Tag: 40 yard dash

Standout combine performance should put Justin Jefferson in Saints’ crosshairs

LSU Tigers receiver Justin Jefferon punched his ticket as a first-round talent at the Combine, and the New Orleans Saints should take notice

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The New Orleans Saints badly need to add talent at wide receiver, and LSU Tigers prospect Justin Jefferson might be the best possible fit for them in the 2020 NFL Draft class. Jefferson showed everything you’d hope to see in his final year with the Tigers, helping lead them to an undefeated record capped by a National Championship Game victory, but he sealed the deal with an impressive outing at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Jefferson nailed the 40-yard dash, finishing with a laser-timed official mark of 4.43 seconds (consistently running in the 4.4’s with hand-timed measurements). That proves that the breakaway speed Jefferson flashes in game tape isn’t a byproduct of scheme or system; he’s a naturally gifted athlete who the Saints badly need to help take some pressure off of Michael Thomas. Even if Thomas handled 185 targets with relative ease, the Saints offense has always been at its best with multiple viable threats through the air.

And Jefferson fits that description. He’s excelled in a similar offense conducted by former Saints assistant Joe Brady (now back in the NFL as Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator), playing with a style characterized by some observant Saints fans as “Willie Snead with more juice.” Jefferson specialized in winning on in-breaking routes out of the slot, attacking passes over the middle of the field and shedding wannabe tacklers for big gains throughout the year. That’s a skills set the Saints hoped to acquire in Cameron Meredith (who was cut down by a lingering knee injury) and haven’t really replicated since Snead left for the Baltimore Ravens a few years ago.

There’s no question whether Jefferson would be a great fit for the Saints. But after this combine performance, concerns have to surround whether he’ll even be available when the Saints go on the clock at No. 24.

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Troy Pride, Jr. Listed as Contender for Fastest 40 Time at NFL Combine

For what it’s worth, wide receiver John Ross of Washington ran a 4.22 40 yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine which is the recorded for fastest dash to this day.

A ton has been made about Troy Pride, Jr. who we discussed last week for despite not having the most impressive statline, having quite a resume and seemingly having his stock rise ahead of the NFL Draft.

Pride’s coverage skills were always good at Notre Dame even if his size isn’t exactly that of a traditional NFL cornerback, at least not of the traditionally sized stars.

However, his speed is truly elite.  The former track team member at Notre Dame ran a 10.5 second 100 meter dash at the ACC Outdoor Championships in 2018, good enough for a fifth place finish before he moved on from track and focused solely on football.

The USA TODAY tried to guess who will run the fastest 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine this week and named a few of the favorites to walk away with the fastest time.  Pride is by no means their pick but he’s listed with the following writeup:

Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame

One of our earlier picks as a sleeper to watch at the combine, Pride could seize the stage at the combine by following a standout Senior Bowl with another impressive workout. Pride said he’s “way faster now” than when Notre Dame hand-timed him at 4.30, and he was recognized as one of the Athletic Coast Conference’s top sprinters during his freshman and sophomore years.

For what it’s worth, wide receiver John Ross of Washington ran a 4.22 40 yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine which is the recorded for fastest dash to this day.

NFL draft analyst predicts Henry Ruggs’ 40-time

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah announces his prediction for former Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs. How fast will @__RUGGS run at the #NFLCombine? @MoveTheSticks | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/9DxG3J0oto – NFL Network (@nflnetwork) …

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah announces his prediction for former Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs.

Running the 40-yard dash at the combine under 4.4 seconds is extremely impressive, but running at or below a 4.2 is other worldly.

John Ross, the wide receiver out of Washington, ran a 4.22 in the 2017 NFL Combine. He was then drafted No. 9 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Completing the drill at that pace could cement Ruggs’ name in NFL history, as well as help him move up in the draft.

He is currently considered a mid-to-late first-round pick, with Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb considered to be the top-tw receivers in the draft. However, an impressive combine from Ruggs, paired with his intense speed, could land him inside the top-15.

The NFL Combine is set to kickoff on Feb. 23 in Indianapolis where 10 Alabama players landed invites.

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Watch: Chris Tyree Takes Second Place in Under Armour Fastest Man Competition

You don’t win football games by lining up and running 40 yards straight ahead time after time but in a competition this is promising for a player who has plenty of film that shows he’s more than just a sprinter in shoulder pads.

If you’ve heard Brian Kelly in recent days he’s mentioned he believes Notre Dame can take another step still in terms of their recruiting.  He pretty much has stated that they’re in a really good place but can still take it a step further.

One place where they improved recruiting this most recent class was at the running back position where they were able to sign Chris Tyree of Chester, Virginia, the highest rated running back to choose Notre Dame during Kelly’s tenure.

Tyree is participating in the Under Armour All-American Game this Thursday in Orlando where he was selected to be a game captain.

In preparation for Thursday’s event practices have been taking place in Orlando as day two (Monday, 12/30) brought about the annual fastest man competition.

Tyree didn’t disappoint, finishing second by a nose to Arian Smith, a future Georgia Bulldog.

You don’t win football games by lining up and running 40 yards straight ahead time after time but in a competition this is promising for a player who has plenty of film that shows he’s more than just a sprinter in shoulder pads.

Rivals Recruiting Director Mike Farrell went as far to call Tyree an immediate impact for Notre Dame.

Practices continue Tuesday before Thursday’s game at the same venue Notre Dame just got done beating Iowa State in.