North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Announces Addition of NFCA All-Region Taylor Johnson
2/25/2021 12:04:00 PM | Softball
RALEIGH – Taylor Johnson, an All-Big Ten and NFCA All-Region honoree, is set to join the Wolfpack in Fall of 2021, as announced by head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift on Thursday. Johnson comes to Raleigh as a graduate transfer from Wisconsin and will have two years of eligibility.
"Taylor's stats speak for themselves," said head coach Patrick-Swift. "But our staff was blown away with the person she is and the teammate she is going to be. She will fit right in with our offensive philosophy, and she wants to be an integral part in helping us take the next step as a program."
Johnson was a standout for Wisconsin, starting 131 of her 132 career games, primarily at third base and catcher. In addition to her 2019 All-Big Ten and NFCA honors, Johnson was also a member of the 2018 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and two-time Academic All-Big Ten. In 2019, she batted .341 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs while leading the team with 50 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
A powerhouse at the plate, Johnson has 25 career home runs. She also participated in the Florida Gulf Coast League in Summer 2020, a summer league for collegiate softball players, where she won the leagues first home run derby title.
"I chose NC State because of the amazing academics, beautiful campus, and supportive coaching staff," said Johnson. "After talking with the coaches about the team culture and dynamic, I knew that NC State softball was a great fit for me to showcase my passion for the game. I also wanted to find a school that not only had my masters program, but was a place I could see myself living in the future. After doing some research, I found that NC State has an exceptional counseling education program that fits right in with my career goals of becoming a military psychologist."
Johnson was a highly touted recruit out of high school, earning Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. She was a three-time River Valley Conference Player of the Year, four-time First Team All-State and conference and had 52 career home runs at Bleecher High School in Beecher, Ill.
Johnson graduated with her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies and plans to pursue her masters in Counseling Education at NC State.
"Taylor's stats speak for themselves," said head coach Patrick-Swift. "But our staff was blown away with the person she is and the teammate she is going to be. She will fit right in with our offensive philosophy, and she wants to be an integral part in helping us take the next step as a program."
Johnson was a standout for Wisconsin, starting 131 of her 132 career games, primarily at third base and catcher. In addition to her 2019 All-Big Ten and NFCA honors, Johnson was also a member of the 2018 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and two-time Academic All-Big Ten. In 2019, she batted .341 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs while leading the team with 50 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
A powerhouse at the plate, Johnson has 25 career home runs. She also participated in the Florida Gulf Coast League in Summer 2020, a summer league for collegiate softball players, where she won the leagues first home run derby title.
"I chose NC State because of the amazing academics, beautiful campus, and supportive coaching staff," said Johnson. "After talking with the coaches about the team culture and dynamic, I knew that NC State softball was a great fit for me to showcase my passion for the game. I also wanted to find a school that not only had my masters program, but was a place I could see myself living in the future. After doing some research, I found that NC State has an exceptional counseling education program that fits right in with my career goals of becoming a military psychologist."
Johnson was a highly touted recruit out of high school, earning Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. She was a three-time River Valley Conference Player of the Year, four-time First Team All-State and conference and had 52 career home runs at Bleecher High School in Beecher, Ill.
Johnson graduated with her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies and plans to pursue her masters in Counseling Education at NC State.
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