UK receiver signee Jordan Anthony has elite speed

Mississippi senior Jordan Anthony, an elite sprinter is glad quarterback Will Levis will be back to direct the UK offense.

Kentucky football signee Jordan Anthony recently set a U.S. high school record by running the 60-meter dash in 6.7 seconds in only his second indoor meet of the season. What made that even more impressive was that Anthony, a receiver, missed half the football season with a fractured hip when his growth plate broke.

He was a four-star recruit and a top 75 receiver nationally. The Tylertown (Miss.) High School standout was already the state record holder in the 200-meter dash and the 100-meter dash in 10.23 seconds. He was the nation’s fastest high school sprinter in the 100 last track season when he won the Nike Outdoor Nationals at the University of Oregon in July in 10.21 seconds.

Anthony was already confident he could compete in the SEC but now the 5-10, 160-pound receiver is even more confident after setting the 60-meter national record.

“You can’t teach speed, so setting that record does give me even a little more confidence,” Anthony said. “I still need to get some more weight on me. I lift and eat a lot daily. I know putting weight on can help me. I have a cousin who is an Olympic trainer who is helping me get my body right. He is tough on me but I need that.”

He has a big family that is sports-oriented. His father was a football coach in California and he says he was “born to play football” and learned the game when he was very young.

“I’m just excited about what lies ahead at Kentucky and to be part of this receiver class we have. I think we can do some really special things,” Anthony said.  

One reason for his optimism is the return of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis after his stellar 2021 season.

“I hoped that he would come back and bring the leadership he has. I am very thankful he came back,” Anthony said. “We have the leader we need to lead us and show us how to just play our parts.”