Name: KEELY EDWARDS
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: SS/UT
High School: Harrisburg (Ark.)
GPA: 3.5
Club: Arkansas Angels 18u (ArkAngels)
Softball Accomplishments: 2014 – All-State, All-State Tournament team, All-Conference, Best Under the Sun
Other Sports Accomplishments: Tennis – All-State (2014, 2012), All-Conference (2014, 2013, 2012); Basketball – All-Conference (2014, 2013), MVP (2014, 2013)
College: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) – Razorbacks

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FullCountSoftball.com: When did you start playing softball?
Keely Edwards:  When I was 5 or 6 years old.

FCS.com: When did you realize that you had college-level talent?
KE: I was always told by others that I had talent, but never knew for sure whether I was talented enough to play in college until a few years ago, I started spending time with some smaller colleges that were great schools, great programs, and great coaches. I didn’t know until I was scouted by my National Scouting Report scout, Robby Wilson, that I had the talent to play at a big level. It was at that point when I started working with him and started getting in front of the bigger coaches, going on visits, attending the camps of the bigger programs that had personally invited me, that my parents and I started to believe – maybe it is possible for me to play like I had always dreamed, in the SEC.

FCS.Com: What other programs were you in the recruiting process with?
KE: I was humbled by the number of programs there are out there and the number of schools that were interested in me, a small town athlete from Harrisburg, Ark.! It was amazing that I was being looked at by all of these college programs I had been watching on TV for years. There were a lot of programs that we explored and vise versa over the duration of several months. We spent the most time in the recruiting process with South Alabama, the University of Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe, and a few others aside from the university I committed to – the University of Arkansas.

FCS.com: Let’s talk recruiting… tell us how you were first seen by the University of Arkansas coaches and then how long until they offered you?
KE: Arkansas had always been my No. 1 choice, my dream. But when I began my recruiting process they were done recruiting their 2016 class except for a pitcher. But Robby (my NSR scout) kept telling me “we continue to look at other options but we don’t forget about the U of A. Things change and when they do, we just have to be ready. If it’s the place you’re supposed to be, you will be.”

I attended the Jerrad Hardin Showcase camp in Arkansas because there were a few key coaches that would be there that were of interest to me including, Mike Larabee, the head softball coach at the University of Arkansas. I emailed the coaches including Coach Larabee letting them know I was going to be there, was interested in their program, and was looking forward to showing what I had to offer. The camp outline of the Hardin camp was perfect for me to show my skills in the skills part of the camp, then my game aptitude during the scrimmages. Fortunately, Mike Larabee was a coach on one of the fields I was playing on and I was able to perform like I needed to.  Towards the end of the day I noticed Coach Larabee and Robby talking over to the side and shortly after, Robby called me over. I chatted with Coach Larabee for a little bit and immediately felt at peace.

After receiving an offer, I wanted to make sure so I gave myself several weeks of exploring several of the other programs that I had been in the recruiting process with for months. I went on a few more visits and they watched me at another showcase. And after receiving a few more offers I scheduled my un-official to the University of Arkansas with Coach Larabee and Coach (Sue) Carpenter. My family attended with me and felt the same as I did on the visit, like we were at home. The facilities were top-notch, the support they give their athletes athletically and academically made me excited!

FCS.com: What led into the decision to commit to the Razorbacks and why did you commit when you did?
KE: I had numerous options along the way but since the beginning I felt like I connected with Coach Larabee and Coach Carpenter more than the other programs. I was flattered by the other opportunities I had, really. But growing up in Arkansas there’s always one program I dreamed about playing for, being a Razorback. Aside from that, Coach Carpenter and Coach Larabee treated me like family and the campus just felt like home. Being an Arkansan, it’s something you dream about as a kid and I’m fortunate enough that the dream will be a reality.

FCS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
KE: I called Coach Larabee and Carpenter and told them.

FCS.com: What was it the Razorback coaches said they liked about you enough to offer?
KE: Coach Larabee was clear when he offered that I had even more work to do, but he liked my athleticism and overall effort.

FCS.com: What would you say is the best recommendation about the recruiting process to other girls out there?
KE: Never think you can’t. I had believed for years that I could play college ball, but didn’t imagine I could play at that level because it wasn’t “the norm” for a small town Arkansas kid and most people had told me I wouldn’t along the way.

Have someone help you like an NSR scout. Robby ended up being one of my best friends, his family became close with mine, and although he was tough on me sometimes, I knew 100 percent of the way that it was because of how much he cared. I would’ve never known how important academics were, how important communicating with the college coaches were, the proper way to do all these things involved in the recruiting process. It’s supposed to be a fun process, not a scary one.

Also, make sure you take your academics seriously. Work hard from the beginning. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t. You, mom, and dad be the decision makers on your recruiting process – not a coach. Be realistic. “Shoot for the stars because even if you only reach the moon, it’s still farther than you had imagined.”

 

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in?
Physical therapy.

Fill in the blank… I’m happiest when:_________________
… I’m playing softball.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue in the world today?
Not enough people just caring about other people.

Favorite food:
Mexican.

Least favorite school subject:
English.

What’s your dream vacation?
To go to the Virgin Islands.

How would your friends describe you in one word?
Compassionate.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
An endless supply of water, does that count?

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
I pray before I step on that field.

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
Jesus Christ.

What’s your “guilty pleasure,” something you hate to admit you love?
I hate to admit it, but I love dressing up and looking pretty.

If you could have a super power, what would you want it to be?
Definitely to fly.

What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to play in the Olympics!

Favorite athlete:
Madison Shipman.

Nickname(s):
Betty or Kelly.

Something on your “must do” list:
Lead as many people to Christ as I can.

Funniest thing you’ve ever seen on a softball field:
The opposing team hit an obvious dinger over center and the center fielder just kept watching the ball and running and ran smack into fence and fell on her back and somehow got her feet stuck at the bottom of the fence!