Arkansas 2018 QB Layne Hatcher Updates Elite 11 Chicago and Samford Visit

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The 2017 off-season, much like the 2016 regular season, is a blur of activity for those on the outside trying to keep up with Layne Hatcher. The Pulaski Academy standout has blistered opposing Arkansas defenses over the past two seasons and has kept up the frenetic pace this spring visiting Samford University over the weekend and taking part in the Elite 11 camp in Chicago among all of his other athletic endeavors.

Hatcher has become a regular fixture in Arkansas Saturday morning sport column reads with each story highlighting his meteoric rise from an unknown underclassman to a prolific high school pocket passer. The stats started piling up quickly in 2015 with 4,667 yards passing on 309-of-469 pass attempts with 55 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. The 6-1, 196 pound, talent helped carry the Bruins to a 14-0 record as a sophomore capturing a 5A state title.

With heavy expectations to duplicate the same results, Hatcher strolled out onto the field posting near identical numbers with near identical results. The Bruins went 13-1 in 2016 adding another trophy to the collection with Hatcher hitting 278-of-430 pass attempts for 4,656 yards with 58 touchdowns tossed. As one could imagine, schools throughout the region are showing interest in Hatcher with Oklahoma State, Purdue, Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss, UCLA, Arkansas State, and Alabama among the many.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hatcher getting an update on his off-season workouts, his Elite 11 camp performance in Chicago, and his unofficial visit to Samford in Alabama.

Interview

Layne, let’s start out with your off-season workouts. Last time we spoke you said you were receiving QB instruction from Coach Kevin Kelly (high school coach), Clint Stoener (Razorbacks), and Tyler Wilson (Razorbacks). How are the workouts going?

“The workouts are going really well. I have a big focus on pocket movement and my drops. I am fine-tuning that. With my arm mechanics, it is all good there. I’m mainly working on my lower half and my feet leaving the upper body alone. I’m just letting the arm keep doing what it is doing.”

How are your 7v7 workouts with your high school team going?

“It is going good. We are just getting ready for the coaches that are coming to see me throw this spring. I’m trying to stay solid through baseball season with my arm motion and stay consistent at a high level.”

You attended the Elite 11 camp in Chicago this weekend, how did that go?

“I thought it went really well. I thought I threw well. I thought I was a Top 5 guy. There were some 6-5 guys there that can throw it 100 yards. I’m an accuracy guy with a good arm but I’m not that type of quarterback.”

What other camps do you have coming up?

“I’m about to hit up the Rivals Speed camp.”

Last time we spoke you had interest from schools like Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana Tech, UCLA, Ole Miss, Arkansas State, Purdue, and Alabama. Do you have any new interest?

“Louisiana-Lafayette, I have talked to Georgia a little bit, and Samford. I was at Samford’s Junior Day on Saturday.”

Earlier you mentioned getting ready for schools that are supposed to come see you throw this spring. Which schools might come to Little Rock to see you throw?

“I think there will be at least 15 schools, maybe up to 20. Samford, Arkansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Penn – all the Ivy Leagues, Columbia, Louisiana-Monroe, SMU, Purdue, and Cincinnati. Georgia is considering coming and I have been talking to Mississippi State some. They might come too.”

You took a visit to Samford on Saturday, how did that go?

“It was great. Coach (Chris) Hatcher (head coach) said they really liked me. I really like them. My dad likes the smaller colleges like that. I am interested to get to know them better.”

What all did you do during your visit to Samford?

“We toured the campus, met the coaches, saw the facilities, and tried on the uniform. It was nice to see the campus with all the students there. Their campus was one of the prettiest campuses I have ever been to so far.”

Which other schools have you visited this spring?

“Last year I visited Kentucky and Kansas. This spring I have been to Samford, Louisiana Tech, and Purdue.”

How did the Purdue visit go?

“It was good. I had fun there. I enjoyed it. It was nice. I got to talk to the coaches. It was cool and fun.”

Did the Purdue coaches tell you what they are looking for from you during the recruiting process?

“Not really. They said they liked me and I am one of their top guys.”

How did your visit to Louisiana Tech go?

“That was great. I loved Coach (Tim) Rattay (quarterbacks coach). Their coaching staff has been the most involved so far. Coach Rattay, loved him and what they do down there.”

Which visits do you have coming up?

“I maybe going to Dartmouth next weekend. After that, I really don’t have any visits planned.”

What has you excited about visiting Dartmouth?

“I love that Dartmouth is an Ivy League school. Getting a degree from there will set me up for life after football. Some of my teammates have offers to Dartmouth. If I go there I could play with some guys that I already know.”

You mentioned baseball earlier, how is the season going?

“It is going really well. I’m our No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher and I am batting cleanup.”

What is your record on the year?

“My pitching record is 3-1. Our team record is 10-9.”

Do you know your stat line on the mound or in the box?

“I don’t know my pitching stats. I think I am hitting around .305 for the season.”

You’re wrestling too, right?

“I am. I weighed in at the Elite 11 at 196. That was because I wrestled at that weight. I wanted to come in weighing more.”

How is wrestling going for you?

“Great. I have started training for the summer when we really start doing some high level stuff.”

Layne, thanks for your time today. Good luck with all that you have going on.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Hatcher family; Layne Hatcher at Samford with teammate Trajen Johnson.

Photo credit: Nike/Elite 11; Layne Hatcher at the Chicago Nike Opening Regional (2017).