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The wait is over for Jax Glendenning.
On Wednesday, Glendenning, the reigning Ozark Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a Class 5 All-State selection at running back, announced his commitment to Harding University.
The to-be senior rushed for 1,533 yards and 20 touchdowns for the ‘Jackets last fall in the flexbone offense, helping lead LHS to another Ozark Conference Championship.
Glendenning will be headed to play for the Bison, who are no strangers to championships after winning the Division II title this past year and are also known for running the flexbone offense.
”It was a pretty clear decision to commit to Harding,” Glendenning said. “I play football for three reasons: my family, my community, and above all those, my lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s a pretty clear sign for someone like me when you walk into a multi-million dollar facility, and the first words you see in massive print is HONOR GOD.”
Harding offered Glendenning on April 30 after a visit to Searcy, Ark., and chose them over several others, including Pittsburg State and Ivy League schools in Harvard, Cornell, Yale, Princeton, and Penn.
“I actually went down to Harding the summer after my freshman year, and at that time, Coach Brey was their running back coach; he was the one that started the process at my first camp when he told me that they were going to recruit me,” he said. “I didn’t hear anything from them until this year when I got a text from Coach Chism asking me to come down on a visit. The day after that, I got a call from head coach Paul Simmons, and they offered me.”
Although Glendenning earned the spotlight, he took time to thank those who have helped him along the way.
“It’s very hard for me to narrow down and talk about everyone who has helped me along my football journey,” he stated. “I guess it would have to start with my first football coach, my mom, who absolutely never cut me any slack and had my mighty might team running sprints during our practices. She and my father are the epitome of hard work and have shaped me into the man I am today. From there, I can’t forget my junior high football coach, coach Starnes and Rhoades, who helped me really kick off my career, and then obviously coach (Will) Christian, (Kurtis) Allen, and (Brian) Sommerer, who took a chance on me as just a small freshman.
“Lastly, I would just truly have to say my whole family, from the patriarch and matriarch (Jack and Jane Glendenning) to my siblings, Ty, Jenna, Quincey, and Dee.”
Lebanon fans can see Glendenning and the ‘Jackets in action in their season opener as they host Webb City at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 30.
