NFL receiver Tyreek Hill accepts Auburn speedster Anthony Schwartz's race challenge
Updated Oct 18, 12:55 PM; Posted Oct 18, 12:55 PM
By Tom Green
tgreen@al.com
One of the fastest players in college football wants to go toe-to-toe with one of the fastest receivers in the NFL.
Auburn freshman receiver Anthony Schwartz issued a challenge on Twitter this week to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, asking the speedy pro, "when we racing?" Two days later, Hill responded.
"Link up," Hill tweeted on Thursday afternoon.
So, could we see the two sprinters race sometime in the offseason? It seems likely, and it would make for an entertaining footrace.
Hill is among the fastest players in the NFL (his Twitter handle is @cheetah for a reason), with the New York Times earlier this year citing Sportradar data that had him hitting a top speed of 21.64 mph with the ball in his hands last season -- which was behind only Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, Rams running back Todd Gurley and 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin for top speed from scrimmage.
The Chiefs receiver, like Schwartz, has a track background as well. Hill's personal best in the 100-meter is 10.19 seconds in 2012 while in high school. That time is slower than what Schwartz, a 2020 Olympic hopeful, ran as a high school senior, when he clocked a 10.07 in the 100m during the Florida state meet. Schwartz also set a youth world-record time of 10.15 at the 2017 Florida Relays in high school.
Auburn's freshman speedster, known as Flash, also recorded the nation's fastest wind-legal time in the 100 this year at 10.09 seconds in the Great Southwest Classic, which ranks No. 4 all-time in the nation's prep track history. Hill's fastest wind-aided time was 9.98 seconds at the 2013 Hutchinson NJCCA Championships.
Gus Malzahn acknowledges need to get Schwartz more touches
Anthony Schwartz averages 16.7 yards per touch on offense but averages just three opportunities per game.
Schwartz, who has become an explosive weapon for Auburn this season, owns the owns the fourth-, sixth-, eighth- (10.16), ninth- (10.17) and 13th-best (10.21) 100-meter times in American high school track history.
"Football fast is just more getting to top speed quicker," Schwartz said last month, "and track speed is more of gradually getting to it faster."
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
Updated Oct 18, 12:55 PM; Posted Oct 18, 12:55 PM
By Tom Green
tgreen@al.com
One of the fastest players in college football wants to go toe-to-toe with one of the fastest receivers in the NFL.
Auburn freshman receiver Anthony Schwartz issued a challenge on Twitter this week to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, asking the speedy pro, "when we racing?" Two days later, Hill responded.
"Link up," Hill tweeted on Thursday afternoon.
So, could we see the two sprinters race sometime in the offseason? It seems likely, and it would make for an entertaining footrace.
Hill is among the fastest players in the NFL (his Twitter handle is @cheetah for a reason), with the New York Times earlier this year citing Sportradar data that had him hitting a top speed of 21.64 mph with the ball in his hands last season -- which was behind only Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, Rams running back Todd Gurley and 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin for top speed from scrimmage.
The Chiefs receiver, like Schwartz, has a track background as well. Hill's personal best in the 100-meter is 10.19 seconds in 2012 while in high school. That time is slower than what Schwartz, a 2020 Olympic hopeful, ran as a high school senior, when he clocked a 10.07 in the 100m during the Florida state meet. Schwartz also set a youth world-record time of 10.15 at the 2017 Florida Relays in high school.
Auburn's freshman speedster, known as Flash, also recorded the nation's fastest wind-legal time in the 100 this year at 10.09 seconds in the Great Southwest Classic, which ranks No. 4 all-time in the nation's prep track history. Hill's fastest wind-aided time was 9.98 seconds at the 2013 Hutchinson NJCCA Championships.
Gus Malzahn acknowledges need to get Schwartz more touches
Anthony Schwartz averages 16.7 yards per touch on offense but averages just three opportunities per game.
Schwartz, who has become an explosive weapon for Auburn this season, owns the owns the fourth-, sixth-, eighth- (10.16), ninth- (10.17) and 13th-best (10.21) 100-meter times in American high school track history.
"Football fast is just more getting to top speed quicker," Schwartz said last month, "and track speed is more of gradually getting to it faster."
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
