« Softball 2019

Kelly Barnhill

School
University of Florida
Position
Pitcher
Major
Public Relations

Classroom

Kelly Barnhill is a public relations major and is also enrolled in Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications’ combined degree program, which also allows her to pursue her master’s in global strategic communications. In 2018 Barnhill was named Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year along with making the first team for the second consecutive season. She was also tabbed as a 2018 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and has appeared on the 2017 and 2018 SEC Academic Honor Roll along with the 2016 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

Character

During Barnhill’s time at Florida, she has been a selfless teammate and one of the leaders on team. As being one of the most recognizable players in the country, she will take the time after every game to meet as many fans as possible and uses her platform to be one of the best role models for future players of the game.

Community

Barnhill also strives to make a difference in the community as she was named to the 2018 SEC Community Service Team. She has committed a multitude of hours volunteering at Shands Children’s Hospital, participating in Florida’s Gator Tracks initiative, helping prepare Thanksgiving baskets for families in need at Trinity United Methodist Church and playing games with kids from the local Special Olympics organization.

Competition

Barnhill is one of the top competitors in all of NCAA Division I softball. The right-handed pitcher was named the 2017 USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Year, Honda Sports Award winner, ESPNw Player of the Year and also won an ESPY for Best Female Collegiate Athlete. Just this past season in 2018, she was a top-four finalist for the Honda Sports Award and USA Softball Player of the Year. The Marietta, Ga., native is also a two-time NFCA First Team All-American, two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, a nine-time SEC Pitcher of the Week award winner and five-time national player/pitcher of the week winner. On top of all the individual accolades, Barnhill ranks in eight of UF’s all-time career top 10 pitching categories and is the active NCAA career leader in ERA and strikeouts per seven innings pitched.

*All stats as of nomination time.