The pro day workouts for college players at the University of Minnesota received some extra attention on Monday after Northern Iowa receiver Terrell Sinkfield reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.19 seconds, which would break the record for the top time ever recorded.
According to ESPN.com, Sinkfield reportedly ran a 4.1 40-yard dash at the pro day, which was on his second attempt. He was then asked by scouts to run for a third time, something none of the other prospects who participated in the pro day was asked to do, according to FoxSportsNorth.com.
Sinkfield was still solid on his final run despite tripping, running a 4.44. In his first attempt he reportedly ran a 4.27 giving him an average of 4.3 on the day. If the time is official it would be the fastest time recorded taken, beating Chris Johnson's 4.24 in 2008 at the scouting combine.
"I knew it was good when I finished," Sinkfield told the website of his 4.19 time. "I was pretty happy, so I came back. I thought I messed up when they said go again. I'm like, 'Dang, why do I have to run again?' "
The report said that Minnesota Vikings director of college scouting Scott Studwell spoke to The Pioneer Press and mentioned that he did not record any times under 4.3 for the player. "He ran in the high 4.3s. He can run. He ran fast. He tested well," he told the newspaper.
Sinkfield is not the first player to blow away scouts with his speed, as Johnson did in 2008, as well as Jacoby Ford in 2010 when he ran a 4.28 at the combine. Darrius Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30 and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders (as was Ford) since they are a team that emphasizes speed in receivers.