Jordan Anthony, the electrifying Arkansas Razorback, has been the talk of the track world after a sensational 2025 season. At just 20 years old, Anthony sprinted to a dominant victory in the NCAA 100m final, clocking a blistering 10.07 seconds, finished fourth in the 200m, and anchored his team to a bronze in the 4x100m relay.
But what truly sent shockwaves through the athletics community came on June 14, 2025, when the young star announced he’s going pro in track, leaving his promising football career behind.
A dual-sport athlete with serious gridiron potential, Jordan Anthony pulled in eight catches for 111 yards and a touchdown last season as a wide receiver. With the growing financial opportunities of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals in SEC football, many expected him to ride the football wave a while longer.
However, after storming to a wind-aided 9.75 in the NCAA West Regionals and sweeping the SEC 100m and 200m titles, Anthony, named SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year, felt it was time to fully embrace track.
Known for his candid takes, American coach Rob acknowledged the logic behind Anthony’s move but didn’t hide his surprise.
“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 pointed out the financial realities of today’s collegiate sports environment.
“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.
Even so, Rob understands the allure of professional track’s global stage, especially for an athlete with Jordan Anthony’s talent. Though his personal best of 9.95 seconds makes him one of the fastest college sprinters in 2025, the coach cautioned that making Team USA for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo is no guarantee.
“I fully expect to see him at the USA’s in another month or so,” Rob noted.
Jordan’s Heartfelt Goodbye Captures the Nation
Beyond the debate over sports careers and financial prospects, what resonated most was Jordan Anthony’s emotional farewell. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the NCAA champion thanked those who shaped his journey.
“Dear mom and dad, thank you for sacrificing everything for me and to Tylertown and Arkansas,” he wrote.
Anthony credited his hometown and university for instilling strength, humility, and perseverance, qualities that carried him to national titles and earned him an Adidas sponsorship deal as he steps onto the professional circuit.
“You raised me to be the man I am today,” he added.
As Jordan Anthony rockets into the world of professional track and field, the questions remain: will he thrive in a sport known for its unpredictability, or will football’s financial security forever remain the road not taken? If Coach Rob’s assessment is any indication, it’s a calculated risk, one that just might pay off.
