Fastest 40-yard dash: Texas' Xavier Worthy breaks John Ross' NFL Combine record with blazing run

Fastest 40-yard dash: Texas’ Xavier Worthy breaks John Ross’ NFL Combine record with blazing run

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy solidified himself as a combine legend with his 40-yard dash performance Saturday.

While NFL Combine success doesn’t necessarily guarantee NFL success, Worthy made quite a splash at the scouting showcase. The Longhorns’ receiver set an event record, completing the sprint in 4.21 seconds.

Worthy’s unofficial time was clocked at 4.22, which would have tied the record set by former Washington WR John Ross in 2017. The record was previously held by Chris Johnson, who ran a 4.24 in 2008.

Worthy wasn’t the only Texas receiver to light up the NFL Combine Saturday, as teammate Adonai Mitchell finished second among pass-catchers with an unofficial 4.34-second 40-yard dash. But 4.21 puts Worthy in a tier of his own.

Here’s a closer look at Worthy’s record-setting 40-yard dash and what it means.

MORE: Tracking the fastest 40-yard dashes at the 2024 NFL Combine

Xavier Worthy 40 time

Worthy’s record-setting time came in his second attempt. He ran an unofficial 4.25 on his first try before going back to make a run at the record.

Worthy entered the combine with the second-best odds to run the fastest 40-yard dash, coming in only behind Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens. Owens, however, suffered an injury on his first attempt Thursday. It’s hard to imagine Owens matching Worthy’s time, though, considering no one else in NFL Combine history has been able to do it.

For context, Worthy’s time came in faster than former Texas standout and Olympic track star Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin clocked in at 4.27 in 2013.

Worthy was a focal point of Texas’ terrific offense in 2023, totaling 1,014 yards and five touchdowns while helping the Longhorns reach the College Football Playoff. Unsurprisingly, Worthy’s season included the fastest run of any FBS player when he reached 22.7 mph on a punt return.

Fastest 40-yard dashes in NFL Combine history

MORE: 2024 NFL Combine measurement tracker

Xavier Worthy draft projection

SN’s Vinnie Iyer has the Colts selecting Worthy with the No. 46 pick in his latest mock draft.

Iyer ranks Worthy as the No. 41 prospect ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft and the ninth-ranked receiver. Worthy has spent much of the pre-draft process as a fringe first-round prospect, typically in the same tier as Mitchell, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey and Oregon’s Troy Franklin.

The 2024 draft is considered to have an exceptionally deep receiver class, headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers. The talent level at the top could push some strong receiving prospects into the second round — but Worthy made quite a statement about his blazing speed with his record-setting showing in Indianapolis.