Trio Of Gators Named to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List
OKLAHOMA CITY – Jocelyn Erickson, Keagan Rothrock and Taylor Shumaker were named to the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, the organization announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Shumaker was a Top-25 finalist for the award in 2025, while Erickson was a Top-26 finalist in 2024.
Rothrock, the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, had another strong season as a sophomore in 2025. Despite missing more than a month due to injury, Rothrock started a team-high 27 games in the circle, leading Florida in innings pitched (131.2), strikeouts (105) and complete games (9).
Shumaker, the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, became the first Gator freshman to earn First Team All-America honors last season. An All-SEC First Team selection, Shumaker had one of the best offensive seasons in program history. She tied the UF single-season RBI (86) and home run (22) records and set a new single-season total bases (164) mark. Nationally, she ranked in the top-10 in RBIs, runs, total bases and home runs.
As a junior, Erickson repeated as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner at catcher, joining former teammate Kendra Falby as just the second and third pair of repeat winners in the award’s history. She batted .303 (53-for-175) with 59 RBI, 55 runs, 15 home runs, two triples and three stolen bases in 2025 and held a team-high .490 on-base percentage in SEC play.
Lauren Haeger & Kelly Barnhill are the only Gators to have won the prestigious award. Haeger earned the title in 2015 after leading Florida to the program’s second national championship and Barnhill secured the honor after having a historic season in 2017.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on April 29.
While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be revealed May 13, with the Top 3 being released May 18. The 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS).
USA Softball released its Preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll on Tuesday, with Gators coming in at No. 6.
Single-Game Ticket Information
Single-game tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.
Shumaker was a Top-25 finalist for the award in 2025, while Erickson was a Top-26 finalist in 2024.
Rothrock, the 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, had another strong season as a sophomore in 2025. Despite missing more than a month due to injury, Rothrock started a team-high 27 games in the circle, leading Florida in innings pitched (131.2), strikeouts (105) and complete games (9).
Shumaker, the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, became the first Gator freshman to earn First Team All-America honors last season. An All-SEC First Team selection, Shumaker had one of the best offensive seasons in program history. She tied the UF single-season RBI (86) and home run (22) records and set a new single-season total bases (164) mark. Nationally, she ranked in the top-10 in RBIs, runs, total bases and home runs.
As a junior, Erickson repeated as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner at catcher, joining former teammate Kendra Falby as just the second and third pair of repeat winners in the award’s history. She batted .303 (53-for-175) with 59 RBI, 55 runs, 15 home runs, two triples and three stolen bases in 2025 and held a team-high .490 on-base percentage in SEC play.
Lauren Haeger & Kelly Barnhill are the only Gators to have won the prestigious award. Haeger earned the title in 2015 after leading Florida to the program’s second national championship and Barnhill secured the honor after having a historic season in 2017.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on April 29.
While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be revealed May 13, with the Top 3 being released May 18. The 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced prior to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS).
USA Softball released its Preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll on Tuesday, with Gators coming in at No. 6.
Single-Game Ticket Information
Single-game tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.
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