18 First Round NFL Draft Picks Participated In HS Track


Photo: Christian Wilkins (Clemson) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

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The first round of this year's NFL Draft featured 18 athletes who were former high school track and field athletes.

No surprise. 

There's a direct correlation between both sports, with many football players leaning on track-specific work in the offseason to refine their skills. Take a look at some interesting facts below and then check out all the athletes selected in the first round who have MileSplit athlete profiles. 

Fun Facts:

  • Over half of the first round draft picks this year were former track athletes. Of those that were former track, athletes over half were throwers (10 of 18).
  • The top discus athlete is the Seattle Seahawks No. 16 pick,  L.J. Collier. Collier has a top mark of 172-3. He finished 2nd in the discus at the 2013 UIL Track and Field Championship and 9th in the shot put. 
  • The top shot put athlete is the Miami Dolphins No. 13 pick, Christian Wilkins. Wilkins has a top mark of 51-10.25.

Number of Athletes

Draft PickAthleteNFL Team

Football Position

Track Discipline

13Quinnen WilliamsNew York JetsDTThrows
25Devin White Tampa Bay BuccaneersLBSprints
38TJ HockensonDetroit Lions TEThrows/High Jump
49Ed Oliver Buffalo BillsDTThrows
510Devin BushPittsburgh SteelersLBSprints
611Jonah WilliamsCincinnati BengalsOLThrows
712Rashan GaryGreen Bay PackersLBThrows
813Christian Wilkins Miami DolphinsDTThrows
917Dexter LawrenceNew York GiantsDTThrows
1019Jeffery Simmons Tennessee TitansDTThrows
1120Noah Fant Pittsburgh SteelersTEJumps
1224Josh JacobsOakland RaidersRBJumps
1325Marquise Brown Baltimore RavensWRSprints
1426Montez SweatWashington RedskinsDEN/A
1528Jerry Tillery Los Angeles ChargersDTThrows
1629LJ CollierSeattle SeahawksDLThrows
1730Deandre Baker New York GiantsCBSprints
1832N'Keal HarryNew England PatriotsWRSprints