NFL Combine
2/24/25
6 min read
Predicting 2025 NFL Combine's Fastest Players
There are so many drills and meetings packed into the NFL Scouting Combine, but the most popular thing that fans pay attention to continues to be the 40-yard dash.
As players continue to get faster, the 40-yard dash continues to attract attention, watching prospects of all shapes and sizes attempt to boost their draft stock by showing off blazing speed. Xavier Worthy managed to vault himself into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by breaking the 40-yard dash combine record, running the drill in just 4.21 seconds.
While it's going to be difficult for anyone to break Worthy's time, there are still a handful of prospects who should wow scouts and fans alike with their blazing speed. Let's dive into who will likely be the fastest prospects in Indianapolis.
Predictions for COmbine's fastest players
Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon 
There will be teams hesitant about drafting Tez Johnson because of his size, but a blazing 40-yard dash time could have a few teams second-guessing themselves ahead of the 2025 draft.
After catching 83 passes for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season, Johnson came into the Senior Bowl at just over 5-foot-9 and only 156 pounds. That lighter frame didn't seem to phase him, as he dominated 1-on-1 drills, burning past just about any and every defensive back that he faced.
That lighter frame, combined with quick twitch ability and foot quickness, could allow Johnson to light it up during the 40-yard dash. Players like Worthy, Tutu Atwell, and DeVonta Smith have proven to be effective wideouts despite smaller frames, and Johnson is hoping that teams will forgive his sub-160-pound frame because of his speed.
Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
If anyone has a chance to break the 40-yard dash record, it's a former track star.
Early in his college career, Smith was a two-sport athlete, also competing on Georgia's track and field team. He qualified for the NCAA championships in 2021, running the 100 in just 10.1 seconds. In addition to being a naturally fast and explosive prospect, the track background will help Smith and his ability to get out of his stance, saving precious time before getting to full speed.
Speed is vital to keeping Smith relevant as a prospect. He saw only one year of legitimate production in college, catching 48 passes for 817 yards and four scores this past season. At 175 pounds, he's another smaller wide receiver option, but that blazing speed could make him an exciting developmental prospect for a team wanting to capitalize on his game-breaking speed.
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
If you want a darkhorse sleeper to blow everyone away, Iowa State's Darien Porter could be one in the 40-yard dash.
That's in spite of being one of the biggest cornerbacks at this year's combine. Porter measured in at the Senior Bowl at over 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds but also managed to clock one of the fastest top speeds down in Mobile, reaching 21.26 miles per hour.
That speed isn't a fluke, either. Porter broke multiple state records in Iowa as a high school track star before committing to Iowa State. Although he originally went to Ames as a wide receiver, the switch to cornerback paid off in 2024, where he became one of the best lockdown corners in the country.
Porter's length and long strides, combined with his straight-line speed, could give him a real chance at posting one of the best 40 times this week.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
This year's running back class is loaded with exciting prospects in all shapes and sizes. However, there might not be another running back prospect with the explosive, top-end speed that Dylan Sampson possesses.
Like the other names on this list, Sampson comes into the NFL with a high school track background, running the 100m in 10.48 seconds. He was also credited with a 40-yard dash time of 4.32 seconds before he ever set foot on campus in Knoxville.
Sampson's play style also shows off that top-end speed. This past season, he had 17 different runs that went for 15-plus yards, generating 453 yards on those runs. The final numbers were exceptional, averaging 5.8 yards per carry for 1,488 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns.
That kind of production, combined with his play speed, should make Sampson one of the first running backs off the board. He has a chance to solidify that draft status with a strong showing in the 40-yard dash.
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado 
The way that Travis Hunter has played football the last couple of seasons should have fans and scouts alike believing that anything is possible.
Along with unreal stamina, Hunter's excellent body control, athleticism, and football IQ allowed him to play full-time on offense and defense. The play speed really flashed at times, but there's a possibility that Hunter held back from sprinting at 100 percent full speed to avoid wearing himself out during games.
Without the worry of having to play an entire game, Hunter has the chance to show off his true top-end play speed at the combine, provided that he elects to go through drills. Hunter supposedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds in high school, but fans will have a much clearer picture of his top-end athleticism at this year's combine.
If Hunter decides to go through drills, it might go down as one of the most watched combine spectacles since the week-long event started to get televised.
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