Reviewing the Recruiting Classes: Big Ten Conference

Big Ten softball programs had another outstanding day on National Signing Day.

Nine Big Ten programs were ranked in the top 50 recruiting classes nationally led by defending conference champion Northwestern.

The Wildcats were ranked 21st overall, while Michigan State was 23rd and Penn State was ranked 25th.

Illinois (No. 26), Indiana (No. 28), Michigan (No. 31), Maryland (No. 41), Wisconsin (No. 49) and Rutgers (No. 50) also secured top-50 classes.

Extra Inning Softball provides a look at the recruiting classes for each of the programs in the Big Ten.

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Illinois Fighting Illini

 Illinois softball head coach Tyra Perry announced the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.

The Fighting Illini signed Keirys Click, Fae Cornish, Ella Cushing, Danika Frazier, Ellie Haggard, Ava Moore, Chaney Peters, Taylor Porter, Jackie Yeager and Karley Yergler.

Illinois ranks 26th in the Extra Inning Softball recruiting class rankings and feature three players ranked in the Extra Elite 100.

Peters is ranked 18th, Yeager is ranked 33rd and Haggard is 60th.

Illinois release

Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana softball head coach Shonda Stanton announced the program’s newest signing class. The team will add seven players as part of its 2024 signing class.

“Our 2024 class represents the result of my staff’s hard work and dedication in assembling a well-rounded group of student-athletes, each bringing a unique skillset,” Stanton says. “From power and athleticism at the plate to crafty pitchers, gritty catchers, a speedy outfielder and reliable, solid infielders, it’s a testament to the collective effort to create a team that can excel in all facets of the game. We can’t wait to see the impact they will have on Indiana softball.”

Janae Berry, Josie Bird, Sydni Burko, Peyton Drummond, Alli Gavin, Jasmine Reyes and Madalyn Strader will arrive in Bloomington in the fall of 2024. This group ranks as the No. 28 overall recruiting class in Extra Inning Softball’s 2024 recruiting class rankings.

Burko is ranked 20th in the Extra Elite 100, while Strader is ranked 23rd and Drummond is ranked 71st.

Iowa Hawkeyes

University of Iowa softball head coach Renee Gillispie announced the signing of six softball standouts on National Signing Day.

Arlette Caravaca, Sofia Elliott, Brianna Johnson, Allyssa Ramos, Jaidyn Sellers and Talia Tretton have signed national letters of intent.

Of Iowa’s six signees, three hail from California and one each from Iowa, Florida and Nevada.

Iowa release

Maryland Terrapins

First-year Maryland head coach Lauren Karn announced a class of five signees on National Signing Day.

The Terps class consists of Taylor Borovac, Meghan Gray, Aubrey Wurst, Gracie Wilson and Matti Benson.

Maryland’s class is ranked 41st nationally and includes three players ranked in the Extra Elite 100 rankings.

Gray is ranked 32nd, Benson is 48th and Wurst is 65th.

Michigan Wolverines

University of Michigan softball team head coach Bonnie Tholl announced the signing of six players to National Letters of Intent.

Signing their letters today were outfielder Megan Beemer, infielder Andee Dircks, pitcher/utility Haley Ferguson, pitcher Katelyn Meyers, utility Lauren Putz and outfielder Cece Thorington. All six will join the Wolverines next fall and make their collegiate debut during the 2025 softball season.

“We are very excited about this Class of 2024,” said Tholl. “We have a good blend of power, speed and athleticism in the circle. When you’re putting a class together, you hope to cover all aspects of skill, and all six of them have a little bit of that in their skill set — power, speed, high softball IQ and competitiveness. They’re all excited about Michigan, and we can’t wait to get them to Ann Arbor.”

The Wolverines class is ranked 31st nationally and features two players ranked in the Extra Elite 100. Ferguson is ranked third nationally and Putz is ranked 13th.

Michigan release

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley announced the addition of eight student-athletes in the 2023-24 signing class.

Ava Coffinger (Richland, Mich.), Carsyn Cassady (Pataskala, Ohio), Ella Cunningham (Cleveland, Tenn.), Hannah Herman (Buchanan, Mich.), Jacey Schuler (Antioch, Ill.), Jordan Credeur (Georgetown, Texas), Natalia Kenyatta (Madison, Ala.) and Sophia Holverstott (Byron Center, Mich.) will join the Spartans next season.

Michigan State’s recruiting class ranks No. 23 nationally via Extra Inning Softball and is ranked second among current B1G programs (Northwestern, No. 21). Cassady, Coffinger, Schuler and Kenyatta all ranked in the EIS Extra Elite 100.

Michigan State release

Minnesota Golden Gophers

University of Minnesota softball head coach Piper Ritter announced the addition of four new Gophers for the 2024-25 school year with the signing of letters of intent.

Joining the Gophers’ squad next season are Cameron Chard (Belle Plaine, Minn.), Tinley Easton (Lexington, Ky.), Jae Cosgriff (Livermore, Calif.), and Natalie Susa (Macedonia, Ohio).

“They are the best of the best at their respective positions and will help us continue to compete at the absolute highest level,” said Ritter. “I fully expect that we will see an immediate impact on our program from this group. We are proud of all they have accomplished up to this point in their careers and we cannot wait to see what lies ahead for them as a part of our program.”

Minnesota release

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