Before tearing up the SEC as a wide receiver for Auburn, Anthony Schwartz blazed on the track for American Heritage (Fl.)
The future of professional football will take center stage tonight through May 1 as teams add a fresh crop of talent through the 2021 National Football League Draft. Cleveland will host the 86th annual meeting of franchises to select newly eligible players for the upcoming season.
The Draft highlight packages for each player will showcase the level of athleticism it takes to compete at the highest level of football. For many of the top prospects, those skills were honed on high school tracks and fields across America.
As specialization continues to become more prevalent in sports, many collegiate coaches with proven records of sending athletes to the pros still prefer recruiting multi-sport high school athletes to their programs. The speed, power, and competitive mindset that track athletes bring to the gridiron is reflected in the cream of the crop. That's why coaches like Alabama's Nick Saban hit track meets on the recruiting trail, and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M recruit guys like Devon Achane, who was MVP of the Aggies Orange Bowl win in January.
| Scouts Inc Ranking Group | Total Athletes | Total Track & Field Athletes | Percentage |
| Overall | 358 | 197 | 55.03% |
| Quarterback | 15 | 2 | 13.33% |
| Running Back | 23 | 20 | 86.96% |
| Fullback | 5 | 3 | 60.00% |
| Wide Receiver | 54 | 40 | 74.07% |
| Tight End | 19 | 13 | 68.42% |
| Offensive Tackle | 25 | 13 | 52.00% |
| Guard | 24 | 5 | 20.83% |
| Center | 11 | 4 | 36.36% |
| Defensive End | 32 | 18 | 56.25% |
| Defensive Tackle | 20 | 5 | 25.00% |
| Inside Linebacker | 24 | 11 | 45.83% |
| Outside Linebacker | 14 | 9 | 64.29% |
| Cornerback | 44 | 30 | 68.18% |
| Safety | 29 | 22 | 75.86% |
| Kickers and Punters | 12 | 2 | 16.67% |
| Long Snappers | 7 | 0 | 0.00% |