If you're a fan of watching athletes cover 40 yards in less than five seconds, the NFL combine is the perfect event for you. The 2019 iteration of the annual scouting combine didn't have anyone challenge the record of 4.22 seconds, set by John Ross in 2017 (unless you ask former record holder Chris Johnson, which is a whole 'nother thing), but it did have large men running times they should not be able to attain at their size.
The first jaw-dropper of the weekend came on Saturday when Ole Miss receiver D.K. Metcalf stepped up to the line with his 6-foot-3, 228-pound frame and nearly posted the top time at his position with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash. Then on Sunday Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, universally considered one of the top three prospects in the draft, rolled to a 4.83 40 at 303 pounds that checked in as the best time of his position by a full tenth of a second.
Later on Sunday, Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat stole the show with a 4.41-second 40 at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds that was not only the best at his position by 0.12 seconds and one of the best times of the weekend but the best 40 on record for all defensive linemen since 2003. That's how you get people to notice.
On Monday, Auburn's Jamal Dean ran a 4.30 40-yard dash to just edge out the best times at receiver, which seemed to put the title of fastest prospect of 2019 in the bag. But then the safeties stepped up to run as the final group of the weekend, where Ole Miss' Zedrick Woods, who is no lock to get drafted, blazed to a 4.29-second 40 on a day where many players at the position showed better speed than their cornerback counterparts.
You can check out the 13 players who ran sub-4.4 40s at this year's combine below, along with a snapshot of the top five players at each position.
Top 40 times
| 40 time | Player | Pos | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.29 | Zedrick Woods | S | Ole Miss |
| 4.30 | Jamel Dean | CB | Auburn |
| 4.31 | Parris Campbell | WR | Ohio State |
| 4.31 | Andy Isabella | WR | Massachusetts |
| 4.33 | Mecole Hardman | WR | Georgia |
| 4.33 | D.K. Metcalf | WR | Ole Miss |
| 4.35 | Terry McLaurin | WR | Ohio State |
| 4.36 | Darnell Savage | S | Maryland |
| 4.37 | Greedy Williams | CB | LSU |
| 4.37 | Mark Fields | CB | Clemson |
| 4.39 | Emanuel Hall | WR | Missouri |
| 4.39 | Darius Slayton | WR | Auburn |
| 4.39 | Darius West | S | Kentucky |
Quarterbacks
Top official 40 times for quarterbacks at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 2, 2019
1. Trace McSorely, @psufootball, 4.57
2. Tyree Jackson, @UBFootball, 4.59
3. Easton Stick, @NDSUfootball, 4.62
4. Nick Fitzgerald, @HailStateFB, 4.64
5. Drew Lock, @MizzouFootball, 4.69
Running backs
Top official 40 times for running backs at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 1, 2019
1. Justice Hill, @CowboyFB, 4.40
2. Ryquell Armstead, @Temple_FB, 4.45
t3. Jordan Scarlett, @GatorsFB, 4.47
t3. Mike Weber, @OhioStateFB, 4.47
5. Travis Homer, @CanesFootball, 4.48
Wide receivers
Top official 40 times for wide receivers at #NFLCombine (all groups):
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 2, 2019
t1. Parris Campbell, @OhioStateFB, 4.31
t1. Andy Isabella, @UMassFootball, 4.31
t3. Mecole Hardman, @FootballUGA , 4.33
t3. D.K. Metcalf, @OleMissFB, 4.33
5. Terry McLaurin, @OhioStateFB, 4.35
Tight ends
Top official 40 times for tight ends at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 2, 2019
1. Noah Fant, @HawkeyeFootball, 4.50
2. Caleb Wilson, @UCLAFootball, 4.56
t3. Josh Oliver, @SJSUSpartanFB, 4.63
t3. Irv Smith, @AlabamaFTBL, 4.63
5. Foster Moreau, @LSUfootball, 4.66
Offensive linemen
Top official 40 times for offensive linemen at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 1, 2019
1. Erik McCoy, @AggieFootball, 4.89
2. Chris Lindstrom, @BCFootball, 4.91
3. Garrett Bradbury, @PackFootball, 4.92
4. Andre Dillard, @WSUCougFB, 4.96
5. Iosua Opeta, @weberstatefb, 5.02
Edge rushers
Top official 40 times by edge rushers at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 3, 2019
1. Montez Sweat, 4.41
2. Brian Burns, 4.53
3. Rashan Gary, 4.58
4. Chase Winovich, 4.59
5. Jamal Davis, 4.60
Defensive linemen
Top official 40 times by interior D-linemen at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 3, 2019
1. Quinnen Williams, @AlabamaFTBL, 4.83
2. Jerry Tillery, @NDFootball, 4.93
3. Kingsley Keke, @AggieFootball, 4.95
t4. Khalen Saunders, @WIUfootball, 5.01
t4. Renell Wren, @ASUFootball, 5.01
Linebackers
Top official 40 times for linebackers at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 3, 2019
1. Devin White, @LSUfootball, 4.42
t2. Devin Bush, @UMichFootball, 4.43
t2. Gary Johnson, @TexasFootball, 4.43
t4. Blake Cashman, @GopherFootball, 4.50
t4. Justin Hollins, @oregonfootball, 4.50
Cornerbacks
Top official 40 times for cornerbacks at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 4, 2019
1. Jamel Dean, @AuburnFootball, 4.30
t2. Mark Fields, @ClemsonFB, 4.37
t2. Greedy Williams, @LSUfootball, 4.37
4. Isaiah Johnson, @UHCougarFB, 4.40
5. Sean Bunting, @CMU_Football, 4.42
Safeties
Top official 40 times for safeties at #NFLCombine:
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) March 4, 2019
1. Zedrick Woods, @OleMissFB, 4.29
2. Darnell Savage, @TerpsFootball, 4.36
3. Darius West, @UKFootball, 4.39
4. Will Harris, @BCFootball, 4.41
5. Juan Thornhill, @UVAFootball, 4.42
