Who Were the 5 Fastest Players at the 2025 NFL Combine?
One of the NFL's most famous Combine drills got some new speedsters this year.
The 2025 NFL Combine showcases the best incoming college players entering this year's National Football League Draft. It's always an interesting watch for those of us who are interested in following our favorite players from one level to another. Sure, it's not as vital as the Draft, where everyone's fates are eventually set, but a good Combine performance can drastically change how a player's future looks in the league. And even beyond that, watching players excel at certain drills is always fun.
Every player at the Combine goes through a number of drills, some universal and some position-specific, but by far the most famous drill is the 40-yard dash. This is, of course, exactly what it sounds like: Each player lines up and sprints 40 yards to get their top time for scouts and coaches to log. Speed is vital in the NFL, and some of the fastest players in league history are still remembered for their 40 times.
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So, who was the fastest this year? Let's take a closer look at the NFL Combine's fastest 40 times of 2025, and the players we'll see on Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock this Fall.
The 5 fastest players at the 2025 NFL Combine
Maxwell Hairston (CB) - 4.28 seconds
Topping the 40-yard dash at this year's NFL Combine, we have Maxwell Hairston, a cornerback from the University of Kentucky who put up a very good number for scouts. It's not a Top 10 all-time number, to be clear, but for Hairston, who's hoping to apply his talents in the NFL after a college career at a lower-ranking school, it's an important one. His speed, plus his other Combine stats, were enough to make him NBC Sports' top defensive riser in the Draft after the Combine. He's looking at a late First Round pick at the moment.
Matthew Golden (WR) - 4.29 seconds
Just behind Hairston, we have University of Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, who finished just a hundredth of a second out of first place in this year's 40. Golden's run put him first among all offensive players in the drill this year, making him an NBC Sports pick as a riser after his Combine performance, and a solid First Round Draft prospect.
Darien Porter (CB) - 4.30 seconds
Iowa State's Darien Porter couldn't outrace Hairston for the top spot in the Combine this year, but he did finish with the third-best 40 time, good enough to rank him second among cornerback prospects. He's got a solid rating, and while he might not be First Round material, his speed, size, and athleticism point to a bright future.
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Dont'e Thornton Jr. (WR) - 4.30 seconds
Tied with Porter for third is Tennessee wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr., who picked up 661 yards and six touchdowns during the Volunteers' 2024 season. His 40 time puts him second among wide receivers, just behind Golden, and his speed plus his 6'5" height mean he'll be a prospect offensive coaches will hope to develop into a serious weapon.
Bhayshul Tuten (RB) - 4.32 seconds
Finishing first among running backs this year, we've got Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten, who came in at just over 4.3 seconds with his 40 time. He's not the top running back in the Draft -- that honor goes to Boise State's Ashton Jeanty -- but he's definitely going to draw more eyes after his 40 performance, maybe enough to get him picked on the second day of the Draft.
Who's the fastest player in NFL Combine history?
The fastest 40-yard dash time ever recorded came just last year at the 2024 Combine, when Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy clocked an astonishing 4.21 seconds, earning him a spot on the 2025 AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
For more NFL news, head to NBC Sports, and get ready for the return of Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock this Fall.
