Tharp Ends Auburn University Career, Signs Professional Contract with adidas
World record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp has announced he will forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility to pursue a professional career, signing a contract with adidas.
The Auburn University standout departs collegiate athletics as one of the most decorated hurdlers in NCAA history, having rewritten the record books in just three seasons.
Tharp’s résumé includes back-to-back NCAA titles in both the 110m hurdles (2025, 2026) and the 60m hurdles (2025, 2026).
He set the NCAA record in the 60m hurdles with a blistering 7.32 seconds and stunned the athletics world by establishing both NCAA and world records in the 110m hurdles at 12.75 seconds.
His dominance extended beyond collegiate competition, as he captured the U.S. 110m hurdles championship in 2025 and the World U20 title in 2024, before finishing sixth at the 2025 World Championships.
By signing with adidas, Tharp now transitions to the global professional stage, where his achievements at Auburn have already positioned him as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
His decision marks the end of a remarkable chapter in collegiate track and field and the beginning of a career that promises to shape the future of sprint hurdles worldwide.
