22 First Round NFL Draft Picks Ran Track In High School


As we've mentioned in our previous post, football and track and field have a close correlation.

Speed on the track almost always can help on the gridiron. Out of the 32 first round NFL draft picks, 22 participated in track and field during their high school careers. That includes the No. 1 pick of the first round, Myles Garrett (DE)

Click through the slideshow to see which of the 32 first round picks participated in track and field in high school. 

Click through the slideshow for all 32 1st round picks >

Fun Facts:

  • Every Cleveland Brown's first round pick participated in track.
  • T.J Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers) and his brother J.J Watt (Houston Texans) participated in track and field, both were Wisconsin State champions in the shot put J.J. in 2007 T.J in 2013. 
  • Marlon Humphrey was an 11-time Alabama State Champion.
  • Adoree Jackson was a two-time Pac-12 champion in the long jump and an All-American after two back-to-back finishes in the event at the NCAA Championships in 2015 and 2016.
  • Jabrill Peppers owns the New Jersey state record in the 200m after recording a time of 20.79 seconds at the Big North Championships as a junior.
  • Cornerbacks and defensive ends are tied at 5 for 1st round picks who participated in track. 

Breakdown By Position:

  • DE 5
  • RB 2
  • WR 3
  • S 2
  • CB 5
  • QB 1
  • OLB 1
  • TE 1
  • LB 2