Jordan Anthony, the lightning-fast Arkansas Razorback, just set the track world on fire! At only 20, he absolutely dominated the 2025 NCAA 100m Championship, blazing to victory in a scorching 10.07 seconds. But that’s not all, he also snagged fourth in the 200m and helped his team clinch a bronze in the 4x100m relay. This kid is pure speed!
What makes Jordan even more incredible is that he was a dual-sport athlete, showing serious potential as a wide receiver in football. He even pulled in 8 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown last year. So, what’s got everyone talking even more than his incredible athleticism?
Well, on June 14, 2025, Jordan dropped a bombshell: he’s hanging up his college cleats and going pro in track, leaving football behind entirely. This announcement, which he shared with heartfelt thanks on Instagram, totally blindsided a lot of people. After all, he was on an absolute tear, recently running a wind-aided 9.75 at the NCAA West Regionals and sweeping the SEC 100m and 200m titles, earning him SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year! With a sweet Adidas deal already in his pocket, his track future looks incredibly bright. But is this a brilliant move, or a super risky gamble?
Enter American coach Rob, who’s not afraid to cut through the hype. “It makes sense that Jordan Anthony would get opportunities to look at the pro theme for what track and field actually is,” Rob admitted. “But I had no expectation that he was going to leave college early to sprint, and the reason why I said it is because he was a football player. Notice I say the word was now…” Rob went on to highlight the financial realities, pointing out that in the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) world, playing SEC football means serious money, “we’re living in an NIL world now where if you play football in the SEC for the world we’re living in right now, there’s money on the table” Rob added. He respects Jordan’s choice but can’t help but worry about him trading the financial security of football (and those sweet NIL deals) for the often-unpredictable paychecks of professional track. Will the pro track world truly reward Jordan’s huge leap of faith?
Rob’s perspective really shines a light on what’s at stake. Even though Jordan’s personal best of 9.95 makes him one of the fastest college sprinters of 2025, making Team USA for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo is far from a sure thing. “I fully expect to see him at the USA’s in another month or so,” Rob added, sounding hopeful but still cautious. As Jordan gears up for his professional debut, can he outrun the doubts and prove that this bold decision was absolutely the right one? Meanwhile, Jordan got emotional while bidding goodbye.
Jordan’s Emotional Message Stirs Hearts as He Goes Pro
When Jordan Anthony, the blazing-fast 2025 NCAA 100m champion, announced he was going pro in track on June 14, 2025, it wasn’t just what he said, but how he said it that really caught everyone’s eye. The Arkansas Razorback, who absolutely flew to a 10.07-second national title, poured his heart out on Instagram, giving us a peek at the person behind the speed.
He kicked off his emotional post with deep gratitude: “Dear mom and dad, thank you for sacrificing everything for me and to Tylertown and Arkansas.” But what made this message truly special?
Jordan’s Instagram post was a beautiful tribute to where he came from. “This moment of reflection and sorrow, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the communities that helped shape me,” he wrote. He specifically thanked Tylertown, Mississippi, and Arkansas for taking him in, saying, “It is in your streets, your churches, your schools, and your people that I found not just a home, but a sense of belonging.” These aren’t just words; they show a young man who’s incredibly grounded by the places and people who raised him. It makes you wonder, how exactly did these communities help shape his incredible journey?
He went on to credit these communities with instilling “strength, humility, and perseverance”, values that clearly fueled his incredible 9.95-second 100m dash and helped him earn SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year honors. “You raised me to be the man I am today,” he added, directly linking his triumphs to their unwavering support. As Jordan now rockets into the demanding world of professional track, will these core values continue to propel him toward global glory?
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