NFL Combine 2022: Ranking the fastest players

The best of the best from the 2022 NFL Combine

Speed is the name of the game as football embraces a more wide-open approach in the modern era, placing a premium of acquiring players who can move in a hurry. And it was the top story at the 2022 NFL Combine, too.

A pair of former Baylor players walked away with two of the fastest times ever seen in the 40 yard dash, while this year's stock of running backs went a long way in re-affirming the reputation of a position some scouts tend to look over.

Let's take a look at the fastest players to run through this year's NFL Combine, regardless of position.

Players tied at 4.40 seconds

Zamir White, RB, Georgia

Josh Thompson, CB, Texas

A pair of players who may have improved their NFL Draft stocks, White and Thompson both clocked in at 4.4 seconds exactly. White's time, in particular, was impressive given his having multiple knee surgeries in his career. The Georgia back beat out the likes of Wan'Dale Robinson (4.4) and Jahan Dotson (4.43).

Players tied at 4.39 seconds

Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama

Kaiir Elam, DB, Florida

Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh

A two-time All-American with 33 combined career TDs, Hall stood out among running backs at the Combine this year. As did Olave, one of the most high-profile wideouts in this year's class, who impressed not only with his straight-line speed, but with a solid showing in the pass catching drills.

Players tied at 4.38 seconds

Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State

Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska

Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Dax Hill, DB, Michigan

Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina

Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State

D'Vonte Price, RB, Florida International

Cobie Durant, CB, SC State

Walker, the power behind Michigan State's offense and the Doak Walker Award winner for 2021, came in a hair better than Breece Hall, and his 34-inch vertical leap also placed among the top half of prospects at his position.

Players tied at 4.37 seconds

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Rutgers

Lewis Cine, DB, Georgia

Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State

Pacheco started all 12 games last fall as a junior, leading the team with 647 yards rushing and five TDs on 167 carries. He finished No. 6 in Rutgers history in carries (563), seventh in rushing yards (2,442) and No. 11 in all-purpose yards (3,039).

Cine may have used the NFL Combine to edge himself ahead of Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton as the No. 1 draft prospect at his position.

Players tied at 4.36 seconds

Alontae Taylor, DB, Tennessee

JT Woods, DB, Baylor

Tycen Anderson, DB, Toledo

Amare Barno, DE, Virginia Tech

Percy Butler, DB, Louisiana

Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

Taylor began his career as a wide receiver four years ago, recorded 162 tackles, 15 pass breakups, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 45 games for the Vols. And he capped it off with one of the fastest 40 times among the players at his position at the NFL Combine.

Players tied at 4.34 seconds

Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers

Nick Cross, DB, Maryland

Playing at Rutgers doesn't always get your tape in front of NFL scouts, so putting on a shot at the Combine is a good insurance policy. As it was for Melton, who used the occasion to blaze through one of the fastest times at this year's event.

Players tied at 4.33 seconds

Danny Gray, WR, SMU

Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State

This pair of speedsters made the 40 yard dash look easy, and in the process likely inched themselves up in the eventual draft order. You couldn't blame either one of these players if they didn't run again at their pro days after proving themselves in Indy.

5. Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis

NFL Combine 40 time: 4.32 seconds

Five inches under six feet in height, some scouts may quite literally overlook the former Memphis wideout. But he put a lot of concerns about his size to bed when he ran through the third-best 40 mark among wide receivers.

4. Velus Jones, WR, Tennessee

NFL Combine 40 time: 4.31 seconds

Speed has always been the SEC's calling card, and the former Vols wideout emerged as the fastest player from the conference at this year's event. Jones earned a reputation as a speedster after the catch and as a kick return specialist at UT.

3. Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor

NFL Combine 40 time: 4.28 seconds

For a moment there, it looked like Thornton may have run the fastest 40 ever. He clocked an unofficial 4.21 his first time out. Had that mark held, he would have broken the 4.22 record set by John Ross. Still, 4.28 ain't bad, either.

2. Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA

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NFL Combine 40 time: 4.26 seconds

A former wide receiver, Woolen has converted that speed to the defensive side of the ball, and should be a target for teams needing a rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism on the back end. He also impressed in the hands drill, a major plus that teams look for when scouting defensive backs.

1. Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor

NFL Combine 40 time: 4.23 seconds

The former Baylor defensive back officially clocked the fastest time at the 2022 Combine, a shade under the record 4.22 time set by Washington receiver John Ross in 2017. Barnes walks away with the fastest time by a defensive back in Combine history.

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