Texas WR Isaiah Bond, RB Jaydon Blue feel they can beat Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record: ‘Might run a 4.1’

Washington Huskies wide receiver and Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick John Ross held the NFL Scouting Combine’s 40-yard dash record (4.22 seconds) since 2017.

It was broken last year by Texas Longhorns wide receiver and Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Xavier Worthy after he a ran a 4.21-second 40.  Now another Texas wideout, Isaiah Bond, is certain he can snatch the combine’s 40-yard dash crown just one year later.

“I’m going to break the record tomorrow, for sure,” Bond said on Friday, via All City DLLS. “I anticipate running a 4.20 or possibly if I’m feeling great I might run a 4.1.”

He wasn’t the only Longhorn to announce he will break Worthy’s record. Texas running back Jaydon Blue feels the same way as Bond, citing workouts with Worthy prior to his record-breaking sprint last offseason.

“I think I’ll break the 40 record … 4.1 or 4.20,” Blue said Friday, via The Athletic.

“Workouts all last year, that was the person [Worthy] I ran next to,” Blue continued, via Landry Locker. “Me and him used to go at it. He won a few, I won a few. He’s [Worthy] fast, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think people really know how fast I am because I don’t really run in games unless I have to. I think y’all will see that tomorrow.” 

With more and more players opting not to participate in drills at the combine, it is somewhat refreshing to see guys like Bond and Blue being passionate about balling out with the entire NFL world watching in person in Indianapolis. Bond’s and Blue’s claims go counter to what sports tech and data company Reel Analytics projects for what they will run on Saturday. They calculate Bond’s fastest time will be a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, which is really fast, but it’s not historic. He isn’t even projected to have the fastest time. That projection belongs to Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith, whom Reel Analytics projects to run a 4.32. Blue is projected to be the fastest running back and the sixth-fastest player with a 4.37 40-yard dash time. 

Even if Bond or Blue do break the record, it’s no guarantee that their speed alone will translate to a long NFL career. Ross played six seasons for three different teams, but injuries prevented him from playing a full season. His season career high in receiving yards topped out at 506 in 2019 with the Bengals.