INDIANAPOLIS — Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy saved the best for last.
Worthy, the last player to run a 40-yard dash during Saturday's on-field workouts for wide receivers and quarterbacks at the NFL scouting combine, ran an official time of 4.21 seconds to set a combined record , according to the NFL.
Worthy's time makes him the undisputed speed king of the annual event and was one tick better than Washington wide receiver John Ross's 4.22 at the 2017 combine. Only offensive linemen remain to participate in the combine. this year in the Sunday session.
“I just broke the record. It still doesn't seem real,” Worthy said. “Man, it's a blessing to be able to do this in front of all these fans, with all these teammates that I'm with.”
The Fresno, California, native ran 4.25 on his first attempt and briefly took off his shoes as if he wasn't going to run on the second attempt. But after a few moments, Worthy relaced his bright orange cleats and lined up as the last player with the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium urging him to keep going.
When he crossed the finish line in his second race, as 4.22 appeared on the stadium video boards (later dropped to 4.21 on the official clock), the crowd roared.
Worthy started 39 games in his three seasons at Texas and finished fourth all-time in receiving yards (2,755) and eighth in punt return yards (564). His career punt return average (14.5) is second-best all-time, as is his 16.9 yards per return in a single season in 2023.
Worthy finished with 1,014 receiving yards last season with five touchdowns. He averaged 14 yards per reception and scored 12 of his 26 career touchdowns as a freshman in 2021.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently projected Worthy to the Kansas City Chiefs at 32nd overall in his latest mock draft. Worthy is Kiper's No. 9 wide receiver in his class.
