The University of Texas will produce two highly-drafted recivers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Xavier Worthy and his record 4.21 40 yard dash time during the Saturday of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, however, turned the most heads. Worthy first turned in a blistering 4.25 on his first attempt, already enough to be considered the fastest time any player turned in during the combine.
He lined up once again and made the run that will be immortalized in combine history. With his time, he took down John Ross’s seven year old record. But can 40 yard dash times really indicate how well a player will do in the NFL?
Speed Kills
Worthy’s 2023 season ended with 75 receptions for 1014 yards and five touchdowns. Worthy’s college teammate, Adonai Mitchell, finished above Worthy in production at Texas in their shared final season with the program. Mitchell’s own final season ended with eleven touchdowns against 55 catches and 845 yards receiving. Both players and their efforts at the combine, including Mitchell’s own 4.34 40 time, have both players as highly-touted prospects in a very deep class.
The college teammates were a big part of how Texas was able to advance to the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history and return to national prominence in 2023.
Past 40 Yard Dash Record Holders
Before Xavier Worthy were John Ross and Chris Johnson. Johnson ran a 4.24 in 2008, and Ross a 4.22 in 2017.
Johnson’s career lasted from 2008 to 2017. He enjoyed very early successes, including the 2009 campaign that immortalized his nickname as CJ2K. Late career injuries and production declines would lead to his retirement at the end of 2017. Ross’s career, by comparison, never quite got off the ground. Ross has, to this point, not played a full NFL season and has not been in the league since 2021. Ross’s best campaign as an NFL player came in his second, the only one where he played double digit games.
Where Might Worthy Go?
Johnson and Ross both shared one common trait: late day one or day two selections shooting up well into the first round of their respective drafts. Johnson, a commonly-viewed day two selection in 2008, was drafted 24th overall by the Titans in 2008. Ross went from a late first round selection in his own draft to being the 9th overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals.
This draft class is incredibly deep at the wide receiver position. Seven players, including Worthy and his teammate Mitchell, may go off the board on the first night of the 2024 NFL draft.
Expect the Texas star to be a candidate to be taken no worse than the 32nd and final pick of the draft, a selection that will pair him up with the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs and MVP Patrick Mahomes.