Eureka, Mo., man who makes sales calls to Hannibal Regional reportedly to be Bachelor for season 26

Websites across the nation reported Tuesday night a man who makes regular sales visits to Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal, Mo., will be the next Bachelor for season 26.

US Magazine, Bachelor Nation, Variety, E! News, Page Six, Life and Style Magazine and IMDB were among the websites reporting Clayton Echard is going to be the star of the next season of “The Bachelor.” Steve Carbone, best known as Reality Steve, reported Echard’s appointment as the next Bachelor is “official” Tuesday night on Twitter.

Even the Columbia (Mo.) Tribune, which covered Echard when he played football for the University of Missouri from 2012-15, reported the news.

Echard, 28, is a 2016 graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in health professions and related clinical sciences. He will attempt to become the fiancé of Michelle Young during season 18 of “The Bachelorette” on ABC-TV, scheduled to premiere Oct. 19. Echard is one of 35 contestants in the running.

E! News reported Tuesday it had received photos taken on the set of what appears to be a promo shoot for the upcoming season in Missouri. A handsome gentleman is seen being followed by a camera crew near a house.

Echard is from Eureka, Mo., near Six Flags over St. Louis off U.S. 44.

Echard’s biography says he works as a orthopedic sales representative for Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies based in Kalamazoo, Mich. HRH officials confirmed earlier this summer that part of Echard’s duties call for him to visit there on occasion.

Echard was a member of the Seattle Seahawks preseason roster in 2016. Echard also previously was a freestyle rapper.

Young will be the star of the show’s 18th season. She is a teacher from Minneapolis and a former NCAA Division I basketball player. Young arrived late when Matt James was the star of the 25th season of “The Bachelor,” nearly making it almost to the end.