As the NFL Scouting Combine wraps up, we have our first sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash.
Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson was hand-timed at 4.29 seconds, according to NFL Network. That makes him, unofficially, the fastest player at the Combine this year.
Robinson’s other 40-yard dash was hand-timed at 4.31 seconds, so he has the two fastest forties of the day. The official times for the defensive backs have not yet been announced.
Robinson isn’t just a workout warrior; he also had good production on the field in college. In fact, Mike Mayock said on NFL Network that he didn’t see elite speed on the field when watching Robinson, although Mayock did like what he saw in other respects.
“Three-year starter, 36 starts, 10 interceptions: I like his ball skills and awareness,” Mayock said. “He played press and off-man at UCF.”
Robinson told reporters over the weekend that he decided to leave college early to enter the draft even though the NFL draft advisory board told him that he’d be a third-day pick at best. Robinson said he hopes NFL scouts will change their minds about him after watching tape of the 2010 Liberty Bowl, when Central Florida beat Georgia and Robinson spent most of the day covering A.J. Green, who would go on to have a brilliant rookie season with the Bengals in 2011. Green caught eight passes in that game, but he averaged just 9.6 yards a catch and never beat Robinson deep.
With that kind of speed, there may not be any receivers anywhere who can beat Robinson deep.