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.

• The top 100m sprinter is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers No. 5 pick, Devin White. White ran 10.76. He was 5th in the 100m dash at the 2013 LHSAA Outdoor State Track and Field Classes 1A-2A and sixth in the 100m dash at the 2015 LHSAA State Outdoor Championships.
• The top 200m sprinter is the New York Giants No. 30 pick, Deandre Baker. Baker ran a wind-legal 21.74 at the 2015 GMAC Championship. In 2014 he finished 8th at the 200m at the FHSAA Outdoor State Finals running 22.27.