Fall practice is heating up as Auburn softball prepares to return to the field for the 2021 season. Head coach Mickey Dean will lead a squad of 29 student-athletes onto the field to compete, nine of which will be putting on the Auburn uniform for the first time. As the weeks leading up to first pitch count down, we'll introduce the newest Tigers to join the program. First up, Makayla Packer, coming to Auburn straight from Chattanooga, Tenn.
Q: Why did you choose to play softball at Auburn?
Packer: I chose to play softball here at Auburn because during my travel ball season they showed a lot of interest in me by coming to all of my tournaments and watching every game I played. Then, when I came for my visit, being in the Auburn atmosphere and with the team and coaches, we all just clicked together like a big family. It felt like home for me.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?
Packer: The only pregame ritual I have is to say a prayer before I step out on the field, asking God to give me the strength and ability to show my talents by helping my team and to keep us all safe.
Q: What has been the highlight of your softball career so far?
Packer: It would probably be winning the Tennessee State Championship through the loser's bracket my freshman year, while I was also running in the state track meet the same weekend. Becoming a state champion in both sports over the same weekend was memorable for sure.
Q: What is one word you'd use to describe yourself on the field and one word you'd use to describe yourself off the field?
Packer: A beast on the field and a diva off the field.
Q: If you could ask your pets three questions, what would they be and why?
Packer: I have three dogs -- two boys and one girl -- named Chopper, Kakes and Ice. I would ask them: Does the dog food we feed y'all actually taste good? Because they tear that food up every time we feed them. Did y'all miss me when I left for college? And lastly, do y'all get scared when it gets dark outside?
Q: What is an interesting fact about yourself the Auburn Family should know?
Packer: An interesting fact about me is that I'm a nine-time state champion: five-time state champion in track, three-time state champion in softball and one-time state champion in volleyball.
Q: If you could trade places with one of your coaches for a game, which one would it be and why?
Packer: If I could trade places with a coach for a game, it would most likely be with Coach Dean. I would love for a girl to get a nice hit and swing my arm around, sending her around the bases like he does.
Q: How would you describe your perfect pizza?
Packer: My perfect pizza would be a three-meat pizza from Papa John's. It has sausage, pepperoni and ham. It is my favorite.
Q: What uniform combo are you most excited to wear next season?
Packer: Wearing all white because the combinations looks so nice and clean together. The uniforms starts out nice and icy white, but I doubt it'll still look nice once the game is over.
Q: How would your ten-year-old self react to the news that you would one day be playing collegiate softball?
Packer: My ten-year old self would be surprised and say, "I finally did it." because as I was growing up in the softball world my dream was to play in the SEC. It didn't matter where. I just wanted to go compete in the SEC. Look at me now at Auburn University at a top SEC school playing the game I love.
Q: What makes Auburn softball special?
Packer: Auburn softball is special to me because it's a program that has taken me under its wing and is willing to give me a shot to play softball at the next level.