Auburn Pro Day: Schwartz turns heads with blazing 40 time

Auburn Pro Day: Schwartz turns heads with blazing 40 timeAuburn Pro Day: Schwartz turns heads with blazing 40 time

AUBURN, Ala. – In the fall of 2018, when Anthony Schwartz was just a freshman at Auburn, he tweeted at Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. 

"When we racing?" Schwartz asked. 

Hill was and still is considered one of, if not the fastest wide receiver in the NFL. He ran a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. On Thursday, Schwartz bested that time with an unofficial 40 time of 4.26 at Auburn's Pro Day. He was 0.04 off the NFL combine record 4.22, set by John Ross III in 2017. 
 


"Today, he just proved how fast he was," teammate Jamien Sherwood said. "Everybody thought he was going to run anything in the 4.2s. His first one, he was already blazing. And then just to watch him run the second one, it was like 'don't blink' type of deal."

As evidenced by his tweet at Hill as a freshman, Schwartz has never lacked in confidence. 

"I feel like I am the fastest guy in all of football, especially coming into the draft this year," Schwartz said after running a 4.26 on Thursday.  

The speedy wide receiver was among the top 12 in the SEC at his position in receptions (54), yards (636) and yards per game (63.6). He ranks 10th all-time at Auburn with 117 career receptions in his three seasons on the Plains. 

It was no surprise to see who Schwartz has been watching at the next level. 

"I've been watching a lot of Tyreek Hill, of course," he said. "Just how he's able to use his speed in and out of his breaks, how he's able to run with the ball and run his routes with his speed. It's something I've been trying to model myself after, trying to see things in his game that I can bring into my game."

Other top performers from Auburn's Pro Day included Jordyn Peters in the vertical jump (39 ½), Peters and Seth Williams in the broad jump (10-4), and K.J. Britt with 24 reps on the bench press.


There was a representative from 30 of the NFL's 32 teams in attendance at Thursday's event. 



K.J. Britt
Linebacker
Height: 6-0 ½ / Weight: 235
Vertical: 32 ½ 
Broad: 9-10
Bench: 24 reps
40-yard dash: 4.75

On his attributes/strengths you can't measure at Pro Day…
"The relationships I make with my teammates. The way I care about ball. The way I care about my teammates and everybody who is going to help my team win. Also just my competitiveness. I hate to lose anything. I feel like the way I compete is kind of scary. Those things right there are the kind of things you wouldn't see unless you really know me."

Jordyn Peters
Safety
Height: 6-0 ¾ / Weight: 202
Vertical: 39 ½ 
Broad: 10-4
Bench: 7 reps
40-yard dash: 4.7

On his Pro Day performance…
"I feel like overall I did a great job. Scouts got to see how I move around, my athleticism. I hope it shows that I'm not done. I'm still improving. I'm nowhere near being close to my top capacity. I feel like my best ball is still ahead of me. I want to be known as a versatile player. If I can move from position to position, I have more value as a player, so I've always prided myself on trying to learn as many positions as I can so I can be ready."

Anthony Schwartz
Wide receiver
Height: 6-0 / Weight: 186
Vertical: 32
Broad: 10-3
Bench: N/A
40-yard dash: 4.26

On expectations for Pro Day…
"My expectations were just to run fast on my 40, do good on all my drills and then when it came to the position work, just being able to show good footwork, be fast in and out of my breaks, be clean in and out of my breaks. And I feel like I did all of what I listed. I feel like there's still room to improve, but I feel like today I showed I'm more than just that deep-threat guy. I can do everything a receiver is supposed to do."

Jamien Sherwood
Safety
Height: 6-1 ¾ / Weight: 216
Vertical: 36
Broad: 10-3
Bench: 15 reps
40-yard dash: 4.75

On if he's more of an enforcer or a ballhawk… 
"Enforcer. I like to hit. I like to put it on people. A ballhawk is great. I love to get my hands on the ball as well, get my chance to score. Most of the time, you're not always going to get those opportunities. But you always get an opportunity to hit someone every play. Every chance I'm on that field, I'm bringing it to someone. Whether it's a lineman, fullback, running back – whoever it is, when I got my chance, I'm taking my shot."

Eli Stove
Wide receiver
Height: 5-11 3/8 / Weight: 194
Vertical: 30 ½ 
Broad: 9-11
Bench: 14 reps
40-yard dash: 4.55

On his versatility as a player…
"Like I say to the scouts, I play everything. Any position on the field you want to put me, I can do it. Slot, outside, play a little bit of running back, run in motion and get the ball on sweeps. I play special teams, too. I can do everything on the field. Versatility is my biggest thing."

Christian Tutt
Defensive back
Height: 5-10 1/4 / Weight: 180
Vertical: 29 ½ 
Broad: 9-2
Bench: N/A
40-yard dash: 4.75

On what he would bring to an NFL team…
"Whatever team decides to take me, I'm going to bring a lot of versatility. I love to be savvy as a defensive back. I'm going to try to learn as much as I can and do the best that I can and help the team in any way possible."

Seth Williams
Wide receiver
Height: 6-3 / Weight: 211
Vertical: 37
Broad: 10-4
Bench: 12
40-yard dash: 4.50

On his goal for Pro Day… 
"To show my athleticism and show that I've cleaned up route running and getting in and out of breaks. I feel like I did great. I showed everything I can show."

On what advice he'd give to aspiring wide receivers...
"Don't be scared to make the play. Always want the ball. Don't be scared to be in the moment."