It was an achievement for UAB wide receiver J.J. Nelson to be invited to the NFL Combine, then he clocked the fastest 40-yard dash time of anyone on Saturday.
Nelson, who will likely be the final UAB football player to ever attend the Combine, ran his two unofficial 40-yard dashes on Saturday in 4.29 and 4.36 seconds, with his first run later being officially changed to 4.28 seconds.
His first run puts him ninth all-time at the Combine and was only .04 seconds away from NFL running back Chris Johnson’s Combine record 40 time of 4.24 seconds.
Here’s Nelson’s first run:
https://vine.co/v/OQMIzeldnBM
Nelson was the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year last season, accounting for 655 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns, as well as 843 yards on kickoff returns and 277 yards returning punts. He led the nation in kickoff return average with 38.32 yards per return and had four kickoff return touchdowns in 2014, also leading the nation, with his longest touchdown return going for 100 yards.
Not all of the players have done the 40-yard dash yet at the Combine — defensive backs work out on Monday — but it seems unlikely that Nelson’s 4.28 seconds will fall.
At 5-foot-10, 156 pounds, Nelson is the lightest player at the Combine since 2002. But for what Nelson lacks in size, he made up for it with speed, and helped his case to be drafted into the NFL.
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