Important facts about draft prospects for the Buccaneers
By Rob Leeds
Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Many college football players were multi-sport athletes in college. One of the sports that these athletes can double in is track and field as it is held in the Spring in almost every state, unlike football which is over before the Spring semester begins.
While Tristan Wirfs did have the fastest 40-yard dash of any offensive lineman at the 2020 NFL Combine, his dominance was not on the track but the field.
Wirfs was extremely successful in both the discus throw and the shot put. He won the state championship for the discus throw three years in a row. In addition to this, Wirfs also won the state championship for the shot put two years in a row, missing out on the three-peat by finishing in second in his first attempt in 2015.
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Coming back to the more recognizable career of an NFL “track star”, Henry Ruggs fully fits the mold with his speed. While he was unable to break John Ross‘ 40-yard dash record, Henry Ruggs has possessed blazing speed since his Alabama high school days.
Ruggs set the state record for the 100-yard dash amongst Alabama 7A high schools back in 2017 with a posted time of 10.58 seconds.
Henry Ruggs won state in the 100 meters today with a time of 10.58 (7A record).... pic.twitter.com/MiVMTyzDSc
— MPS Athletics (@MPSAthletics) May 6, 2017
While not quite possessing Olympic speed, Henry Ruggs is widely-considered to be the faster player in this draft class and the Buccaneers would love to have that in Tampa Bay.