the College World Series, making 21 appearances as a freshman.
Nichols will graduate with a degree in biological sciences in May. A three-year team representative on Ole Miss's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Nichols' community involvement has included volunteering at events for individuals with special needs, church activities for the elderly and team projects to give back to low-income families.
Established in 1904 in memory of Marcus Elvis Taylor of Booneville, an honored 1871 UM alumnus, the Taylor Medal recognizes no more than 0.45 percent of all undergraduates, regardless of campus, for meritorious scholarship and deportment. Recipients must have at least a 3.90 grade-point average.
List of Student-Athletes to Earn Taylor Medal Since 2007
2025 – Mason Nichols, Baseball
2023 – Lukas Engelhardt, Men's Tennis
2023 – Loral Winn, Women's Track
2022 – Corinne Passman, Dance
2021 – Alexis Berry, Cheer
2021 – Macy Somoskey, Women's Golf
2020 – Julia Phillips, Soccer
2020 – Chanel Thomas, Soccer
2019 – Caroline Adams, Volleyball
2019 – Marisa Kutchma, Soccer
2018 – Anna Braswell, Women's Track
2017 – Aubrey Edie, Volleyball
2017 – Danielle Gray, Soccer
2016 – Forrest Gamble, Men's Golf
2015 – Johan Backstrom, Men's Tennis
2015 – Jonathan Redding, Men's Track
2015 – Stani Schiavone, Women's Golf
2014 – Caroline Rohde-Moe, Women's Tennis
2014 – Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen, Women's Track
2013 – Kathryn Fowler, Women's Golf
2012 – Corrine Doornberg, Softball
2012 – Amanda Hutcheson, Softball
2012 – Gabby Rangel, Women's Tennis
2011 – Wesley Phillips, Football
2011 – Lee Ellis Moore, Men's Track
2010 – Scott Haltom, Baseball
2008 – Casey Phillips, Rifle
2007 – Ashley Ferree, Soccer
Nichols is the 28th Rebel athlete to earn the Taylor Medal since 2007.
Nichols has been a mainstay in the Rebels' starting rotation this season, making a start in every weekend series so far. In eight starts, he has posted an ERA of 4.83 while striking out 39 batters over 31.2 innings of work. On March 2, in a start against Wright State Nichols struck out a career-high 10 hitters and is one of only two Rebel pitchers to reach double-digit strikeouts in a game this season.
The Mississippi native has been with the Rebels for all four seasons of his career, appearing in 69 games to date, more than any other pitcher on staff. He was a key contributor for Ole Miss in 2022 when they won the College World Series, making 21 appearances as a freshman.
Nichols will graduate with a degree in biological sciences in May. A three-year team representative on Ole Miss's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Nichols' community involvement has included volunteering at events for individuals with special needs, church activities for the elderly and team projects to give back to low-income families.
Established in 1904 in memory of Marcus Elvis Taylor of Booneville, an honored 1871 UM alumnus, the Taylor Medal recognizes no more than 0.45 percent of all undergraduates, regardless of campus, for meritorious scholarship and deportment. Recipients must have at least a 3.90 grade-point average.
List of Student-Athletes to Earn Taylor Medal Since 2007
2025 – Mason Nichols, Baseball
2023 – Lukas Engelhardt, Men's Tennis
2023 – Loral Winn, Women's Track
2022 – Corinne Passman, Dance
2021 – Alexis Berry, Cheer
2021 – Macy Somoskey, Women's Golf
2020 – Julia Phillips, Soccer
2020 – Chanel Thomas, Soccer
2019 – Caroline Adams, Volleyball
2019 – Marisa Kutchma, Soccer
2018 – Anna Braswell, Women's Track
2017 – Aubrey Edie, Volleyball
2017 – Danielle Gray, Soccer
2016 – Forrest Gamble, Men's Golf
2015 – Johan Backstrom, Men's Tennis
2015 – Jonathan Redding, Men's Track
2015 – Stani Schiavone, Women's Golf
2014 – Caroline Rohde-Moe, Women's Tennis
2014 – Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen, Women's Track
2013 – Kathryn Fowler, Women's Golf
2012 – Corrine Doornberg, Softball
2012 – Amanda Hutcheson, Softball
2012 – Gabby Rangel, Women's Tennis
2011 – Wesley Phillips, Football
2011 – Lee Ellis Moore, Men's Track
2010 – Scott Haltom, Baseball
2008 – Casey Phillips, Rifle
2007 – Ashley Ferree, Soccer
Players Mentioned
RHP
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