Jocelyn Erikson's goodbye to Florida will have fans wondering what's next at the position

As the Women's College World Series dreams of Florida softball came to an end on Sunday, there was a lot of talk about how things went down between the Gators and Texas Tech, but there is something bigger to look at. The college careers of multiple players have just come to an end, and now they will move on to the bigger things in life.

For one Florida player, she saw her time at Florida come to an end, but it was something she will be eternally grateful for. Catcher Jocelyn Erickson may not have started her career with the Gators, but she is finishing it with many great memories and players in Gainesville.

Erikson began her college career at Oklahoma with a stellar freshman season behind the plate, even capping it off with a National Championship win with the Sooners. However, after that season, Erickson chose to enter the transfer portal and decided on Florida, where she would spend the final three years of her collegiate career.

In three seasons at Florida, Erickson exploded in the college softball world and in Gainesville. She was named to the All-SEC First Team her junior season, as well as being named the SEC Player of the Year, Softball America Defensive Player of the Year, NFCA Catcher of the Year, and NFCA National Player of the Year.

With Florida not returning to the Women's College World Series, Erickson took to social media to bid farewell to her teammates, coaches, and Gator Nation, thanking them for everything the last three years.

"The University of Florida has shaped & molded me in so many ways. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially… this softball program has changed me, challenged me, and taught me more than I could’ve ever known. I was broken & they helped make me whole. I am full of so much gratitude for the experiences & relationships I made on this adventure of a lifetime," Erickson said in her post.

Florida needs to turn to the transfer portal to find its next catcher

Now, with Erickson moving on to her professional career in the AUSL with the Chicago Bandits, Florida will need to find another star behind the plate, and head coach Tim Walton may want to look at the transfer portal again.

The portal isn't set to open until June 8 and will close on June 22, giving players roughly two weeks to decide to stick with their programs or not. There are a couple of needs Florida must address, but the catching position is a big one.

There are not too many player who have announced their intentions to enter the portal, but of the few, there is one Walkton should seriously consider. Michigan catcher Lilly Vallimont just finished four seasons with the Wolverines, and with one final year of eligibility, it choosing to enter the portal.

Vallimont started for Michigan the last three seasons behind the plate and would bring a lot of experience to the Gators, something Walton would desperately need. The downside is that Vallimont won't bring the same bat that Erickson had to the Gators. Hitting just .280 in the Big Ten this season is lower than most coaches would want out of their catcher, but she hit a career high 11 home runs this season and had 47 hits.

Experience behind the plate may outweigh the lesser bat for Vallimont and Walton should seriously consider it. There is still time before Walton needs to be looking at the portal, but not much, and building a team for next season should start now.

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