While it’s always interesting – and entertaining – to see offensive linemen and quarterbacks run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the test of speed is far more important for some other positions. It’s hard to believe a scout will significantly color his opinions of, say, an offensive tackle based on a fast or slow time in the 40-yard dash, but for positions like wide receiver and running back, the notion isn’t exactly “out there.”
Typically, the fastest positions are running back, wide receiver and defensive back. Judging by the early looks at the running back position though, they’re not exactly pushing the receivers for the top spot. None of the running backs came close to the top receiver, J.J. Nelson. He managed to put up a time of 4.29 seconds.
Top running back prospect Melvin Gordon put up a 4.52 on his first attempt and a 4.53 on his second attempt. It wasn’t the best among running backs but it was better than plenty of others. A good showing at the combine is important for Gordon, given that he typically shares the “top prospect” label with Todd Gurley of Georgia.
Gurley is recovering from a torn ACL and did not participate in drills at the combine. He also refused a medical checkup, giving Gordon a further edge. Most expect Gordon will be the first running back off the board in the NFL Draft, possibly in the first round.
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Here are the official 40-yard dash times for the running backs.
Player School Height Weight 40 time Ameer Abdullah Nebraska 5’9 205 4.60 Jay Ajayi Boise State 6’0 221 4.57 Javorius Allen USC 6’0 221 4.53 Cameron Artis-Payne Auburn 5’10 212 4.53 Dominique Brown Louisville 6’2 234 DNP Malcolm Brown Texas 5’11 224 4.62 Michael Burton Rutgers 5’11 242 4.74 B.J. Catalon TCU 5’7 186 4.57 David Cobb Minnesota 5’11 229 4.81 Tevin Coleman Indiana 5’11 206 DNP John Crockett North Dakota State 6’0 217 4.62 Mike Davis South Carolina 5’9 217 4.61 Michael Dyer Louisville 5’8 218 4.58 Jahwan Edwards Ball State 5’9 220 4.80 Jalston Fowler Alabama 5’11 254 4.94 Melvin Gordon Wisconsin 6’1 215 4.52 Todd Gurley Georgia 6’1 222 DNP Dee Hart Colorado State 5’7 199 4.80 Braylon Heard Kentucky 5’10 198 4.63 Kenny Hilliard LSU 6’0 226 4.83 Joey Iosefa Hawaii 6’0 247 5.02 David Johnson Northern Iowa 6’1 224 4.50 Duke Johnson Miami (Fla.) 5’9 207 4.54 Gus Johnson Stephen F. Austin 5’10 215 4.70 Matt Jones Florida 6’2 231 4.61 Jeremy Langford Michigan State 6’0 208 4.42 Terrence Magee LSU 5’8 213 DNP Marcus Murphy Missouri 5’8 193 4.61 Thomas Rawls Central Michigan 5’9 215 4.65 Josh Robinson Mississippi State 5’8 217 4.70 Ross Scheuerman Lafayette 6’0 204 4.62 Tyler Varga Yale 5’11 222 DNP Karlos Williams Florida State 6’1 230 4.48 Trey Williams Texas A&M 5’7 195 4.49 T.J. Yeldon Alabama 6’1 226 4.61 Zach Zenner South Dakota State 5’11 223 4.60
