When the recruiting process didn’t go the way he’d anticipated, Blue Springs senior Jordan Chrisman took matters into his own hands.
“The recruiting was a lot slower than I’d hoped,” said Chrisman, the Wildcats Defensive Player of the Year, the unanimous Suburban Big Seven Defensive Player of the Year and the Simone Award committee’s Buck Buchanan Award winner, “so I made up a highlight reel and sent it to a bunch of schools.”
Within days, the Chrisman family phone was ringing off the hook.
One call especially intrigued the 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman.
“I got a call from the defensive coordinator at the University of Central Arkansas,” Chrisman said. “I had always dreamed of going to the University of Arkansas, because my mom’s family is from Arkansas, and I went down there for a camp and they showed some interest, but nothing really came of it.
“But the coaches at Central Arkansas really seemed interested in me. When I talked to their defensive coordinator, we really hit it off. They put an offer on the table and now, my dream is coming true – I made a verbal commitment and I’m going to get to play college football.
“That was always a dream – to have football help pay for my education. And I get to do it at a great Division I school, and it’s just 25 minutes from my grandpa’s house. I think he’s more excited than I am.”
Chrisman’s grandfather, Milton Owens, just lives a stone’s throw from Conway, Ark., the home of UCA.
“He lives in North Little Rock,” Chrisman explained. “He already went out and bought a UCA hoodie and T-shirts. I know he’ll be at every game. It’s going to be great to have family down there.”
He’ll also be joined by one of his best friends, Blue Springs South defensive back/wide receiver Logan Moon, who will play baseball at UCA.
“It’s the perfect situation for me,” said Chrisman, who is coaching a youth basketball team with Moon. “Logan will be there, my grandpa is close and I love everything about the school. They want me, and I want to go there. I can’t wait.”
When asked about his Wildcat career, Chrisman just shook his head and smiled.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” he said. “It’s been great, just about perfect. If we had won state this year, it would have been perfect. But we came close and had some exciting games. There are a lot of memories – memories I’ll never forget.”
Chrisman anchored a defense that allowed fewer than 10 points a game during a memorable 12-2 campaign that produced some of the most lopsided, and dramatic wins, in Blue Springs history.
“When I think back to last year,” said Chrisman, an all-state standout who had a career-high five sacks in a win against Liberty, “I think about all the great memories. I was talking with Keeston (Terry, a three-time all-state wide receiver) last night and we got pretty emotional.
“There were great games, and great victories. But for me, I’ll remember my teammates and friends and our great coaches. And I’m looking forward to building relationships like that at UCA.”
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When the recruiting process didn’t go the way he’d anticipated, Blue Springs senior Jordan Chrisman took matters into his own hands.
“The recruiting was a lot slower than I’d hoped,” said Chrisman, the Wildcats Defensive Player of the Year, the unanimous Suburban Big Seven Defensive Player of the Year and the Simone Award committee’s Buck Buchanan Award winner, “so I made up a highlight reel and sent it to a bunch of schools.”
Within days, the Chrisman family phone was ringing off the hook.
One call especially intrigued the 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman.
“I got a call from the defensive coordinator at the University of Central Arkansas,” Chrisman said. “I had always dreamed of going to the University of Arkansas, because my mom’s family is from Arkansas, and I went down there for a camp and they showed some interest, but nothing really came of it.
“But the coaches at Central Arkansas really seemed interested in me. When I talked to their defensive coordinator, we really hit it off. They put an offer on the table and now, my dream is coming true – I made a verbal commitment and I’m going to get to play college football.
“That was always a dream – to have football help pay for my education. And I get to do it at a great Division I school, and it’s just 25 minutes from my grandpa’s house. I think he’s more excited than I am.”
Chrisman’s grandfather, Milton Owens, just lives a stone’s throw from Conway, Ark., the home of UCA.
“He lives in North Little Rock,” Chrisman explained. “He already went out and bought a UCA hoodie and T-shirts. I know he’ll be at every game. It’s going to be great to have family down there.”
He’ll also be joined by one of his best friends, Blue Springs South defensive back/wide receiver Logan Moon, who will play baseball at UCA.
“It’s the perfect situation for me,” said Chrisman, who is coaching a youth basketball team with Moon. “Logan will be there, my grandpa is close and I love everything about the school. They want me, and I want to go there. I can’t wait.”
When asked about his Wildcat career, Chrisman just shook his head and smiled.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” he said. “It’s been great, just about perfect. If we had won state this year, it would have been perfect. But we came close and had some exciting games. There are a lot of memories – memories I’ll never forget.”
Chrisman anchored a defense that allowed fewer than 10 points a game during a memorable 12-2 campaign that produced some of the most lopsided, and dramatic wins, in Blue Springs history.
“When I think back to last year,” said Chrisman, an all-state standout who had a career-high five sacks in a win against Liberty, “I think about all the great memories. I was talking with Keeston (Terry, a three-time all-state wide receiver) last night and we got pretty emotional.
“There were great games, and great victories. But for me, I’ll remember my teammates and friends and our great coaches. And I’m looking forward to building relationships like that at UCA.”
