Who is Jocelyn Erickson? All we know about SEC Softball Player of the Year
Jocelyn Erickson has established herself as one of the finest college softball players in the country. The Florida Gators catcher was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year after a fabulous 2024 season.
Erickson was born on Sept. 20, 2003, in Phoenix, Arizona, to parents David and Jeanine Erickson. She is the youngest of five children. Her siblings, Krislyn, Brendon, Emilee, and Kaylee, all attended Brigham Young University.
Erickson's brother Brendon played baseball for BYU from 2013 to 2015. Meanwhile, Emilee and Kaylee played softball from 2016 to 2021 and 2020 to 2021, respectively.
Erickson attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School, where she began playing basketball and softball. She later focused on the latter.
During an interview with Extra Inning Softball in 2018, Erickson's father David spoke about nurturing his youngest child's talent.
"When she (Jocelyn) was very little she was dragged around from game to game as her parents struggled to keep up with all her sibling’s activities. When she was three years old, we were watching her brother play baseball and I asked their Mom what the count was on the batter. Jocey responded, ‘It’s 2-and-2, Dad.’” David said.
“It was then we knew that she was really paying attention to all these games! Jocey (although very young) and Kaylee played little league softball together. They were the two most versatile players on the team and we had trouble finding a pitcher and a catcher, so Kaylee and Jocey filled both roles.”
After impressing in her high school career, Erickson committed to Oklahoma. She won the Women's College World Series in her first season with the Sooners.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Erickson transferred to Florida. She was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in her first year with the Gators.
Apart from her life around softball, Erickson has strong beliefs in god. She also admitted that she was spiritually guided to transfer to Florida before joining the Gators.
A glimpse into Jocelyn Erickson's softball stats in 2024
Jocelyn Erickson finished the 2024 season with 73 hits, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 50 runs scored and 86 RBIs, with a .382 average. The Florida star also threw out 13 of the 19 runners trying to steal.
Apart from winning the SEC Player of the Year award, Erickson earned an SEC ALL-Defensive Team and an All-SEC First-Team selection.