Kentucky recruit Jordan Anthony is a highly-touted receiver from Mississippi but is also one of the nation's best sprinters.
Former Kentucky all-SEC defensive back Van Hiles thinks more high school athletes should be on track teams.
“I’m a track guy that played football, not the other way around. Parents and players need to understand the benefits of running track instead of playing 7-on-7 (football) in the spring. Running mechanics is so important and is the foundation of football,” Hiles, a fifth round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 1997 NFL draft, said.
“Now there are some players that are unicorns and are blessed with an amazing gift from God. But the other 99 percent can enhance their athletic ability by running track. Even if you are a non-skilled position player, there is an event for you in track.”
Hiles, who lives in Louisiana, says both football and basketball in his state keep players from joining track teams in the spring. He notes how AAU basketball season starts as soon as the high school season ends.
“Now top end guys, I understand although you are killing your body. Your knees/ankles only have a certain amount of miles on them before they break down,” Hiles said.
He says players’ bodies need a break from continually competing in the same sport.
“I could have gone to college and been a decathlete (in track). Track is so fundamental and teaches you how to run,” Hiles said. “Kids play basketball in the winter and there really are only so many jumps and stops in those knees and ankles. Your body never gets a chance to recuperate if you keep playing the same sport all the time. Kids need to give certain body parts a break.”
Hiles said high school athletes playing 7-on-7 football in the spring in Louisiana do little to elevate their recruiting stock but running a 10.7 second 100-meter dash or long jumping 22 feet gets the eyes of college football recruiters.
“I know you have gym rats in basketball you want to work on their shots. I guess coaches need to see that and I get that coaches like to see 20 kids at one (AAU) tournament so they don’t have to travel around,” Hiles said. “But running track can help those elite basketball players, too. You can be elite in one sport and still benefit by participating in another sport like track.”
Hiles was a first-team all-SEC defensive back in 1996. Some other notable players on that first team were quarterbacks Peyton Manning (Tennessee) and Danny Wuerffel (Florida), running back Kevin Faulk (LSU), receivers Hines Ward (Georgia) and Ike Hillard (Florida), and defensive end Leonard Little (Tennessee).
