Razorback Trio on USA Softball Preseason Player of the Year Watch List

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas softball’s Nia Carter, Rylin Hedgecock and Reagan Johnson were tabbed to USA Softball’s Preseason Top 50 Collegiate Player of the Year watch list on Wednesday.

Transferring to The Hill from Iowa for her redshirt senior season, Carter looks to build upon a spectacular 2023 season. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., product started all 62 games and hauled in a plethora of accolades including NFCA First-Team All-Midwest Region, First-Team All-Big Ten and Softball America Third-Team All-America recognition. Carter was the everyday right fielder and paced the team in batting average (.479), hits (101), runs scored (45) and total bases (115). Carter slashed .479/.527/.545 while adding 30 RBI, 10 doubles, eight stolen bases and two triples. Her 101 hits paced the Big Ten while also becoming just the second player in Big Ten history to eclipse 100 hits in a single season. Among the nation’s best, she ranked second and third nationally in hits and batting average.

Earning NFCA First-Team All-America status and All-SEC honors in 2023, Hedgecock is poised for another breakthrough campaign as a redshirt senior in 2024. As a junior, Hedgecock hit .335 and led Arkansas with 21 home runs, 62 RBI, 127 total bases, a .459 on-base percentage and .774 slugging percentage. She was the only league player with at least 21 home runs and 62 RBI and tied for fifth nationally in home runs. The Valdosta, Ga., native slugged a clubhouse-best, three multi-home run outings, including a three-home run performance at No. 20 Kentucky on April 22.

An NFCA First-Team All-South Region and Second-Team All-SEC selection as a freshman in 2023, Johnson propelled Arkansas offensively and led the team with a .378 batting average, 79 hits, 47 runs scored, 18 stolen bases and four triples. She was named a Top 10 Finalist for TUCCI/NFCA National Freshman of the Year in April. Johnson is already a staple in the Razorback softball record book as she peppered the third-most hits (79) in single-season program history. She also boasted the sixth-highest batting average (.378), tied for the seventh-most stolen bases (18) and 10th-most runs scored (47) in single-season program history. The Karnes City, Texas, native ranked second in the SEC and eighth nationally in hits. Johnson also shined in center field and compiled a .968 fielding percentage with 86 putouts and four assists on 93 total chances.

Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 “Watch List” for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.

Arkansas opens its 2024 schedule at the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., with opening day slated for Thursday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. against Marshall. The Hogs open their home slate on Thursday, Feb. 22 against Illinois State.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.