What to Know About USM Baseball's Latest JUCO Signee, Brock Clayton
What to Know About USM Baseball's Latest JUCO Signee, Brock Clayton
The Golden Eagles landed a versatile JUCO left-handed batter in Brock Clayton last week. Where will he end up in the lineup?Charlie Lanehart|
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - With the return of redshirt-senior catcher Tucker Stockman, senior catcher Lawson Odom, and redshirt-freshman Cade Adams, along with the addition of freshman catcher/utilityman Shaun Cover, who was the 2026 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year, it seemed as if the Golden Eagles might stay put in the catcher department.
That was not the case, however, as the Golden Eagles landed one of the top catchers on the junior college level in Brock Clayton, who recently committed to Southern Miss after playing last season at Northwest Florida State College.
Clayton By The Numbers
Growing up in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Clayton played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Gulf Breeze High School, where he appeared in 23 games. After two years, he transferred to Pensacola Catholic High School, where he was elected to the 2024 Prep Baseball Florida First Team All-State team with a .466 batting average, along with four home runs and 28 runs batted in.
After redshirting his freshman year of college at the University of Florida, Clayton transferred to Northwest Florida State College. In 49 games played, Clayton held a .353 batting average with nine home runs and 42 runs batted in on the year. From behind the plate, he caught ten runners stealing, ranking tenth in the country out of all catchers. Originally, Clayton was committed to the University of South Carolina. After coaching changes occurred, he reopened his recruitment and committed to the Golden Eagles.
What Position Will Clayton Play?
As previously mentioned, the return of Stockman and Odom makes this commitment very interesting. Over the past two years, Stockman has served as the solidified starting catcher with Odom as his backup. This past season, Stockman held a .239 batting average with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in while Odom held a .125 batting average with one home run and six runs batted in.
Now, let's be reasonable: going into the fall, Stockman will be the starting catcher. He's earned it over the past two years with many clutch moments in big spots for the Golden Eagles. But there's certainly nothing wrong with some added competition. Can Clayton create a true competition for either the backup or starting catcher position? Perhaps. But at the very least, he'll be in the running for the designated hitter spot in the lineup: a spot that was unfortunately a revolving door for the Golden Eagles during the 2026 season. Although Clayton throws right-handed, he bats left-handed, so he could potentially be a valuable lefty bat in next year's lineup. He can also play in the outfield, from what we've been told, so that's another area to keep an eye on going into next season.
While the move may come as a surprise, at least from the standpoint of Clayton's primary position, it's essential for a team looking to get back to Omaha to have maximum value at the catcher position. Throughout the fall, it'll be interesting to see how Clayton competes with the other experienced catchers who remained on the roster and where head coach Christian Ostrander and his staff end up placing him when it's all said and done. Stay tuned to Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI for more offseason coverage of USM baseball, basketball and football in the coming weeks.
Published 5 minutes ago | Modified 5 minutes ago
CHARLIE LANEHARTSport Management Undergraduate at the University of Southern Mississippi. Writer covering Southern Miss athletics for Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI.
Follow LanehartCharlieBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
