Skyhawks Lock In First True Recruiting Class Under Chelsea Farmer
First True Signing Class for Farmer and the Skyhawks
One of the biggest steps in taking over a program is getting your first true signing class set in stone. Head Coach Chelsea Farmer and the UT Martin Skyhawks did exactly that by signing 12 players to the 2026 class, a group set to arrive in Martin, Tennessee next fall.
Farmer was named the fifth head coach in UT Martin softball history in June of 2024 and immediately went to work building the foundation of the program. One area she and her staff have made an early impact is putting a strong stamp on the home state of Tennessee.
Eight of the 12 signees are from Tennessee, something Farmer believes is critical when building a sustainable program at the mid-major level. While the state is home to a Power Four program in Knoxville with the Lady Vols, Tennessee remains heavily populated with mid-major softball at the collegiate level.
There is no shortage of high-level players across the state at the high school level, and the Skyhawks are making a point to keep that talent home as much as possible.
“We believe in the value of getting the best kids in our state that we can,” Farmer said during our conversation. “Especially because we are West Tennessee, we’re starting to make sure those Middle Tennessee kids and those East Tennessee kids know who we are now.”
According to UT Martin Sports, the 2026 class includes four Top 100-ranked players nationally, which is a program record, along with five All-State selections and three state champions. The numbers speak to the caliber of talent starting to come to Martin.
“So it was important to me, Daniel, and Maddie to really bring in this big group that shows, this is what we’re capable of and this is what we’re trying to do,” Farmer said.
“UT Martin is the place for a top five catcher in the nation. UT Martin is the place where top recruits are coming, especially top recruits out of high school. So I think this group is a statement group for us as a program and as a coaching staff, and what we believe in and what we really expect.”
For Farmer, the class is about more than rankings. It represents the first group fully recruited and assembled under their vision, and no stone was left unturned.
“We were very intentional with this group,” she said. “We shared with them our vision, what we want for the program, the values that we have, and what we expect of them. We try not to leave any stone uncovered with what we’re doing here and what the expectations are.”
Timing also played a major role in landing such a large and impactful class. Farmer and her staff moved quickly after being hired, prioritizing relationships and early visits.
“Timing is a big factor in Division I college softball,” Farmer said. “We knew we had to get the kids that we wanted on campus and get them here early, and show them, ‘You are our top pick. You mean a lot to us.’”
The result is a class that has already built chemistry before ever stepping on campus.
“I think something that we’re really excited about with this group of 12 is they’ve been together on campus so many times now that they’re already like best friends, and they’re all excited to get here together,” Farmer said.
“That’s just something that could be very special, because it’s so unique and it’s hard to do. They are excited to get here together, and that’s something that can be really special.”
Assistant Coach Daniel Farmer echoed those thoughts, and made sure to make known that the focus went beyond talent alone. They vetted this class heavily to make sure they had the right people coming into their program as well.
“We want to make sure we’re recruiting high-quality people as well as high-quality athletes,” he said. “Each one of these 12 fits the bill on both. That’s why we brought them here.”
While the transfer portal will always be part of roster building, Coach Chelsea Farmer believes this class sets the tone for long-term development. It shows the buy in and also the importance of relationship building with players out of high school.
“Not only are these 12 good softball players, but they are good people,” Farmer said. “They come from good families, and they are people who want to be somewhere for four years and want to be invested in the place they’re going. That’s really what we’re looking for.”
“We have kids out of the transfer portal, and obviously the portal is a thing and it’s not going away, so we recognize that,” she said. “But old school me, I like to develop relationships. I like to know that I can get to know a player from the time she’s a junior in high school, as far as recruiting. I’m not working with her yet, but I’m getting to know her.”
“And then by the time she’s a freshman here, we already have a good relationship,” Farmer said. “That person is probably going to buy in within the first few weeks of being here because those relationships are already established. That’s something we believe in, and something we’re really excited about.”
For UT Martin, the 2026 class is more than just a signing group. It is a statement class, one that reflects belief in the program’s direction and signals where Skyhawk softball is headed. The Farmers wholeheartedly believe that UT Martin can become the place to build a strong mid-major program, that will compete with the best of them. Stay tuned as the Skyhawks’ softball program continues to build.
