Interview: 2018 Arkansas QB Layne Hatcher is on a Hot Start for Pulaski Academy

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Lucky for all living beings on the planet, true Bruins are not pack hunters instead forge solo on a given countryside looking for prey. It is unfortunate for high school football teams that there is a group of Bruins that are pack hunters scavenging the countryside for their next pigskin treat and seemingly take no mercy at the point of attack. This pack of Bruins that call Pulaski Academy High School home are off to a 2-0 start with impressive wins against out of state foes led on offense by the top Bruin – Layne Hatcher.

Pulaski Academy High School football and Arkansas high school football state championships are synonymous with one another, especially in recent years. Since 2003, the Little Rock area school has won six state titles taking home hardware in 2008, 2011, and 2014-16. On the field for the last three titles, and in the pocket as a starter for the last two, has been Hatcher. “Mr. Consistently Great” has consistently filled up the stat sheet in exciting fashion while consistently winning games, passing for 4,667 yards with 55 touchdowns in 2015 while completing 66 percent of his passes and then posted a similar stat line during his junior season with 4,656 yards and 58 scores on the board while hitting 65 percent of his pass attempts.

The Bruins rolled into the 2017 season as the preseason No. 1 team in the Natural State per MaxPreps, and for good reason, with a roster full of talent on both sides of the ball. The skillet targets Hatcher has on-hand, most quarterbacks only dream of having. Senior receivers Trajen Johnson and Brett Lynch have returned along with junior tight end/receiver Hudson Henry making the Bruins one of if not the most formidable passing attacks in Arkansas.

It is one thing to have talent to throw to, it is another to be able to get the ball out on time and accurately putting the athletes in position to make plays. Hatcher has picked up where he left off last season throwing precision passes hitting 65-of-80 pass attempts for 485 yards with 11 touchdowns against zero picks. Some teams start off the season eating cupcakes, not the Bruins. The 5A squad wants to be taken seriously regardless of school classification earning their stripes downing Page High School (Sand Springs, OK) 59-21 on the road and Ridgeway (Memphis, TN) 56-20 at home. Up next, Bossier City (LA) Parkway Panthers in Little Rock.

Schools across the country are aware of the 6-1, 196 pound, gunslinger taking a deeper look into his talents. The list of potential suitors includes Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech, Purdue, Arkansas State, SMU, Louisiana-Monroe, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Kansas State, and Wisconsin among others. Four offers are on the table from Ouachita Baptist, Murray State, Eastern Illinois, and Newbury College with a lot more expected for Mr. Consistently Great.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hatcher going over his hot start to the 2017 season with an update on his recruiting prospects.

Interview

Layne, congratulations on the great start to the 2017 season for you and the Bruins. What all has clicked well for you and the offense so far on the field?

“We’ve got four returning receivers, that is rare, and they are elite level guys. We have the best O-line I think I have ever had. They are giving me a ton of time. Guys knowing what they are doing out there has made a big difference for our offense this year.”

Between the Page and Ridgeway games, what have been the biggest challenges for you on the field?

“They were two completely different teams. Against Page, I knew I was going to have time to throw but I had to make sure I did not get into bad situations. Ridgeway was athletic. I knew there would be times to make a play here and there with my feet on a broken play. I stayed in the pocket, trusting myself and letting the system work its way out.”

How have you overcome challenges on the field becoming a better quarterback for the experience?

“I am being more vocal and taking control instead of being just one of the guys. I’m trying to be a coach on the field; not just doing my job but helping others too.”

What are you doing well so far from a mechanical standpoint in the pocket this year?

“I feel like I have been very accurate and more efficient. I’m getting the ball out quicker this year.”

What is at least one area of your game that has really taken off on the field over your play in 2016?

“Understanding the game and my calmness on the field. I am diagnosing the game, not freaking out and making a play as needed. I’m seeing things coming ahead of time and fixing it ahead of time instead of reacting to the problem and trying to fix it then.”

Are you doing anything differently this year from your play on the field to your weekly game preparation that is making a big difference in your production in-game?

“I’m watching a little more film and paying more attention to tendencies during film study. I am thinking through every position on the field to get them into the right spot. With my experience, I am able to see everything before it happens.”

The Bruins get Parkway next week at home, have you started watching film on them yet?

“We watched some film today (Sunday). We do not watch a ton of film on each team, the coaches do. The coaches show us plays in the book, then we run through it live on the practice field instead of just seeing it on a screen. On Monday in practice, a lot will take off getting ready for Parkway.”

What challenges will the Panthers bring to the field against you and the Bruins?

“They are a bunch of very good athletes. We have to be disciplined and run our plays. If we do our stuff right, block with discipline and run the routes right, we should be fine.”

Are there any games left on the schedule after the Parkway showdown you are excited to play?

“Our extreme rivals – Little Rock Christian. We have beaten them the past eight years, I think. It is still fun to play against them.”

Let’s do a quick recruiting update. Which schools are showing interest but have not offered?

“SMU, Kansas State, Wisconsin – they reached out about two weeks ago, and Arkansas State.”

Do you have any unofficial or official visits planned for this fall?

“I took an unofficial to Kansas State last week. I plan on going to SMU and Arkansas State before the season is over. I was going to go to Arkansas State this past weekend but the game was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma.”

How did your visit to Kansas State go?

“Kansas State was awesome. The atmosphere was awesome. They were playing against UCA (Central Arkansas), another school that is talking to me. I know some of the guys on UCA’s team that are from Arkansas playing in the game. That was fun to see.”

When your time comes to commit to a school, what are you looking for in that ideal fit between college and a football program?

“I am more focused on the football aspect, I think I can fit in anywhere with academics. The culture and the people at the school and within the program are important to me. I want to be around good people that are wanting to do something great in the world.”

Speaking of academics, what is your current cumulative GPA?

“3.56.”

What is your best score on the ACT or SAT?

“I scored a 26 on the ACT.”

Layne, good luck with the rest of the season and thank you for your time today.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credits: Hatcher family; No. 3 Layne Hatcher