Will we see a new 40 yard dash record set at this years NFL combine?

[Jhawk Fitness]

The current record is 4.26 held by Deion Sanders (HT) & Jerome Mathis (ET)

BYU player is lightning fast

By Dick Harmon
Deseret Morning News

Everyone knows BYU defensive back Nate Soelberg is fast — very fast.
He's been the Mountain West Conference 100-meter champion. Still, it was impressive and eye-opening when Soelberg backed up his reputation for quickness with several blistering 40-yard dash times for the NFL scouts on BYU's campus the other day.
Running on Fieldturf, BYU's clocks timed Soelberg in 4.20 seconds. NFL scouts, veteran stopwatch button pushers from the Raiders, Seahawks, Texans, Tampa Bay and Minnesota timed Soelberg in times ranging from 4.21 to 4.26 seconds.
That's cooking.
You throw that into the arena of a debate about 40 times and it becomes even more interesting. Can a human being really run that fast?
BYU conditioning coach Jay Omer is a hard man to convince. He believes a gifted sprinter, under the best conditions, with no wind and a good track, who runs a 4.4 is a rocket. "But I do believe people can run faster and some of those times we hear about are true," Omer said.
This past April, San Diego Union-Tribune sports writer Mark Zeigler researched a great piece on 40 times entitled "Dash of Doubt." The gist of the article is that when scouts use hand-held times, the measurement could be off .15 seconds from reaction time from a starter's motion. If there was a 10-mile per hour tailwind there'd be as little as a .07 second advantage and generally, these times are not accurate and they vary so much because of conditions. Zeigler pointed out Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson is believed to have run 40 yards faster than anyone in history at the 100 meters finals at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. He was timed at 9.79 seconds that day but was stripped of his medal after testing positive for steroids.
Old Ben was juiced up so much he barely looked human. His muscles looked like balloons and his eyes were yellow.
Writes Zeigler: "Timing officials have since broken down that famed race into 10-meter increments, and Johnson was so preposterously fast that he went through 50 meters in 5.52 seconds and 60 meters in 6.37 seconds, both under the current world records at those (track) distances. He went through 40 yards that day in 4.38 seconds."
Again, Johnson had on spikes on a perfect day, with a small tailwind, coached by one of the best in the world, Charlie Francis. He also had Carl Lewis and six of the fastest humans known to man chasing him and a crowd just under 70,000 screaming in the stadium that day.
So, can Nate run faster than anabolic steroid-doping Ben?
NFL Scouts use their watches and record their times. To them, it is in the books. Until Soelberg runs at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis next February, they've got him down for 4.2-something.
A year ago, Soelberg was timed by BYU folks at 4.19. Folks on the Internet made fun of the time. One of the fastest NFL times for the 40 ever is that of Deion Sanders of Florida State, who ran a 4.17.
But conditions vary, there are fast and slow surfaces. Timers can sometimes anticipate a finish. NFL scouts usually round off to the nearest tenth of a second. For Soelberg, this could be 4.3. You add reaction time, subtract wind and use accepted conversions from hand held times and it could become a psuedo-scientific, post sprint 4.4 or 4.5.
But it could also be sub-4.2.
According to Soelberg's coach Brian Mitchell, the NFL guys have Soelberg down for at least a 4.26.
They could tweak that for altitude because at sea level, he'd likely run over a 4.3.
At San Diego State's Pro Timing Day back in March, the fastest Aztec was safety Marviel Underwood, who ran a 4.38 twice.
The legitimacy of 40 times could be debated and will be. But football coaches will tell you there is 40 speed on a track and then there is football speed during a game with pads and helmet. They are not the same.
For Soelberg, a gifted sprinter from Granger High School, who has trained himself on starts, finishes and form the past 10 years, he's going to have an advantage over a regular football player who is not used to track technique.
But a 4.2?
Yes. By the standards used by these scouts, Soelberg is legit and consistent. One said the only faster guy he'd clocked was Willie Gault.
What really matters for Soelberg is that he uses his talent to become a great cover corner. And tackle.
In football, that's all that matters.
A 4.8 corner who excels at doing those two things is a prize.
But in the meantime, how fast is Nate? Blazing

.

[ArmstrongMike]

i wouldnt be surprised if it does happen now and some combines are using lazer timers to take away human error

i think in about 20 years somebody will break into a 3.9

[ajn]

"i think in about 20 years somebody will break into a 3.9"

it isn't physically possible to run sub 4.0. even Ben Johnson with his insane 100-meter 'record' on the juice barely broke 4.4.

[sabonis224]

There is no way a clean person will ever run under a 4. Unless we start breeding with jungle cats.

[ajn]

"There is no way a clean person will ever run under a 4."

even super juiced up Ben Johnson couldn't run under a 4.3, so i dont think there are any steroids that can make you that blisteringly fast.

[KrushR]

"Nobody will ever need more than 640k RAM!" -- Bill Gates, 1981

times aren't getting shorter and shorter, but more people than ever can run under a 4.5. A 4.0 flat is just around the corner, with a few DNA modifications.

[chris5]

There is no way a clean person will ever run under a 4. Unless we start breeding with jungle cats.

jungle cats. hahahahha.

BTW, anyone know what a cheetah runs the 40 yd dash in?

[Heisman2]

"Nobody will ever need more than 640k RAM!" -- Bill Gates, 1981

times aren't getting shorter and shorter, but more people than ever can run under a 4.5. A 4.0 flat is just around the corner, with a few DNA modifications.

Not a legit 4.0. If Ben Johnson rand a 4.38 in the 9.79 race, then I doubt anybody will ever legitimately break 4.20, much less 4.00.

[KrushR]

Not a legit 4.0. If Ben Johnson rand a 4.38 in the 9.79 race, then I doubt anybody will ever legitimately break 4.20, much less 4.00.

*bookmarking this post for when some test-tube genetically modified monster does it in 2021*

[Person]

He ran faster than 4.38 (take out reaction times) in his race where he went 9.79, it was sub 4.2, but that was with blocks/track/spikes. He also could have gone a tad faster, I'm sure, in a shorter race where relaxation would not be an issue.

With NFL "hand timing", he reportedly ran 3.75 40 yard dash. That puts into perspective hand times, in my opinion. Also, the NFL way of electric timing is far different from that used in track & field. The NFL, if I recall, does not use a photo finish (rather a laser, which will change times slightly) and often, the start is a manual start, which is one reason why a lot of the combine coaches will coach guys to have their hand about waist level--the timers then have a harder time seeing first movement.

[Heisman2]

He ran faster than 4.38 (take out reaction times) in his race where he went 9.79, it was sub 4.2, but that was with blocks/track/spikes. He also could have gone a tad faster, I'm sure, in a shorter race where relaxation would not be an issue.

With NFL "hand timing", he reportedly ran 3.75 40 yard dash. That puts into perspective hand times, in my opinion. Also, the NFL way of electric timing is far different from that used in track & field. The NFL, if I recall, does not use a photo finish (rather a laser, which will change times slightly) and often, the start is a manual start, which is one reason why a lot of the combine coaches will coach guys to have their hand about waist level--the timers then have a harder time seeing first movement.

Ah, I forgot about reaction times.

[Just A Robot]

Nate Soelberg is the man

[Laxathlete28]

Reggie Bush could be clocked in the low 4s for sure in the combine. I dont know about a 4.2, but hes one to watch. People call him the fastest man in college football, opponents dont even touch him on runs.

[ArmstrongMike]

deangelo williams will be one of the lowest he's so explosive going through the holes

[IllumX]

Reggie Bush could be clocked in the low 4s for sure in the combine. I dont know about a 4.2, but hes one to watch. People call him the fastest man in college football, opponents dont even touch him on runs.

he just pulls away from EVERYONE

[ajn]

"Reggie Bush could be clocked in the low 4s for sure in the combine. I dont know about a 4.2, but hes one to watch. People call him the fastest man in college football, opponents dont even touch him on runs."

lol here's a pic of Reggie getting owned in a race by a white guy:

http://www.dyestat.com/image/2out/ca...-finish457.jpg

[reddevilfb]

"Reggie Bush could be clocked in the low 4s for sure in the combine. I dont know about a 4.2, but hes one to watch. People call him the fastest man in college football, opponents dont even touch him on runs."

lol here's a pic of Reggie getting owned in a race by a white guy:

http://www.dyestat.com/image/2out/ca...-finish457.jpg

And you know what's really funny?? That guy is probably going to be a grease monkey, while Reggie is going to be making millions...

[cosmo34]

Bush got a 4.28 according to the Sporting News in an article they did on him and Hester and a couple other burners in the college ranks this year

[Person]

And you know what's really funny?? That guy is probably going to be a grease monkey, while Reggie is going to be making millions...

Although I wouldn't call him a grease monkey (he also is probably going to a much better college than you ever will and is 10x the athlete), he is no longer running track and will probably not make as much as Bush anytime soon.

[JValmont]

"Reggie Bush could be clocked in the low 4s for sure in the combine. I dont know about a 4.2, but hes one to watch. People call him the fastest man in college football, opponents dont even touch him on runs."

lol here's a pic of Reggie getting owned in a race by a white guy:

http://www.dyestat.com/image/2out/ca...-finish457.jpg

I doubt the kid beating Reggie bush in this race could beat him in a race with both of them wearing football pads.

[Dr Triceps]

Not a legit 4.0. If Ben Johnson rand a 4.38 in the 9.79 race, then I doubt anybody will ever legitimately break 4.20, much less 4.00.

Supposedly Willie Gault ran a 4.06. Alexander Wright ran a 3.9 (many say it was a bad time). One time I egged a car and ran 4 blocks in 5 seconds. I'm sure if the starters gun was real they would all run under 4.0...

[Jhawk Fitness]

Although I wouldn't call him a grease monkey (he also is probably going to a much better college than you ever will and is 10x the athlete), he is no longer running track and will probably not make as much as Bush anytime soon.

do you know the guys name? it'd be interesting to see what path his athletic career takes.

[user461781]

Several top draft picks wont do combine tests so that they get drafted higher. So chances are youre not going to see reggie bush running in the combine

[ajn]

"do you know the guys name? it'd be interesting to see what path his athletic career takes."

matt bruno. he runs track at UCLA, and he was the first white California sprint champ in like 30 years.

[Person]

"do you know the guys name? it'd be interesting to see what path his athletic career takes."

matt bruno. he runs track at UCLA, and he was the first white California sprint champ in like 30 years.

Exactly. From what I heard, he had very good high school coaches, but did not perform up to standards (his own and his university's) in college. He was asked to leave the team, but the reasoning was supposedly just so that they could free open a scholarship spot. Reggie Bush, while very quick and having great vision, does not have the same speed as elite track sprinters. Xavier Carter is probably the fastest college baller right now.

[jr93]

do u guys not realize that nfl timing goes on first movement? handing timing is .24 seconds off supposedly along with the fact that the sprinter starts the timer not vice versa like with track. 40 times are typically ridiculous. they say randy moss ran a 4.2 yet his 55 meter college record in translates into getting beat by about 5 meters in a 60m dash. an ass whooping. over 200m he'd lose by nearly 2 seconds to world class sprinters and would be neck and neck with flo jo in her prime. most fast football players DO NOT have "world class speed".

[KrushR]

One time I egged a car and ran 4 blocks in 5 seconds.

amazing what a shot of adrenaline will do. I was pranking a friend's house in college when he walked out the front door. I sprinted across his yard and jumped a huge ravine, got in my car and hauled ass. The next day I looked at the ravine and have no idea how I cleared it.

[watchandsee23]

Exactly. From what I heard, he had very good high school coaches, but did not perform up to standards (his own and his university's) in college. He was asked to leave the team, but the reasoning was supposedly just so that they could free open a scholarship spot. Reggie Bush, while very quick and having great vision, does not have the same speed as elite track sprinters. Xavier Carter is probably the fastest college baller right now.

Who is Xavier CArter? Reggie bush is very very fast but I could name a couple athletes in college that are faster, for instance devin hester and Theodore Ginn Jr. I would like to see those three in a foot race or one try to catch the other in open feild. Reggie bush is all around fast, Devin hester has the best accelaration I've ever seen in football, and Theodore Ginn Jr. has good top speed.

[JValmont]

Who is Xavier CArter? Reggie bush is very very fast but I could name a couple athletes in college that are faster, for instance devin hester and Theodore Ginn Jr. I would like to see those three in a foot race or one try to catch the other in open feild. Reggie bush is all around fast, Devin hester has the best accelaration I've ever seen in football, and Theodore Ginn Jr. has good top speed.

Xavier Carter is a wide reciever for LSU.

Here is his profile: http://lsu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=16748

[thebestrbevr28]

a guy in the nfl ran a 4.18
i read it in sports illustrated magazine he got tat's on his arms that say it