The list for the remaining 15 student-athletes in the running for 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year was revealed by the NFCA on Thursday morning.
The winner will be announced prior to the start of the 2021 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Here are the finalists:
2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 15
- Valerie Cagle, Clemson University *
- Jayda Coleman, University of Oklahoma
- Matalasi Faapito, New Mexico State University *
- Shaylon Govan, Stephen F. Austin State University *
- Alissa Humphrey, James Madison University
- Tiare Jennings, University of Oklahoma
- Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State University
- Jenna Laird, University of Missouri, Columbia
- Shelby Lowe, Auburn University
- Janelle Meoño, University of Arizona *
- Devon Miller, Fordham University *
- Kiki Milloy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville *
- Karli Spaid, Miami University
- Alana Vawter, Stanford University *
- Grace Vesco, Saint Francis University (Pa.) *
*Denotes Second Year
The NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes.
To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach.
With the cancellation of last year’s season due to COVID-19, eligible candidates hail from the 2020 and 2021 freshman classes. Due to having two full freshman classes for the award, an additional five players have been added to the traditional top 10.
This year’s 15 finalists hail from 14 different universities and represent 11 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation. No. 1 University of Oklahoma from the Big 12 Conference was the lone program with two honorees – Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with three nods, while the Big 12 and Pac-12 had two representatives apiece. The Atlantic 10 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-American Conference, Northeast Conference, Southland Conference, The Summit League and Western Athletic Conference all earned one recognition.
On May 27, the three finalists will be released and The 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented on June 1.
In 2021, the NFCA will award National Freshman of the Year honors to a student-athlete from NCAA DI, DII, DIII and NAIA.
NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year (previous winners)
- 2020 – Award was not presented due to COVID-19
- 2019 – Danielle Williams, Northwestern
- 2018 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
- 2017 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
- 2016 – Amanda Lorenz, Florida
- 2015 – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
- 2014 – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn
For more information about all NFCA Awards, visit nfca.org.
