NFL combine - Day 1: Thornton loses record run, Willis impresses
Baylor's Tyquan Thornton ran the fastest 40-yard dash Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he missed out on the record after the league corrected his time.
Thornton was unofficially clocked at 4.21, which would've been 0.01 seconds faster than John Ross' record run in 2017. The NFL gave the 6-foot-2, 181-pound target an official time of 4.28, tying him for the sixth-fastest dash in combine history.
WOW. JUST WOW.@BUFootball WR Tyquan Thornton might've just broken the all-time 40 record with a 4.21u.
โ NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2022
๐บ: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/WvR8FfKv6M
Ohio State's Chris Olave, a projected first-round pick, initially registered a 4.26 sprint - which would've been the fourth-fastest time in combine history - but he had his official time downgraded to a 4.39.
Here are the top 40-yard times from the three position groups that performed in front of NFL teams at Lucas Oil Stadium:
Wide receivers
| Player | School | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Tyquan Thornton | Baylor | 4.28 |
| Velus Jones | Tennessee | 4.31 |
| Calvin Austin | Memphis | 4.32 |
| Alec Pierce | Cincinnati | 4.33 |
| Danny Gray | SMU | 4.33 |
Tight ends
| Player | School | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Chig Okonkwo | Maryland | 4.52 |
| Jelani Woods | Virginia | 4.61 |
| Grant Calcaterra | SMU | 4.62 |
| Daniel Bellinger | San Diego State | 4.63 |
| Greg Dulcich | UCLA | 4.70 |
Quarterbacks
| Player | School | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Desmond Ridder | Cincinnati | 4.52 |
| EJ Perry | Brown | 4.65 |
| Kenny Pickett | Pittsburgh | 4.73 |
| Dustin Crum | Kent State | 4.75 |
| Brock Purdy | Iowa State | 4.84 |
Liberty's Malik Willis, a potential first-round pick, skipped the 40-yard dash but still boosted his stock by showing off his arm strength during on-field drills.
An absolute BEAUTY of a throw from @LibertyFootball
โ NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2022
QB @malikwillis ๐ฎ
๐บ: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/nBtecvoB2I
Pitt's Kenny Pickett, whose small hands became the biggest story of the day in Indianapolis, also had his moments.
.@Pitt_FB QB @kennypickett10 letting it fly. โ๏ธ
โ NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2022
๐บ: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/9wgAtIufd8
Running backs and offensive linemen are scheduled to work out on the field Friday.