Jordan Anthony might be smaller than most SEC receivers but thinks he can add weight without hurting his world-class speed. (USA Track & Field Photo)
Freshman receiver Jordan Anthony is going to bring explosive speed to the University of Kentucky football team.
He just won the under-20 200-meter dash title in 20.34 seconds at the USA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., to advance to the U20 World Championships in Cali, Colombia, in August.
However, is there any chance he could opt to strictly be a world-class sprinter and give up football?
His high school track coach in Tylertown, Miss., was Myron Sartin. He helped Anthony earn the title of the fastest high school sprinter in the U.S. and Sartin believes Anthony is going to do just fine in both football and track at Kentucky.
“Every time something went wrong some people would tell him just to stick to one (sport). He definitely wants to play football. Personally I think the kid can do both at a high level,” Sartin said. “If he can just handle the mental part of both sports and the physical schedule of football and going back and forth between sports.”
“The track coaches won’t run him to death and put him in every meet. They will hold him out of smaller meets to preserve his body. Personally, I believe he has a really bright future in both sports.”
Anthony got to Lexington in May and has already adjusted to his dual-sport schedule. He has football workouts from 6-8 a.m., classes from 10 to noon, recovery time and lunch, track workouts from 3-4 p.m. and then recovery time.
“Then I start over the next day,” Anthony said. “But I have been doing that since high school. I am used to it. I have missed playing football. The 6 a.m. workouts have excited me. I want to do those workouts. I am ecstatic to even play and practice.”
To play receiver in the Southeastern Conference, Anthony likely needs to put on weight. He weighs around 160 pounds now and Sartin knows a “little muscle” wouldn’t hurt Anthony.
“He told me they were not going to try and bulk him up (at UK),” Sartin said. “Maybe add 3-4 pounds of muscle because he is on the smaller side of most SEC receivers. Some of the track managers that called us about running had never seen him in person and when they did they would say, ‘That dude is going to play SEC football.’”
“But (Heisman Trophy winner) DeVonta Smith of Alabama was not a lot bigger than Jordan. Jordan is learning how to take hits and how to fall, small details that can keep him from getting bruised.”
Anthony admits maybe adding 10 pounds would help him and also that he eventually thinks he can get to 180 pounds and maintain his current speed.
“Adding some weight and strength might even help me with track. Strength-wise it could help me in the 200 coming off the curve and with my top-end speed. The best is still to come,” Anthony said.
Even though he’ll be in Columbia with USA Track in August, Anthony believes he can “play early” at UK. He’s already been working on his relationship with quarterback Will Levis.
“Catching the ball from him is like having a torpedo coming at you and you have got to stop it. He doesn’t know that he has that much strength. When he throws, it is out there and on you,” Anthony said. “
“He is a cool guy. You want Will on your team and leading your team. He is well respected. He wants greatness out of everybody. He has a great work ethic. He is just a phenomenal guy.”
Apparently fans in Tylertown viewed Anthony the same way.
“My family and myself attend every football game of his senior year and he was a joy to watch,” said Tylertown fan Sherry Holmes. “My Autistic daughter loved to see him play.”
“If he got one step ahead of the opposing team that was a wrap. He is such a humble young man on and off the field.”
