Photo by: Micah Richter/Texas A&M Athletics
Get to Know: Tallen Edwards
Nov 10, 2025 | Softball
Senior Tallen Edwards joined the Aggies ahead of the 2026 season. The infielder transferred from Oklahoma State, becoming the program's first NFCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner and earning a spot on the 2025 All-Big 12 Defensive Team. She tallied three home runs, 30 runs and 18 RBIs last season.
Get to know one of the newest Aggies below.
What drew you to A&M, and what excites you the most about joining the softball program?
"What drew me to A&M was the people. That was the main thing I was looking for going into my senior year. I don't care about the materialistic things—I want to have fun and be around people who won't make it easy. I told Coach Ford I don't want it to be easy. If I get yelled at, cool. If you want to punish me, cool. I want to become the best version of myself on and off the field. I specifically chose these coaches because I knew they'd help me be the best person and player I could be."
How has the adjustment to the culture and style of play here at A&M compared to Oklahoma State?
"A&M is different because of the resources and the things we have outside the sport to make sure our mental and physical game is on point. Here, everyone wants more. There's a high standard. Even just looking around campus, students pick up trash, which speaks volumes about the standard of being an Aggie."
What goals do you have for yourself and the team this year?
"For the team, the biggest goal is to stay unified. When you have a bunch of girls together, sometimes it's hard to keep everyone as one. There will be disagreements, but the goal is to keep that to a minimum. I want to be a mediator and help everyone understand that it doesn't belong on the field. Personally, I want to have confidence at all times. In the past, I haven't always been confident. I want to walk into a game with A&M on my chest and be proud, fighting as hard as I can."
Do you see yourself stepping into a leadership position with your new team?
"Absolutely. It's trickier than people think. It's tricky just figuring out the best route to class, so navigating a new team is the same way. I'm already so comfortable with the girls—a couple of them call me Mom or Grandma. It's hard, but the team makes it easy to keep inching forward and growing into that role of being a good teammate and having each other's backs."
What's it like to transition with someone you already know, like Micaela Wark?
"Micaela and I agreed that if we didn't have each other, we'd be lost. Finding a new home and figuring out all the details is hard, but when you have two brains working together, it's so much easier. The transition has been smooth with her by my side."
How do you fit into the team? What do you bring to the infield, and how do you hope to make an impact this season?
"Coming into a brand-new infield with seasoned players isn't easy, but the past few practices have been amazing. The girls are great, and I bring attention to detail to the infield. It goes a long way, whether it's someone hitting perfectly or missing a read on a play. I want to give that extra push behind them. I want to make an impact on the people around me and be remembered as a great teammate more than the type of player I was. I send random texts asking how the girls are doing or wishing them a good day. Little things like that go a long way."
What has been your favorite thing about Aggieland so far?
"The traditions. People call it a cult, and I didn't understand why until I went to my first Midnight Yell. I was amazed. It's something you won't understand until you're part of it. I'm still learning the yells, but being a senior and finding out about it is really exciting—especially since my gun goes up."
Do you have any pregame rituals or routines you've kept since you started playing softball?
"Energy drink, always. I don't care if it's a 7 p.m. game, I'm getting an energy drink in my body. I also pray before every game and tape both of my wrists. If I don't, I feel naked without it."
Who would you say is the funniest on the team?
"Maddie Sauni. She's a freshman with a personality."
Outside of softball, what's something you're passionate about or excited to explore in Aggieland?
"I'm excited to explore different sporting events. At my past school, I only went to football games and didn't branch out. I'm excited to catch Aggie baseball, football, soccer or any type of game."
How did your teammates and coaches support you through your journey?
"I didn't get much support at my last school. Nothing was really talked about. Adversity still continued in college, which was crazy. At A&M, they've been nothing short of amazing. They've talked to me, and we got blue ribbon shirts for practice and wore them for a fall game this year. Coach Ford told me when I first came to campus that she had coached a kid at Arizona State who had alopecia, so she was fully aware of it. I knew immediately everyone here was going to have my back, and they have."
September was Alopecia Awareness Month. How has your journey with alopecia shaped you as a person and an athlete?
"It shaped me in such an incredible way. I feel like without it, I wouldn't be as strong as I am. Through all the trials and tribulations, I've had with it, especially in my younger years dealing with bullying, it made me such a strong person. I've faced adversity in a whole different way."
What message do you hope to share with younger athletes or fans who may be experiencing alopecia themselves?
"The biggest message I have is that you can do anything you want with it. It limits you to absolutely nothing. There were people who made fun of me, saying I wouldn't look good on TV or trying to get in my head. My message is to keep pushing through it and find a close-knit group of people who will have your back and support you."
Do you see the platform of being a Division I athlete as an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage confidence in others with alopecia?
"Of course. A lot of people use their platforms in different ways, but mine is specifically for alopecia. I've reached out to so many kids, and many have reached out to me. We've come together—I have a big group chat with people who have alopecia, ranging from college athletes to 11-year-olds. It's nice to have that support system. Social media plays a huge part in connecting people and raising awareness. I have younger kids text me about their struggles at school or with confidence. I tell them that people are always going to have something to say, but you can turn that into fuel. Take it out on the field or into the classroom to be better because they think you can't."
Get to know one of the newest Aggies below.
What drew you to A&M, and what excites you the most about joining the softball program?
"What drew me to A&M was the people. That was the main thing I was looking for going into my senior year. I don't care about the materialistic things—I want to have fun and be around people who won't make it easy. I told Coach Ford I don't want it to be easy. If I get yelled at, cool. If you want to punish me, cool. I want to become the best version of myself on and off the field. I specifically chose these coaches because I knew they'd help me be the best person and player I could be."
How has the adjustment to the culture and style of play here at A&M compared to Oklahoma State?
"A&M is different because of the resources and the things we have outside the sport to make sure our mental and physical game is on point. Here, everyone wants more. There's a high standard. Even just looking around campus, students pick up trash, which speaks volumes about the standard of being an Aggie."
What goals do you have for yourself and the team this year?
"For the team, the biggest goal is to stay unified. When you have a bunch of girls together, sometimes it's hard to keep everyone as one. There will be disagreements, but the goal is to keep that to a minimum. I want to be a mediator and help everyone understand that it doesn't belong on the field. Personally, I want to have confidence at all times. In the past, I haven't always been confident. I want to walk into a game with A&M on my chest and be proud, fighting as hard as I can."
Do you see yourself stepping into a leadership position with your new team?
"Absolutely. It's trickier than people think. It's tricky just figuring out the best route to class, so navigating a new team is the same way. I'm already so comfortable with the girls—a couple of them call me Mom or Grandma. It's hard, but the team makes it easy to keep inching forward and growing into that role of being a good teammate and having each other's backs."
What's it like to transition with someone you already know, like Micaela Wark?
"Micaela and I agreed that if we didn't have each other, we'd be lost. Finding a new home and figuring out all the details is hard, but when you have two brains working together, it's so much easier. The transition has been smooth with her by my side."
How do you fit into the team? What do you bring to the infield, and how do you hope to make an impact this season?
"Coming into a brand-new infield with seasoned players isn't easy, but the past few practices have been amazing. The girls are great, and I bring attention to detail to the infield. It goes a long way, whether it's someone hitting perfectly or missing a read on a play. I want to give that extra push behind them. I want to make an impact on the people around me and be remembered as a great teammate more than the type of player I was. I send random texts asking how the girls are doing or wishing them a good day. Little things like that go a long way."
What has been your favorite thing about Aggieland so far?
"The traditions. People call it a cult, and I didn't understand why until I went to my first Midnight Yell. I was amazed. It's something you won't understand until you're part of it. I'm still learning the yells, but being a senior and finding out about it is really exciting—especially since my gun goes up."
Do you have any pregame rituals or routines you've kept since you started playing softball?
"Energy drink, always. I don't care if it's a 7 p.m. game, I'm getting an energy drink in my body. I also pray before every game and tape both of my wrists. If I don't, I feel naked without it."
Who would you say is the funniest on the team?
"Maddie Sauni. She's a freshman with a personality."
Outside of softball, what's something you're passionate about or excited to explore in Aggieland?
"I'm excited to explore different sporting events. At my past school, I only went to football games and didn't branch out. I'm excited to catch Aggie baseball, football, soccer or any type of game."
How did your teammates and coaches support you through your journey?
"I didn't get much support at my last school. Nothing was really talked about. Adversity still continued in college, which was crazy. At A&M, they've been nothing short of amazing. They've talked to me, and we got blue ribbon shirts for practice and wore them for a fall game this year. Coach Ford told me when I first came to campus that she had coached a kid at Arizona State who had alopecia, so she was fully aware of it. I knew immediately everyone here was going to have my back, and they have."
September was Alopecia Awareness Month. How has your journey with alopecia shaped you as a person and an athlete?
"It shaped me in such an incredible way. I feel like without it, I wouldn't be as strong as I am. Through all the trials and tribulations, I've had with it, especially in my younger years dealing with bullying, it made me such a strong person. I've faced adversity in a whole different way."
What message do you hope to share with younger athletes or fans who may be experiencing alopecia themselves?
"The biggest message I have is that you can do anything you want with it. It limits you to absolutely nothing. There were people who made fun of me, saying I wouldn't look good on TV or trying to get in my head. My message is to keep pushing through it and find a close-knit group of people who will have your back and support you."
Do you see the platform of being a Division I athlete as an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage confidence in others with alopecia?
"Of course. A lot of people use their platforms in different ways, but mine is specifically for alopecia. I've reached out to so many kids, and many have reached out to me. We've come together—I have a big group chat with people who have alopecia, ranging from college athletes to 11-year-olds. It's nice to have that support system. Social media plays a huge part in connecting people and raising awareness. I have younger kids text me about their struggles at school or with confidence. I tell them that people are always going to have something to say, but you can turn that into fuel. Take it out on the field or into the classroom to be better because they think you can't."
Players Mentioned
Fall Ball Press Conference: Trisha Ford
Monday, October 06
Liberty Postgame: Texas A&M
Sunday, May 18
NCAA Regional Day 3: Liberty Postgame
Sunday, May 18
Highlights: Texas A&M 5, Liberty 6
Sunday, May 18
