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40 yard dash times


feeshta

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I'm not really up on what a fast 40 time is. Could you guys help me out by providing some reference to go by. Like for instance, what kind of 40 times did Darrell Green run in his prime? What is the fastest 40 time ever run in the NFL world? Etc. Any help would be appreciated. Thank's guys.

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Well, I just went outside and ran it in 3.2 seconds. But that was in penny-loafers and with a suit on. I'm sure with spandex and a track suit I could trim some time off.

Seriously, I'm not sure...but I know that DG was one fast mofo. As we always say every year though, track speed and football speed are two very different things.

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Darrell supposed ran a 4.18 or something once. Take it with a grain of salt. peeon also.

Darrell could run 4.2's. That's world class. he was a track star in college also; his 100 meters time one year in college was second only to Carl Lewis.

Fast generally depends on the position.

An average WR/RB/DB time nowadays should be the 4.5 range.

An OL/DL average time should be about 5.0.

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Well, I just went outside and ran it in 3.2 seconds. But that was in penny-loafers and with a suit on. I'm sure with spandex and a track suit I could trim some time off.

Well Daryls seemed to have somewhat adequate game speed as well. Seems to me that one Tony Dorsett was at one time considered the fastest thing on turf, and we all know what old DG had to say about that.

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Anything less than 4.35 for the 40 is blazing speed, anything between 4.35-4.45 is fast. 4.45 - 4.5 is slower for a WR, DB or RB, but fast for any other position. I would guess Arrington runs about a 4.4 if that gives you a modern point of reference. :dallasuck

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No one said anything about full pads. The 40 times reported are reported from workouts in shorts and t-shirts. Second, you can't compare olympic sprinters with fast NFL 40 times because olympic sprinters specialize in 100, 200 or 400 yards and football players work on that initial burst. The fastest players timed in the league or in the combine get a little below 4.35.

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Originally posted by PersonsFan

Ben Johnson, the top track star in the world in his prime, and drug-enhanced to boot, ran a 4.39 40 (electronically measured). So consider that when you hear talk of 4.18 times in full pads.

Which equates to a 4.19 hand time.

Auto times (a true measure) are always slower than hand measured times.

As someone said, take "football 40" times with a grain of salt.

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http://www.peoplejustlikeus.org/Sports/Green.html

Darrell Green

Pro Football PlayerLIFE IN THE FAST LANE

Darrell Green, a 5-foot-8, 170-pound all-pro cornerback of the Washington Redskins, has established a reputation as one of the toughest pass defenders in the National Football League.

But it's off the playing field that his lightning speed gets international recognition. The four times he has accepted an invitation to the NFL's Fastest Man Competition he has won decisively. His 6.09 seconds in the 60-yard dash still has not been broken.

In 1991 Darrell competed in the World's Fastest Athlete competition in which he not only won the title, but defeated Olympic gold medallist, Carl Lewis in the 40. (Out of season, with pads and helmet, Darrell's 40 time is 4.5 Catch him in season and you can clock him at 4.17.)

Coming from a family of seven, Darrell had no idea his future would be so bright. After being discouraged by his peers from playing football, Darrell focused on track where he was a natural. But with football in his heart, he based his hopes on his speed his junior year in high school and made the football team.

"Even I was trying to discourage myself from going out for the team," Darrell said. "So many of my friend told me I wouldn't be an effective player that I started to believe them."

With determination, Darrell gave it all he had. He not only made the team his junior and senior years in high school, but went on to play college ball at Texas A&I.

Even though his life is different now than it was when he was growing up in Texas, Darrell points out that it really took on meaning and purpose when he committed himself to Jesus Christ.

"I realize God has blessed me and has given me the opportunity to give back some of what He has given me," Darrell said.

Does anybody know if ESPNClassic has ever shown any of the old NFLFMC's ? I'd like to see all of them (not just Darrell's four).

Maybe we could get them to show them if enough people ask - http://espn.go.com/classic/s/classic_feedback.html

I must have missed the WFA comp. in '91, does anybody remember any details about it? I couldn't find much info about it or FMC's on the web.

PS: Old Timers Trivia Question

That 6.09 FMC time was the only FMC race that I saw where Darrell actually had real competition. Whose head was an inch or two behind Darrell's crossing the finish line, and what team did he play for?

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I don't agree that Ben Johnson's time of 4.39 means that no football player could run a 4.18. First of all, hand measured times tend to be SLOWER than electronic times because of the fact that coaches have a reaction time too that slows down the time. See http://www.fortifiediron.net/invision/index.php?showtopic=3934&st=50

Secondly, Ben Johnson ran the 100 meters not the 40 yard dash. So what right? Well there's a big difference. When you run a longer distance, you have more time to reach your top speed. Carl Lewis was a notoriously slow starter, but his long graceful steps allowed him to pass everyone from 60 meters on. I'll bet Carl Lewis' 40 yard times would be slower than a whole lot of players in the NFL.

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A while back on this board there was a posting of the "Super99 Draft Prospects for 2004" from The Sporting News. It was a list of the players that they thought were 99 top 2004 prospects at the time. The interesting thing about the list was it included the prospects' height, weight, and 40 time. From this list you can get an idea of what typical times are for each position.

In general, the more a player weighs, the slower his 40 time. Also, defensive players are generally a bit faster than offensive players, for the same weight. Here's the list.

1 Larry Fitzgerald*, Pitt WR 6-3 218 -- -- -- 4.42 -- -- -- -- -- --

2 Ben Roethlisberger*, Miami (O.) QB 6-5 240 -- -- -- 4.80 -- -- -- -- -- --

3 Eli Manning, Ole Miss QB 6-4 218 -- -- -- 4.85 -- -- -- -- -- --

4 Robert Gallery, Iowa T 6-6 320 -- -- -- 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- --

5 Tommie Harris*, Oklahoma DT 6-3 288 -- -- -- 4.95 -- -- -- -- -- --

6 Sean Taylor*, Miami (FL) S 6-3 220 -- -- -- 4.40 -- -- -- -- -- --

7 Roy Williams, Texas WR 6-2 208 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

8 Kellen Winslow Jr.*, Miami (FL) TE 6-5 250 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

9 Shawn Andrews*, Arkansas T 6-6 340 -- -- -- 5.35 -- -- -- -- -- --

10 Kenechi Udeze*, USC DE 6-3 277 -- -- -- 4.75 -- -- -- -- -- --

11 Jonathan Vilma, Miami (FL) ILB 6-1 220 -- -- -- 4.65 -- -- -- -- -- --

12 DeAngelo Hall*, Va. Tech CB 5-11 200 -- -- -- 4.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

13 Vince Wilfork*, Miami (FL) DT 6-2 344 -- -- -- 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- --

14 Reggie Williams*, Wash. WR 6-4 220 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

15 D.J. Williams, Miami (FL) OLB 6-1 235 -- -- -- 4.60 -- -- -- -- -- --

16 Will Smith, Ohio St. DE 6-3 265 -- -- -- 4.70 -- -- -- -- -- --

17 Kevin Jones*, Va. Tech RB 6-0 211 -- -- -- 4.40 -- -- -- -- -- --

18 Chris Gamble*, Ohio St. CB 6-2 180 -- -- -- 4.45 -- -- -- -- -- --

19 Randy Starks*, Maryland DT 6-4 299 -- -- -- 4.95 -- -- -- -- -- --

20 Steven Jackson*, Oregon St. RB 6-0 227 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

21 Michael Clayton*, LSU WR 6-3 185 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

22 Ben Troupe, Florida TE 6-5 253 -- -- -- 4.67 -- -- -- -- -- --

23 Dunta Robinson, S. Carolina CB 5-10 186 -- -- -- 4.44 -- -- -- -- -- --

24 Karlos Dansby, Auburn OLB 6-3 231 -- -- -- 4.58 -- -- -- -- -- --

25 Philip Rivers, NC State QB 6-4 225 -- -- -- 5.04 -- -- -- -- -- --

26 Will Poole, USC CB 5-10 182 -- -- -- 4.48 -- -- -- -- -- --

27 J.P. Losman, Tulane QB 6-2 212 -- -- -- 4.80 -- -- -- -- -- --

28 Lee Evans, Wis. WR 5-10 196 -- -- -- 4.33 -- -- -- -- -- --

29 Derrick Strait, Oklahoma CB 5-10 195 -- -- -- 4.45 -- -- -- -- -- --

30 Vernon Carey, Miami (FL) G 6-2 350 -- -- -- 5.40 -- -- -- -- -- --

31 Chris Perry, Michigan RB 6-0 225 -- -- -- 4.59 -- -- -- -- -- --

32 Jake Grove, Va. Tech C 6-3 300 -- -- -- 5.12 -- -- -- -- -- --

33 Jacob Rogers, USC T 6-5 301 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

34 Donnell Washington*, Clemson DT 6-5 317 -- -- -- 5.05 -- -- -- -- -- --

35 Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma St. WR 6-1 194 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

36 Darnell Dockett, Florida St. DT 6-4 285 -- -- -- 4.90 -- -- -- -- -- --

37 Ricardo Colclough, Tusculum CB 5-10 186 -- -- -- 4.48 -- -- -- -- -- --

38 Antwan Odom*, Alabama DE 6-4 278 -- -- -- 4.70 -- -- -- -- -- --

39 Michael Jenkins, Ohio St. WR 6-4 213 -- -- -- 4.60 -- -- -- -- -- --

40 Marcus Tubbs, Texas DT 6-3 324 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

41 Bob Sanders, Iowa S 5-8 205 -- -- -- 4.34 -- -- -- -- -- --

42 Darrion Scott, Ohio St. DE 6-2 275 -- -- -- 4.70 -- -- -- -- -- --

43 Greg Jones, Florida St. RB 6-1 251 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

44 Matt Ware*, UCLA CB 6-3 206 -- -- -- NA -- -- -- -- -- --

45 Ben Watson, Georgia TE 6-3 253 -- -- -- 4.45 -- -- -- -- -- --

46 Daryl Smith, Georgia Tech ILB 6-2 234 -- -- -- 4.67 -- -- -- -- -- --

47 Justin Smiley*, Alabama G 6-3 308 -- -- -- 5.00 -- -- -- -- -- --

48 Dwan Edwards, Oregon St. DT 6-2 305 -- -- -- 5.00 -- -- -- -- -- --

49 Michael Boulware, Florida St. OLB 6-2 226 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

50 Sean Jones*, Georgia S 6-1 213 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

51 Derrick Hamilton*, Clemson WR 6-4 213 -- -- -- 4.45 -- -- -- -- -- --

52 Devery Henderson, LSU WR 5-11 190 -- -- -- 4.37 -- -- -- -- -- --

53 Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma OLB 6-1 230 -- -- -- 4.60 -- -- -- -- -- --

54 Travelle Wharton, S. Carolina T 6-3 312 -- -- -- 5.19 -- -- -- -- -- --

55 Quincy Wilson, W.Va. RB 5-9 214 -- -- -- 4.66 -- -- -- -- -- --

56 Ahmad Carroll*, Arkansas CB 5-11 190 -- -- -- 4.35 -- -- -- -- -- --

57 Stephen Peterman, LSU G 6-3 321 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

58 Stuart Schweigert, Purdue S 6-1 211 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

59 Chad Lavalais, LSU DT 6-1 294 -- -- -- 5.06 -- -- -- -- -- --

60 Nat Dorsey*, Georgia Tech T 6-5 328 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

61 Rodney Leisle, UCLA DT 6-3 288 -- -- -- 5.15 -- -- -- -- -- --

62 Keith Smith, McNeese St. CB 5-11 182 -- -- -- 4.47 -- -- -- -- -- --

63 Dontarrious Thomas, Auburn ILB 6-2 232 -- -- -- 4.56 -- -- -- -- -- --

64 Max Starks, Florida T 6-8 345 -- -- -- 5.40 -- -- -- -- -- --

65 Isaac Hilton, Hampton DE 6-3 244 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

66 Devard Darlling*, Wash. St. WR 6-2 205 -- -- -- 4.45 -- -- -- -- -- --

67 Sean Locklear, NC State G 6-3 303 -- -- -- 4.98 -- -- -- -- -- --

68 Will Allen, Ohio St. S 6-1 190 -- -- -- 4.5 -- -- -- -- -- --

69 Julius Jones, Notre Dame RB 5-9 205 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

70 Bernard Berrian, Fresno St. WR 6-0 178 -- -- -- 4.46 -- -- -- -- -- --

71 Matt Schaub, Va. QB 6-5 244 -- -- -- 4.98 -- -- -- -- -- --

72 Kelly Butler*, Purdue T 6-7 323 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

73 Tommy Kelly, Miss. St. DT 6-5 293 -- -- -- 4.81 -- -- -- -- -- --

74 Keiwan Ratliff, Florida CB 5-9 170 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

75 Ben Utecht, Minnesota TE 6-5 248 -- -- -- 4.84 -- -- -- -- -- --

76 Jason Shivers*, Arizona St. S 6-1 199 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

77 Ernest Wilford, Va. Tech WR 6-3 221 -- -- -- 4.62 -- -- -- -- -- --

78 Cedric Cobbs, Arkansas RB 6-0 221 -- -- -- 4.52 -- -- -- -- -- --

79 DeMarco McNeil, Auburn DT 6-1 301 -- -- -- 5.00 -- -- -- -- -- --

80 Alex Stepanovich, Ohio St. C 6-3 295 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

81 Bo Schobel, TCU DE 6-5 264 -- -- -- 4.83 -- -- -- -- -- --

82 Carlos Joseph, Miami (FL) T 6-4 320 -- -- -- 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- --

83 Nathan Vasher, Texas CB 5-9 174 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

84 Keyaron Fox, Georgia Tech OLB 6-2 223 -- -- -- 4.69 -- -- -- -- -- --

85 Courtney Watson, Notre Dame ILB 6-0 242 -- -- -- 4.70 -- -- -- -- -- --

86 Jacob Bell, Miami (O.) G 6-4 292 -- -- -- 5.00 -- -- -- -- -- --

87 Michael Turner, Northern Ill. RB 5-10 228 -- -- -- 4.42 -- -- -- -- -- --

88 James Newson, Oregon St. WR 6-0 208 -- -- -- 4.55 -- -- -- -- -- --

89 Isaac Sopoaga, Hawaii DT 6-2 310 -- -- -- 5.15 -- -- -- -- -- --

90 Roderick Green, Central Missouri State DE 6-2 235 -- -- -- 4.63 -- -- -- -- -- --

91 Matthias Askew*, Michigan St. DT 6-6 292 -- -- -- NA -- -- -- -- -- --

92 Etric Pruitt, So. Miss. S 5-11 190 -- -- -- 4.56 -- -- -- -- -- --

93 Joey Thomas, Montana St. CB 6-0 187 -- -- -- 4.45 -- -- -- -- -- --

94 Shaun Phillips, Purdue DE 6-3 254 -- -- -- 4.90 -- -- -- -- -- --

95 Shannon Snell, Florida G 6-3 305 -- -- -- 5.60 -- -- -- -- -- --

96 Tony Pape, Michigan T 6-5 314 -- -- -- 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

97 Josh Harris, Bowl. Green QB 6-1 226 -- -- -- 4.88 -- -- -- -- -- --

98 Darius Watts, Marshall WR 6-1 180 -- -- -- 4.50 -- -- -- -- -- --

99 Richard Seigler, Oregon St. ILB 6-2 235 -- -- -- 4.75 -- -- -- -- -- -

Here are the averages for each position

Pos Num 40Time Weight

CB 2 4.44 187

S 6 4.48 204

WR 7 4.49 202

RB 9 4.52 223

TE 12 4.63 251

LB 8 4.64 231

DE 13 4.71 262

QB 10 4.89 228

DT 6 5.04 303

C 8 5.21 298

G 4 5.21 313

T 14 5.28 323

Overall 99 4.75 246

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Being a draftnik, here is a list I have compiled over the last 20 years or so from scouting reports, combine reports and newspapers of the fastest football players.

Deion Sanders to my knowledge still holds the combine 40 record when he did a 4.27 (electronically timed). Most of the time the scouts at the combine prefer to use their own stopwatches to time guys in the forty. This of course can lend itself to error.

Anyway here is my list that I have maintained over the years. You might want to save this list, as it has taken me years to compile it. This is not an exact science, and I just took the word of the scouting report scource that the times were accurate. College media guides though tend to hype their players and are not reliable. :)

Some players are faster in 40 yards than they are at 100 meters and vice versa.

I also have a bench press list of combine records if anyone is interested.

P.S. I cant get these columns to line up even when I cut and paste.... this is the best I can do.

The 1st column is the time for 100 meters, if any.

The 2nd column is the time for 200 meters, if any.

The 3rd column is a player's 40-time if any.

The 4th column is the year the player ran the time.

===========================================

NFL PLAYER’S SPEED & STRENGTH

100 200 Year * World Record

Ben Johnson 9.79* --- 1988 Seoul

Carl Lewis 9.92 19.75 1988 Rome

Pietro Mennes --- 19.72* 1979 Mexico City

Butch Reynolds --- 43.29* (400) 1988 Zurich

==============================================

100 200 40-Time Year

Anthony Phillips 10.04 --- -4.46 1994

Ron Brown 10.06 --- 4.28 1983

Darrel Green 10.08 --- 4.17 1983

Willie Gault 10.10 20.68 4.3 1983

Curtis Dickey 10.11 --- 4.35 ? 1978

James Trapp 10.14 --- 4.42 1993

James Jett 10.18 20.33 4.33 1993

Bennie Blades 10.19 --- 4.45 1987

Sam Graddy 10.19 --- 4.35 ? 9.61 for 100 yds

Mark Duper 10.21 --- 4.35 ? 1982

Hershel Walker 10.23 --- 4.30 ? 1982

Michael Bates 10.23 --- + - 1992

Cliff Branch 10.24 --- 4.35 1972

Renaldo Nehemiah 10.24 --- 4.35 1979

Phillip Epps 10.24 --- --- 9.4 for 100 yds

Deion Sanders 10.26 --- 4.27* 1989

Bo Jackson 10.39 --- 4.18 ? ---

Vance Johnson 10.45 --- 4.35 ---

Tim Brown ? 20.98 4.38 ---

Gaston Green 10.58 21.47 4.29 ---

Rico Smith ? --- 4.29 1992

Rocket Ismail ? 22.18 4.29 1991

Reggie Brooks ? --- 4.45 1993

Alexander Wright ? 20.17 4.43 1990

Tom Carter 10.8 --- 4.41 1993

Nick Bell --- 23.35 4.47 1991

* Combine Record (electronically timed)

+ Won Olympic Bronze Star in 200 meters

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No wonder Hershel and Bo were so feared in their prime. Look at those times, and they weighed well over 200 lbs. Talk about a load to tackle. On Portis' site it lists a time of 10.6 for the 100 meters, but that is from high school so I would bet his time would be better if he ran it now. More important than top end speed for a running back is there acceleration, in all directions. Clinton seems to have one of the best first steps in the game right now. He also cuts very well and is decisive when he decides to go a certain direction. All of those are very good qualities for a RB. I'm looking forward to seeing him get into the backfield and start tearing things up in the fall.

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I might add that on my post that the first column -- 100 meter times -- are believed to be very accurate. These were the times recorded published from known track meets in college or wherever.

Forty times at combines can vary depending on whose stop watch you are looking at. Thats why at the combine everyone relies on their own stop watch and judgment.

Clinton Portis reportedly ran a 4.42 forty, which is very fast, but he is not the fastest player in the forty.

But the forty yard dash is only one aspect of a running back's ability. Many other things come into play as to a RB being great.

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First of all, hand measured times tend to be SLOWER than electronic times because of the fact that coaches have a reaction time too that slows down the time.

Hand times are FASTER than F.A.T. times. You always add to a hand timed race.

http://www.texastrack.com/track_&_field_statistical_reporting.htm

"For all races less than 400 meters, 0.24 is added to a handheld time. For races 400 meters or longer, 0.14 is added. For instance, a 10.4 handheld time would be comparable to a 10.64 FAT time."

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