Five Arkansas softball players were recognized among Softball America’s Preseason Top 100 Players ahead of the 2026 season, the publication announced Monday.Senior outfielder Dakota Kennedy leads the group, ranked No. 19 overall and fourth among outfielders nationally. Kennedy, who transferred from Arizona, comes off a 2025 season in which she batted .444 with 60 hits, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 28 walks while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in left field. She was a two-time Third-Team NFCA All-American at Arizona and earned the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Senior left-hander Robyn Herron was listed at No. 30 overall and eighth among pitchers. Herron holds several program records, including lowest career opponent batting average (.182) and ranks among the top 10 in career shutouts, ERA and wins. In 2025, she led Arkansas with 18 victories, a 2.72 ERA and 160 strikeouts.
Junior third baseman Ella McDowell checks in at No. 31 nationally and third among third basemen. McDowell became the first freshman in program history to earn NFCA All-America honors, hitting .352 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs and posting a .425 on-base percentage last season. She also earned Second-Team All-SEC honors.
Senior outfielder Reagan Johnson was ranked No. 70 overall and 14th among outfielders. The speedster enters her final season with a .370 career batting average, 224 hits, 50 stolen bases, and the most consecutive starts in the leadoff spot in program history. Johnson is 38 hits shy of Arkansas’ career record.
Sophomore pitcher Payton Burnham rounds out the group at No. 84 overall and 19th among pitchers. Burnham went 16-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 2025, including the first NCAA Tournament no-hitter in program history. She earned freshman All-America honors from D1 Softball and Softball America.
Arkansas opens its 30th season and 11th under head coach Courtney Deifel at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, South Carolina, Feb. 6-8, facing Virginia and Akron on the opening day. The Razorbacks are coming off a 44-14 record in 2025, including their eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth Super Regional trip under Deifel.
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