The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering 40 yards (36.58 m). It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football. This was traditionally only true for the "skill" positions such as running back, wide receiver, and defensive back, although now a fast 40-yard dash time is considered important for almost every position. The 40-yard dash is not an official race in track and field athletics and is not an IAAF-recognized event.
The origin of timing football players for 40 yards comes from the average distance of a punt and the time it takes to reach that distance. Punts average around 40 yards in distance from the line of scrimmage, and the hangtime (time of flight) averages approximately 4.5 seconds. Therefore, if a coach knows that a player runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, he will be able to leave the line of scrimmage when a punt is kicked, and reach at the point where the ball comes down just as it arrives.
Jadeveon Clowney (born February 14, 1993) is an American football defensive end. He recently graduated from South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Clowney was named South Carolina's 2010 Mr. Football, and considered the consensus No. 1 football recruit in the United States for his class.
For the 2010 season, Clowney had 162 tackles, 29.5 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, 6 fumbles recoveries, 43 quarterback pressures and five defensive touchdowns. South Pointe was 38-6 during his three varsity seasons. He is considered the best college football prospect in recent memory.
Clowney was named by ESPN, as well as Scouts and Rivals, as the top college football recruiting prospect in the nation leading into the 2011 NCAA Signing Day, (February 2, 2011). Clowney himself stated in an interview that he had narrowed down his prospects to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Clemson Tigers, and the South Carolina Gamecocks; however, he did not commit on National Signing Day. On February 14, 2011, his 18th birthday, Clowney committed to the University of South Carolina.
Noel Devine (born February 16, 1988) is an American football running back for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.
He had a successful football career for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He was a former blue chip prospect and holds many high school rushing records. Devine completed his freshman season at West Virginia University, finishing with 73 carries for 627 yards and 6 touchdowns. Devine ended the season with 1,316 all-purpose yards, the 24th most in a single-season in school history. His performance in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl included a 65 yard TD run, the longest run by a West Virginia player in the school's NCAA bowl history.
Devine went to North Fort Myers High School, the same high school attended by NFL stars Deion Sanders and Jevon Kearse. Devine rushed for 627 yards and averaged 8.6 yards per carry as a freshman. In his sophomore year, Noel had 1289 yards and 23 TDs on 206 carries, for an average of 6.3. One of his most impressive games of his 10th grade year was in the 63-7 victory over Estero High. Devine rushed for 365 yards and six touchdowns on only nine carries. Devine also returned the kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown. As a Junior, Devine rushed for 1,986 yards and 24 touchdowns on 173 carries, averaging 11.5 yards per carry. In his senior year, Devine totaled 2,148 yards and 31 touchdowns.
De'Anthony Thomas (born January 5, 1993) is an American college football running back. He is a student at the University of Oregon and plays on its football team, the Oregon Ducks. He previously attended Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, California, where he played running back, defensive back, and wide receiver.
Thomas rushed for 1,299 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense and collected five interceptions on defense, while leading Crenshaw (12-2) to its second straight city championship. Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Thomas was listed as the No. 1 athlete prospect in the class of 2011.
Thomas is also a sprinter, with a personal best of 10.57 seconds in the 100 meters and 20.61 seconds in the 200 meters.
During his time at Crenshaw, he was given the nickname "Black Mamba" by Snoop Dogg and also played in his football league The SYFL (Snoop Youth Football League)
Thomas had a standout 2011 season as a true Freshman for Oregon. He amassed a staggering 2,235 all-purpose yards, while his season haul of 18 touchdowns reset the school record for number of touchdowns by a true Freshman.
Taylor Mays (born February 7, 1988) is an American football safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football at USC. After stepping into the starting role at free safety for the USC Trojans after an injury to teammate Josh Pinkard during his freshman year, Mays missed only 4 of his 52 career games and earned All-American honors and All-Pac 10 honors three times. He ended his junior season as one of the top three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation's best defensive back.
Mays was drafted in the second round (49th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
Mays was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of Stafford Mays, a former defensive lineman in the National Football League, and Laurie Mays (née Black), a Nordstrom executive. His younger brother, Parker Mays, attends Seattle Prep. He is African-American and Jewish (he was raised in his mother's Jewish religion); of his bar mitzvah, he said: "I don't think at the time I really understood what it meant. Now, looking back on it, I feel like I have come a long way in regards to maturity and becoming an adult. I think it helped me do that."
Yeah, I tried to run but couldn't get too far
My heart is pumpin' but still runnin' in place
No matter how hard I try to get your touch
When you're away to love a girl is too much
But every time I run I need you oh so bad
But I'm running scared my heart's beatin' so fast
I heard that you could make a man change his plan
That's why I'm running fast, I'm running the 100 yard dash
I ran for the hills, girl where you were
How you appear you see I never know
I told the bartender to pour me a double face
Then light me a smoke so I can sing some jazz
Now here come them legs, here come those eyes
And me the one I can never deny
I'm trying to be smooth as I can
But I guess I need another plan
I need your lovin' baby oh so bad
But I'm running scared my heart's beatin' so fast
I heard that you could make a man change his plan
That's why I'm running fast, I'm running the 100 yard dash
Your love gets stronger
And it feels like everyday it's getting longer
I feel your love like a monkey on my back
Girl your honey's so big see I can feel the attack
Oh, oh, I need some lovin'
I, I want your lovin'
I gotta have your lovin'
Young dro! Yall already know what it is when im on that Ecstacy! Who dis is? Grand Hustle?
Aye lets do it nigga!
All we make is cash, Straight drop glass
Niggas try to jack it, we'll straight drop ass
Trunk on blast and our cars go fast
Choppa make a nigga do a 100 yard daaaash
Ima bankhead veteran
Got em takin eccederin
Suckas caught headaches when they saw me on David Letterman
Ride round severan, off the heads(bankhead & buckhead) to my brotheren
Man this gangsta picture been on Paul Wall ever since
I was young wit medicine
Now im in the yellow bent
Thought the shit was lame, das why I aint go and get the yellow tint
Tell em kent
We ride phantoms supplyin anthems
Body full of reptile camo's and fine pampers
Shine amper, fox fur
Submarine boxster
Kill a nigga ass on time, they call me clockster
Lightskin mossberg, not the black but the chrome one
26 davins, the black back with the chrome front
All we make is cash, Straight drop glass
Niggas try to jack it, we'll straight drop ass
Trunk on blast and our cars go fast
Choppa make a nigga do a 100 yard daaaash
Aye look, Brasco Astro
Big shipment in advance, dead fresh nigga plaid put on castro
Give em what they ask for, 20 thousand in sacks
Stand on the trap till I see the damn task force
Come back in a black porche, Me and Bola
This Xtaci time, when the sunshines its over
White cola, systems are metric, force sucessive
Aint no choice, I'm aggressive
My brauds walk on giseptics and nati
Mark Jacobs in the maple Marzarati
I'm rich, nothin to do, So I'm taking up karate
And I'm taping up my body like the NFL quarterback
Michael Vick shit, I know how to bring a quarterback
All we make is cash, Straight drop glass
Niggas try to jack it, we'll straight drop ass
Trunk on blast and our cars go fast
Choppa make a nigga do a 100 yard daaaash
Bitch please, Shawty I know u aint got these
Varagomas on my face and some juicy gatore jeans
Bitch I'm ballin wit some pimps who be lettin they shoulda lean
Know them grills gone bling
And them banks go $chiiing$
Listen, Ima queen, 5 carat ring
See through blouse and my nipples aint seen
Everybody know that I'm quick to beat a hoe ass
In a quick flash, make them bitches hit the floor fast
Drop top, in the other seat, I got plenty cash
Always first class, Bitch I was made to last
You a old rag still stuntin wit a coach bag
Young fly bitches like to ride when the beat blast
All we make is cash, Straight drop glass
Niggas try to jack it, we'll straight drop ass
Trunk on blast and our cars go fast