Pulaski Academy quarterback Layne Hatcher has signed his national letter of intent to play for Arkansas State University.
At the ceremony at the Little Rock high school on Wednesday, Hatcher thanked his family, football and wrestling coaches and fellow team members.
“There’s nothing I did that wasn’t because of you guys. There were a lot of bad throws, a lot of bad plays you guys bailed me out over,” Hatcher said, addressing the other players.
Head football coach Kevin Kelley praised Hatcher’s determination.
“The kid basically has a 13-hour day job,” he said.
Kelley said he’s known Hatcher since he was a child and is excited to see him play in-state.
“It makes it a little more special,” he said.
Hatcher is the state’s all-time leader in passing yards (15,483) and touchdowns (185). He passed for 5,779 yards with 66 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2017, as he led the Bruins to their fourth consecutive Class 5A state championship. In addition to his football career, Hatcher is a three-time state champion in wrestling.
He first announced his commitment to ASU via Twitter on Sunday night.
Four other players were also added to the school's 2018 football signing class Tuesday afternoon. ASU now has 28 incoming football players.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Below is the entire list of the Red Wolves recruiting class of 2018:
2018 ARKANSAS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING CLASS (Tuesday signees in bold)
Tukua Ahoia: 6-0, 310, So., DL, Mountain View, Calif. (College of San Mateo)*
Triston Anderson: 6-0, 167, Fr., CB, Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall)
Derrick Bean: 6-2, 195, Fr., LB, Pinson, Ala. (Clay-Chalkville)
Antonio Fletcher: 6-0, 183, Fr., S, Lithonia, Ga. (Martin Luther King)
Jax Gasaway: 6-7, 265, Fr., OL, Star City, Ark. (Star City)
Cody Grace: 6-2, 223, Jr.-R, P, Perth, Western Australia (Warwick Senior)***
Dahu Green: 6-5, 193, Jr.-R, WR, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Oklahoma)**
Detravion Green: 6-0, 175, Fr., S, Ashdown, Ark. (Ashdown)
Terry Hampton: 6-0, 254, Fr., DL, El Dorado, Ark. (El Dorado)
Jaden Harris: 6-2, 190, Fr., DB, Monroe, La. (Ouachita Parish)
Layne Hatcher: 6-1, 204, Fr., QB, Little Rock, Ark. (Pulaski Academy)
Christian Howard: 6-2, 281, Sr.-R, DL, Indianapolis, Ind. (Independence (Kan.) CC)***
Christian Hoz: 6-5, 308, Fr., OL, Covington, La. (Archbishop Hannan)
Noel Iwuchukwu: 6-2, 220, Jr., DE, Los Angeles, Calif. (College of the Canyons (Calif.)
Jevon Jones: 6-0, 160, Fr., CB, Allen, Texas (Allen)
Donovan Marshall: 5-11, 179, Fr., RB, St. Louis, Mo.(Lutheran North)
Demari Medley: 5-10, 175, So., S, Gainesville, Fla. (Gainesville)***
Kirk Merritt: 5-11, 205, Jr., WR, Destrehan, La. (East Mississippi Community College)*
Hunter Moreton: 6-1, 293, So., DL, Fort Smith, Ark. (Southside)***
Marcel Murray: 5-10, 200, Fr., RB, Hiram, Ga. (Hiram)
Bubba Ogbebor: 6-0, 189, So.-R, WR, Frisco, Texas (Boise State)**
Nathan Page: 6-0, 175, Fr., CB, Roland, Ark. (Robinson)
Ross Painter: 6-4, 225, Jr., TE, Hernando, Miss. (Northeast Mississippi Community College)*
Kevin Powers: 6-0, 213, Jr.-R, LB, Sacramento, Calif. (College of San Mateo (Calif.))***
Ryan Taylor: 6-2, 311, Fr., DL, Loganville, Ga. (Grayson)
Kevin Thurmon: 6-3, 288, Jr.-R, DL, Chicago, Ill. (Ball State)**
Thomas Toki: 6-1, 290, So., DL, Mountain View, Calif. (College of San Mateo (Calif.))
Reed Tyler: 6-3, 236, Fr., TE, Brandon, Miss. (Brandon)*
*midyear signee available for spring camp
**already enrolled and sat out 2017 season due to NCAA transferring rules
***enrolled fall 2017 and participated in the 2017 season, but counted toward the 2018 signing class
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Brooks Kubena contributed to this story.