The most anticipated event every year at the NFL Combine is the 40-yard dash, and the 2025 edition will be no different.
There’s something inherently fun about watching some of the best athletes in the world compete to run as fast as possible. The 40-yard dash created a significant buzz in 2024, as Texas wide receiver and eventual Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Xavier Worthy broke the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history at 4.21 seconds.
Worthy leaves the 2025 NFL Draft class with a difficult bar to reach, but even if nobody surpasses that time this year, there should still be some incredible times clocked for certain players in this year’s group.
Now that the NFL has released the full list of participants at this year’s Combine, we have an understanding of which players could compete for the fastest time. Here are seven players who could run the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine.
Potential Fastest 40-Yard Dashes at 2025 NFL Combine
Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
A standout track athlete in high school, Jaydon Blue is one of the more intriguing backs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Blue has never topped even 140 carries in a single season, giving him a smaller sample size than the average back entering the league. That can also be considered a positive, though, as he doesn’t have too much tread on his tires.
He is an explosive runner with impressive acceleration out of the backfield and the breakaway speed needed to serve as a home-run threat when he gets out in space. His intriguing combination of athleticism and size – 6’0″ and 200 pounds – makes him a worthy late-round flyer, and a strong 40-yard dash time could propel him even higher.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
With over 2,000 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in the last two years, Bhayshul Tuten has the production to warrant NFL looks. With a 40-yard dash timed at 4.32 in the 2024 offseason, he sure has the speed for it, too.
Tuten broke away for 21 carries that gained 15+ yards, tying him for 10th in the FBS. When he gets out in space, he’s a certified speed demon with the raw athleticism needed to outrun defenders. It also helps that, even if defenders catch up to him, he’s a tough runner who isn’t afraid to lower the shoulder.
In a draft class full of running back talent, Tuten is a player that shouldn’t be ignored. If he runs as well as anticipated at the 2025 NFL Combine, his stock should shoot even higher.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Some may find Ashton Jeanty’s inclusion surprising, as some have deemed his vertical speed a potential weakness. However, his in-game speed shows that those concerns are highly exaggerated.
In his dominant 2024 season, Jeanty led the nation with the most runs timed at 21 miles per hour or above. He’s a difficult player to bring down when he gets out into the open field. That speaks to his tremendous contact balance, agility, and flat-out speed in a straight line.
Jeanty figures to be the top running back off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a strong 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, though, he could find himself rising even higher up boards.
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
A former wide receiver at Miami who made the jump to play running back at SMU in 2024, Brashard Smith used his top-notch athleticism and receiving chops to become a valuable asset in the Mustangs’ run to the postseason.
Smith is tied among 2025 NFL Combine participants with the fastest timed in-game speed, reaching a blazing 22.1 mph in Week 10 of the 2024 season. One could argue he’s the best receiving back in the class, as he possesses tremendous overall athleticism with soft hands to match.
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Of the players on this list, Isaiah Bond could end up the highest-selected of the bunch. He’s a big-play receiver with electric downfield speed and the athleticism needed to break away for big gains after the catch. He’s also a shifty route runner, and while his college production doesn’t jump off the page, the tape shows he can get open consistently.
Bond has his sights set on Worthy’s 40-yard dash record, and while that’s a high bar to reach, his tape shows he could come very close. Don’t be surprised if he cracks the 4.2 range at the NFL Combine this year.
Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
It takes a rare athlete to stand out on a squad as talented as Georgia’s football team, but as a former two-sport athlete with the fourth-best 100-meter time in their track program’s history, Arian Smith fits that bill.
Smith broke out in 2024 with career numbers, tallying 48 catches for 817 yards and four touchdowns. He finished his time at Georgia with 19.9 yards per catch, which would be the fourth-highest average in SEC history had he caught more passes before his last season.
Watching the tape, Smith has legitimate 4.2 speed and can take the top off the defense and stretch the field vertically. Even on plays where he isn’t the primary read, defenses need to account for him down the field because of how fast he is. Though a bit raw as a technical route runner, his athleticism is undeniable.
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Given his playmaking abilities on both sides of the ball, Travis Hunter figures to be one of the first picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. If he runs a strong 40-yard dash time as expected, he could further stake his claim as the top overall player in the class.
Hunter timed as one of the fastest in-game defensive players in college football at 21 mph this year, most notably as the fastest defensive player invited to the 2025 NFL Combine. His stamina to take on a full-time role on both offense and defense is tremendous, but his speed shows up at both wide receiver and cornerback, too.
