Leading up to the NFL Combine, Xavier Worthy didn’t lack confidence. The former Texas Longhorns wide receiver talked a big game, stating that he was coming for John Ross’ 40-yard dash record.
In the seven years since Ross set the record, many players tried to beat his team but they all came up short. However, Worthy was different.
Xavier Worthy’s Impressive NFL Combine Performance
Prior to the NFL Combine, Worthy was already garnering significant attention from NFL teams thanks to his production at Texas, and he was being projected as a late-first or early-second round pick. However, his draft stock soared after his terrific performance in Indianapolis.
How Fast Is Worthy?
On the second of his two attempts, Worthy ran an official 4.21 40-yard dash time, breaking Ross’ record of 4.22 seconds.
OFFICIAL: 4.21
XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
After his record-setting run, Worthy was actually disappointed with his time.
“I feel like if I had another run, I would’ve gone faster,” Worthy said in an interview with Rich Eisen.
READ THIS: Ranking the Fastest Players in the NFL
Anyone who watched Worthy’s college tape knows that his speed translates to on-field success, as he was very successful throughout his three seasons at Texas.
“Turn on the film the routes there don’t let that lil 40 mess your head up,” Worthy wrote in a social media post, acknowledging that he’s more than just 40-yard dash time.
Turn on the film the routes there don’t let that lil 40 mess your head up
— Z A Y 🖤 (@XavierWorthy) March 3, 2024
How Old Is Worthy?
Born on April 27, 2003, Worthy is 21 years old. He was born in Fresno, California, and attended Central East High School, where he earned a four-star rating from 247 Sports as a highly touted recruit. Compared to the other rookies in this draft class, Worthy is on the younger side.
Worthy’s College Career
As a true freshman, Worthy racked up 62 catches for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns — all of which were Texas freshman records. As a result, he earned Freshman All-American honors from ESPN and The Athletic.
As a sophomore, Worthy’s stats dipped a bit, but he still had another productive season. He finished his second year at Texas with 60 catches for 760 yards and nine touchdowns.
His true breakout season occurred in 2023 when Worthy put up career-highs of 75 catches and 1,014 receiving yards along with five touchdowns. He helped lead Texas to a Big 12 Championship and the program’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
After his junior season, Worthy declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was viewed as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the class.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected him with the No. 28 overall pick. It should be fun watching Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes find ways to involve a wide receiver with Worthy’s game-changing speed.
Worthy is expected to play a significant role with Kansas City as a rookie, especially with fellow speedster Hollywood Brown sidelined early in the season after he dislocated the sternoclavicular joint in his shoulder in the preseason.