When 20-year-old track and field star Jordan Anthony surged from lane 9 to claim the NCAA 100-meter title in 10.07 seconds, the moment was electric, but it wasn’t the biggest shock of the week. Just hours later, Anthony announced he’s going pro in track, officially stepping away from his football career at Arkansas.
That’s right: the Razorbacks’ wide receiver and Bowerman Watch List sprinter is hanging up his football cleats for now. Fans are stunned, torn between admiration and confusion. One minute, he’s blazing through a historic SEC sweep in the 100m (9.95) and 200m (19.93), and the next, he’s trading touchdown dreams for global tracks and Nike contracts.
Let’s rewind. Jordan Anthony wasn’t just a track and field star with a hot start; he was a true two-sport phenom. He caught 8 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown last football season, while also dropping a wind-aided 9.75 (+2.1) at West Regionals, turning heads nationwide. His NCAA title win came after barely sneaking into the finals as the last time qualifier. And yet—composure. From lane 9, the young star delivered under pressure. According to YouTube analyst Anderson Emerole of The Final Leg track and field, “Wasn’t phased by it in any capacity… remained composed, remained focused and executed when it mattered the most.” Emerole applauded the poise, but raised an eyebrow when Anthony said he “hoped” to break Tyson Gay’s 9.69 American record. A little bold, considering he hasn’t legally broken 9.80 yet.
But beyond the time sheets lies the big debate: was leaving college football and its rich NIL potential a brave leap or a risky misstep? Emerole didn’t shy away from asking the hard questions: “On the surface, many people expected Jordan Anthony to remain in school and to continue playing football specifically because of the money that he would be… almost guaranteed through NIL deals… whereas in track and field… you’re not guaranteed as much money.”
Still, reports suggest Jordan Anthony may already have a shoe deal lined up with Adidas, and now it’s confirmed he’s turning professional immediately. He’s chasing passion over paychecks, betting on himself in a sport that offers global fame but not always financial security. That gamble, however, comes with steep competition. The U.S. sprint scene is cutthroat. Making the Team USA roster, especially in the 100m or 200m, is never promised, and 2026 could be a gap year if he doesn’t make the Tokyo Worlds squad, which is in September.
So, did he make the right move? The internet is split. track and field fans on message boards go back and forth: Strike while the iron’s hot! vs. He could’ve milked NIL for another year. But one thing’s clear: Jordan Anthony is all in.
Devon Allen flashbacks? Fans split over Jordan Anthony’s track bet
“This season he had a total of 8 receptions as a part of the Razorbacks football team… so he wasn’t exactly guaranteed a shot at the NFL. He made the right decision in pursuing a track career in my opinion. I think he has tremendous upside as a sprinter. If he gets with the right coach/training group, maybe he could rewrite the record books later in his prime – excited to see him compete in the future.” That one track and field fan’s take pretty much sums up what the internet’s been buzzing about. Another added, “Bro made the right decision. We lose tooooo much great guys to the NFL,” while someone else chimed in with a reality check: “Look at his body size… track is safer.”
And it’s not like he walked away with nothing to show. Jordan Anthony just became the first Arkansas sprinter since Jarrion Lawson in 2016 to win the NCAA 100m title, and he did it dramatically. Running from lane 9, he clocked a 10.07-second stunner, barely edging USC’s Max Thomas and LSU’s Jelani Watkins (both at 10.10). But the numbers tell the truth: Anthony won. Period. This win wasn’t out of nowhere either. He had already made noise at the SEC Championships, sweeping both the 100m and 200m and helping Arkansas secure the overall men’s title. But while his track résumé soared, his football stats stayed modest: 8 catches, 111 yards, 1 touchdown, and just two rushing attempts for 7 yards in 2024. After brief stints at Kentucky and Texas A&M, Anthony found his stride at Arkansas, and now, he’s sprinting straight into a professional career.
“Seems like a poor financial decision. He must not be very good at football,” one fan said bluntly. Another chimed in, “Probably depends a lot on if he’s one of those who… disappears… We really don’t know.” The doubts are rolling in almost as fast as Jordan Anthony sprinted his way to a 2025 NCAA title. “Going pro makes sense,” a third track and field fan added, “but I hope he’s not rushing it. One good NCAA run doesn’t mean you’re ready to challenge the Lyles and Tebogo.” And yet, that’s exactly the gamble the 20-year-old is taking, swapping shoulder pads for starting blocks and entering a sprinting scene stacked with Olympic-level firepower.
So far, Jordan Anthony’s track resume is strong for someone just starting out professionally. He’s currently ranked #37 in the world at 100 m and #48 in the 200 m, and is on the 2025 Bowerman Watch List as well as being named SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year. That’s impressive, but the numbers show just how far he still has to climb.
Look at the U.S. veterans. Trayvon Bromell leads 2025 globally with a 9.84. Noah Lyles, Fred Kerley, Christian Coleman, and Erriyon Knighton all boast 9.7–9.9 legal personal bests with international medals to back them. Anthony’s 9.95 won’t likely cut it at U.S. Trials unless he can find another gear fast; recent cut lines have hovered around 9.85–9.88. The 200 m? Equally brutal. Lyles (19.31), Tebogo (19.46), and Knighton (19.49) are all in another stratosphere. Anthony’s 19.93 makes him the 14th-fastest American this Olympic cycle, but U.S. Trials typically demand 19.8 low or better just to make the team.
Still, at only 20 years old, Anthony has time on his side. If he can convert that wind-aided 9.75 vibe into a legal mid-9.8, he’ll be right in the mix. For now, the gap between him and the U.S. elite is clear, but so is the potential. “Look at the former Oregon WR Devon Allen… He gave up football to pursue track even as a starter, but that injury may have cost him a medal,” one more track and field fan pointed out, voicing a fear that now hangs over Jordan Anthony’s bold transition.
Devon Allen was once a standout wide receiver at Oregon with clear NFL potential, but he chose to chase his dream on the track. A two-time Olympian and one of the fastest hurdlers in the world, Allen clocked a stunning 12.84 in 2022, making him the third-fastest man ever in the 110m hurdles. But just as his star was rising, disaster struck. An untimely injury erased his medal hopes, turning a promising sprint toward Olympic glory into a what-could-have-been.
Now, track and field fans can’t help but wonder: What if Jordan Anthony faces the same fate? He’s chosen starting blocks over scrimmage lines, betting everything on his speed, medals, and a dream that burns brighter than stadium lights. It’s a high-risk, high-reward path. Will this move become a defining triumph, or a cautionary tale whispered whenever athletes walk away from one dream to chase another? Only the clock, the trials, and those final finishing strides will tell.
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