Walk-on question

[Globetrotter]

40 times are also silly because only WRs and DBs and kick coverage guys ever run 40 yards. Why not due ten times? How funny would that be? that guy just ran a 1.2.

The shuttle run is a better determination of success in the NFL...IMO. It measures athleticism better.

[h2oville rocket]

Browse > Home / 40 Yard Dash, Fitness Testing / Fastest 40 Yard Dash Time? Fastest 40 Yard Dash Time?
January 24, 2008 by Jimson Lee


The shortest distance the IAAF recognizes for indoor world record performances is the 50 meters (approx 54 yards) run in 5.56 seconds set by Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey in 1996. The irony is he was considered a poor starter!

The current world record for 60 meters is 6.39 seconds set twice by American Maurice Greene in 1998 and 2001.

Canadian Ben Johnson broke the WR in the 50 yard dash in a time of 5.15 seconds in January 1988.

The Fastest 40 Yard Dash?
It was reported Ben Johnson splits in his ill-famous 9.79 100 meter race in Seoul was 4.38 seconds for 40 yards, 5.52 seconds for 50 meters, and 60 meters in 6.37. Both the 50m and 60m were under the current world records for those distances at the time.

At the 2001 World Championship 100m final in Edmonton, Maurice Greene covered 30m in 3.75 seconds and 40m in 4.64 seconds, extrapolating his 40 yard (36.576m) time at about 4.24 seconds.

Your friend needs to go to a school with Men's Track and forget about football.

I agree that many, probably most, of the reported 40 times for these high school athletes are bogus. But, most 40 times start on the runner's movement whereas track and field athletes must react to the gun. Do you any information in which that is accounted for?

There's a host of info on this and your point is taken up in some of the stuff I 've read. Google (or Yahoo like I did) fastest 40 times.

[Ryan Autullo]

Mark,

I'll admit to being a little cynical, but when your frat buddy was boasting about his 4.32 40 time, what he likely meant is he can pound a 40 of Old English in 4.32 seconds, which is still very impressive.

Again, I'm cynical, but this kid is either telling a tall tale, is the next Justin Timberlake, or his back is a mangled mess. Otherwise there is no good reason he's not on a DI roster right now. You don't think Eastern Michigan would have taken a chance on him?

[MarkL]

Hey just got back from campus - I was very slightly off on the 40 time - 4.38, not 4.32. Still pretty damn impressive! The element in the 40 time that everybody is missing, though, is pads. When you time your 40, you wear loose stuff and no pads. When you wear pads, you slow down a lot, so nobody runs that fast in the game.

And thanks for passing on contact info! Jeremy was very appreciative ... we'll see what happens from here!

[hammb]

40 times are also silly because only WRs and DBs and kick coverage guys ever run 40 yards. Why not due ten times? How funny would that be? that guy just ran a 1.2.

The shuttle run is a better determination of success in the NFL...IMO. It measures athleticism better.

I've read some people who think if you want one test to best measure athleticism the standing vertical jump is the weight to go. Measure's core strength, leg strength, and how it compares to overall body weight. Of course there is also some agility required in the technique to get the best jumps.

The short shuttle & cone drills are great to study the ability of a player to cut and change directions. This is why Kam Wimbley is a bust. People fell in love with his size & 40 time combo, but they forgot that he was one of the worst in those two tests in the LB class he was drafted in. What you have now is a guy that can dip his shoulder and speed rush, but cannot put together any moves to fool an OL. Those are VERY important pre-draft measurables, and don't get nearly the pub of the 40 time.