Stepping onto a college campus as a freshman is already a challenge. The transition from home life to college life is something people anticipate for years.
When you’re the No. 1 recruit in America, sometimes that moment comes early.
Eager to begin the next chapter of her softball career, Caroline Stanton graduated from Buford High School in her hometown of Buford, Georgia, in December 2025 and enrolled at Florida a month later.
"It was a good opportunity, once I finished my high school season, to just come in and train and just be developed before next year,” Stanton said.
However, Stanton’s softball career began long before she stepped into the Orange and Blue.
Growing up, Stanton participated in a multitude of sports, but from the moment she stepped onto the diamond, she knew softball was what she wanted to play, she said.
Stanton was always surrounded by high-level talent at Buford, a nationally renowned school with 13 softball state championships. She wanted to continue being surrounded by talent, leading to a visit at UF in her junior year of high school.
From that moment onward, she knew she wanted to be a Gator.
“I always loved it,” Stanton said. “But once I came on my visit, I knew this is where I wanted to be.”
However, she had to complete high school before she could get to Gainesville. Despite hurrying to finish as quickly as possible, she still left with her share of athletic accomplishments.
In her high school career, she captured three state championships, capping it off with a perfect 36-0 record in her senior season last fall.
The number three became a trend in her high school career. She was a three-time MaxPreps first team All-American and a three-time first team All-State selection.
Over the four years, Stanton only surrendered three losses in the circle. Most notably, she holds the Buford single-game strikeout record of 20, which she recorded in the state tournament on Oct. 30, 2025, against Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia.
When not dominating in the circle, the right-handed hurler can be found in the outfield, as she played right field throughout her high school career. She excelled at the plate during her junior year, posting a .409 batting average and hitting 13 home runs.
Buford head coach Trent Adams envies the competitive side of Stanton, he said.
“What I like most about Caroline is she’s just a competitor,” he said. “She wants the ball in her hands. The bigger the moment, the better she’s going to throw.”
Competition is inevitable, especially in the Stanton household. Stanton’s mother, Jessica Stanton, played basketball at Rollins College in Winter Park, and her father, Rob Stanton, was a two-sport athlete at Clemson, playing basketball and football.
Her brother, Jack, was once in his sister’s shoes when he enrolled early at Houston Christian University in 2024 as a quarterback.
“I think just growing up in a super competitive household, everything you do is a competition," Caroline Stanton said. “Learning from them and how they became successful has always just been great, because I can learn from all of their habits.”
The successful young career of the redshirt freshman doesn’t end on the domestic stage.
Internationally, Stanton was part of the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation World Cup U.S. national team. In the tournament, she tossed 17 innings and recorded 10 strikeouts. Her play powered the squad to the gold medal.
Following her performance, Stanton was named the best defensive player of the tournament.
Facing international competition has helped her expand her approach in the circle, forcing her to adjust to different styles of hitters, she said. In particular, Stanton pointed out the adaptability of the Japanese team.
“It's such a different version of softball when you play against teams like Team Japan,” Stanton said. “They're super hard to get out. It just helps me find different ways to get people out.”
Playing in the Orange and Blue is extra special for Stanton because it marks a reunion with former teammates.
Previously, Stanton played with fellow Gator pitchers Keagan Rothrock and Olivia Miller, as well as outfielder Townsen Thomas. She played up in the 18-year-old age group for the Texas Bombers.
“I'm super big on loving who you play with, because that’s what makes a team,” Stanton said. “They're all such great teammates and great players, so I'm super happy to have a few more years with them.”
Moreover, Florida team captain Ava Brown has become a mentor for the redshirt freshman ever since she set foot in Gainesville.
“I really wanted to show her that she wasn't just the redshirt freshman that was coming in,” Brown said. “She was truly going to be an important part of our team and an important part of all of our relationships.”
After utilizing her redshirt season, Stanton will make her collegiate debut in 2027.
Contact Zach Moore at zmoore@alligator.org. Follow him on X @zach_moore27.
Zach is a sophomore sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator, covering softball. He also has experience as an intern in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Zach enjoys watching sports in his free time, primarily the Minnesota Vikings, Orlando Magic, and Arsenal FC.
