The news that West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin ran an unofficial 4.25-second 40 (which officially was adjusted to 4.34 seconds) was eye-opening but not surprising.
The numbers, which strip away the potential illusions created by game film generated against inferior talent, confirm the best quote we heard from an NFL G.M. while attending the Scouting Combine.
“He runs like he has a rocket in his ass,” said the G.M. on Thursday. (He didn’t request anonymity, but we’ll assume he didn’t want to have his name attached to the remark.)
Apart from the fact that it conjures one hell of an image, there’s a new nickname for Austin floating around in there, somewhere.