AUBURN, Ala. – In the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft Friday night, Anthony Schwartz answered a call from Cleveland, Ohio.
"My heart just dropped," said Schwartz, a standout Auburn receiver from 2018-20. "It was an amazing feeling."
Schwartz then joined a Zoom call with Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, posing a question.
"They asked me, 'Are you tired of waiting around?'" Schwartz recalled. "I said, 'Yes, I am.' Our GM said, 'You don't have to wait around anymore. We want you.' At that point, I was just ecstatic. It was amazing. I was excited and ready, it felt like a huge weight was off my chest."
Welcome to Cleveland, Anthony Schwartz!#BrownsDraft pic.twitter.com/NyPo8dl5Df
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 1, 2021
The Browns' decision-makers told Schwartz they were impressed with his physical and mental abilities.
"They said what they loved about me the most, what separated me from all of the other receivers they were considering, was how I prepare," said Schwartz, describing how he recounted plays and routes from previous seasons as if they'd happened yesterday. "They said I did the best on those interviews than any other receiver they interviewed."
In a flash, Schwartz's NFL journey began, pick No. 91 overall.
"And of course, I'm a guy who brings something to the table that every team needs, and that's speed," said Schwartz, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and clocked an unofficial 4.26 on Auburn's Pro Day.
Schwartz will attend Cleveland's three-day minicamp in mid-May, then continue preparing at House of Athlete in Weston, Florida, with new teammate Jarvis Landry for his first NFL preseason camp in July. Last season, the Browns made the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
"That organization has made a complete 180 from the time I was in high school to now," Schwartz said. "Especially the past three years, starting when Jarvis got there, and especially getting a great quarterback in Baker Mayfield, they've changed the program. Now, we're looking at possibly, we hope, Super Bowl contenders this year. We have big goals ahead of us."Big Apple bound: the New York Jets drafted Jamien Sherwood in the fifth round
The next day, three more Tigers were taken, beginning with Jamien Sherwood to the New York Jets early in the fifth round, No. 146 overall.
'It was crazy and exciting at the same time," Sherwood said. "Day one went by, didn't get a call at all. Day two went by, still no call. After the 105th pick, I was a little let down, hoping I would be called on day two, but I wasn't.
"Sitting there and the fourth round ended, I'm just sitting there watching, just waiting. The phone started ringing. A Madison, New Jersey, number pops up. I'm like, 'Oh, this might be it finally.' Then I'm on the phone call, and they're telling me they're interested in me and congratulations and they're going to get me with the next pick.
"My heart just started dropping and pounding. Then everybody around me started noticing what was going on. It was like my world was changing like that, in the blink of an eye. My name popped up on the screen, everybody just went crazy. It's a life-changing moment. Everybody was excited for me. I was excited for myself. It was just a proud moment to be a part of."
An Auburn safety from 2018-20, Sherwood will play linebacker for the Jets.
"I'm fine with that," he said. "I'm a ballplayer, I'm versatile. I can do it. I have to know my ability as a player and a person. Playing on the field and watching the film, I make most of my productivity closer to the line of scrimmage. I didn't have a lot of interceptions, everyone knows that.
"Me playing in the back half, not saying I couldn't get interceptions in the league, but I feel like I'm better closer to the line of scrimmage. Playing linebacker, I think that's a great fit for me, and I'm excited to play it."
Later in the fifth round, the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs selected former Auburn linebacker K.J. Britt at No. 176, then the Denver Broncos drafted receiver Seth Williams in the sixth round, No. 219.
Two undrafted former Tigers signed as free agents, with receiver Eli Stove getting an opportunity with the Los Angeles Chargers and safety Jordyn Peters reuniting with Sherwood on the Jets.
"I'm ecstatic. I just got chills all over again thinking about it," Peters said. "It's really a testament to all the hard work I put in. I'm just ready to get up there and go to work. It makes it even that much better than I can do it with Jamien, one of my best friends on the team."
A special teams standout, Peters believes his versatility helped attract the Jets' attention.
"My special teams experience helped tremendously," he said. "Coming in as an undrafted rookie, that's where I'm going to shine, that's where I'm going to make a name for myself. Before I play a snap on defense, I'm going to have to get on those special teams and make plays and be an impact player."
"He was a DB at Auburn with me so it's just great to have a friend with you everywhere you go," Sherwood said. "We've already planned, we're going to get a house or a condo together, save money for our first couple years.
"We're both going to make the team, we're going to do what's necessary, put in the work. It's awesome to have one of those teammates, he's my brother. That's the great thing about college, it brings you together with people you never knew you would meet. Jordyn's a great person, great guy. I'm just happy for him."'He's my brother': Jordyn Peters (No. 15) and Jamien Sherwood plan to room together as NY Jets rookies
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer