BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Arkansas will have a pair of representatives – Ryan Jackson (softball) and Josh Shearer (track and field) – among the 28 current and former Southeastern Conference student-athletes who will participate in in the SEC Career Tour from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in Atlanta.
This marks the fifth year the Conference has invited student-athletes from each of its institutions to participate in the career tour leading up to the SEC Football Championship Game. The event was held virtually in 2020.
Jackson played in 31 games last season for Arkansas and led the team in triples, helping the team claim its first SEC title and host its first NCAA Tournament Super Regional at Bogle Park. The Chino Hills, Calif. product made a diving catch in left field at South Carolina, earning the No. 8 spot on Sports Center’s Top 10 Plays. In her career, Jackson garnered SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition after transferring from Bethune-Cookman.
Shearer recently completed the 2021 cross country season as a member of the SEC championship team, as Arkansas defended it’s 2020 title, and fourth-place team in the NCAA Championships. Competing in three SEC cross country meets, Shearer has improved by 20 places each season after finishing 76th as a freshman in 2019, then 56th in 2020 and 35th in 2021. Last spring, he established career best times of 3:53.17 in the 1,500m and 14:43.97 in the 5,000m. Shearer, of The Woodlands, Texas, received SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition last season.
The goal of the career tour is to provide exposure for SEC student-athletes who are seeking career opportunities in various fields. The program allows student-athlete to connect with human resource recruiters and submit resumes for entry-level jobs, internships and gain valuable knowledge of professional branding.
The group is scheduled to visit the headquarters and meet with executives at several corporations and organizations in the Atlanta area including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, The Home Depot, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves and Delta Airlines.
The 28 student-athletes will begin the three-day event at the site of the SEC Championship Game where they will meet with Mercedes-Benz Stadium staff and take a tour of the facility. Also included on the agenda during the week is a visit with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and a presentation by Randy Hain of Serviam Partners. The group will have the opportunity to learn insights into building effective business relationships and explore best practices for job seekers.
2021 SEC Career Tour Participants
| Owen Diodati | Alabama | Baseball |
| Luisa Blanco | Alabama | Gymnastics |
| Josh Shearer | Arkansas | Men’s Track & Field |
| Ryan Jackson | Arkansas | Softball |
| Diego Chavarria | Auburn | Men’s Tennis |
| Ellie Becker | Auburn | Equestrian |
| Megan Skaggs | Florida | Gymnastics |
| Denzel Villaman | Florida | Men’s Track & Field |
| D’Andre Walker | Georgia | Football |
| Courtney Harnish | Georgia | Women’s Swimming & Diving |
| Jacob Smith | Kentucky | Men’s Track & Field |
| Kelly Rodriguez | Kentucky | Women’s Swimming & Diving |
| Ali Newland | LSU | Softball |
| Akiya Thymes | LSU | Softball |
| Ahmad Young Jr. | Ole Miss | Men’s Track & Field |
| Maddi Banks | Ole Miss | Softball |
| Jaylon Reed | Mississippi State | Football |
| Caroline Standley | Mississippi State | Women’s Track & Field |
| Joshua Day | Missouri | Baseball |
| Keagan Dunn | Missouri | Women’s Golf |
| David Olds | South Carolina | Men’s Track & Field |
| Anna Holman | South Carolina | Volleyball |
| Kate Schildmeyer | Tennessee | Rowing |
| Jordan West | Tennessee | Men’s Track & Field |
| Bart Clement | Texas A&M | Football |
| Ali Russell | Texas A&M | Soccer |
| Elijah McAllister | Vanderbilt | Football |
| Emily Brooks | Vanderbilt | Lacrosse |