On Track: Fastest players in college football

Two players donning the No. 1 jersey for their respective teams will face off Saturday in Starkville when LSU invades Mississippi State, each hoping to gain their first SEC win of the campaign.

The players will not exactly compete against each other personally, since they’re both cornerbacks on opposing defenses. But there is more than these two stars wearing identical numbers. Both are considered among the fastest players in all of college football.

I’m referring to LSU’s Donte’ Jackson, the unofficial king of all speed burners in college football, and Mississippi State’s freakish Brandon Bryant. The two cornerbacks possess elite speed, the kind that you rarely see. Both have been clocked low 4.2 times in the 40-yard dash.

Here is a running list (pardon the pun) of some of the fastest players in all of college football.

LSU’s cornerback Donte Jackson, mentioned in same breath as Trindon Holiday. He recorded 39 tackles in 2016 with nine PBUs and tacked on 234 yards as a returner. But his fame comes due to his 4.24 forty and 6.63 sixty speed. Jackson reportedly timed at 10.1 in the hundred meters. The 5-11, 177 pounder has six stops thus far in ’17.

Devin Duvernay (5-11, 195), sophomore wide receiver at Texas, has a 4.32 forty and 10.27 hundred to his credit. He was the second leading receiver for the ‘Horns last season with 20 grabs for 412 yards and three touchdowns.

Tyrell Johnson (5-7, 165) Arizona’s versatile weapon on offense has run a 10.41 hundred and 4.24 forty. He consistently turns in sub-4.4 forty times and 21.11 in the 200 hundred meters.

Javoris Davis (5-10, 186), the Auburn cornerback with a 4.24 forty, has NFL cousins Vontae and Vernon Davis. Javoris was a 2016 Freshman All-American after totaling 37 tackles and a pair of picks.

Brandon Bryant (6-0, 215), Mississippi State’s big cornerback from Tunica, has elite physical skills. He can deadlift 600 lbs. and run a 4.25 forty. Bryant has four career interceptions.

Nigel Knott (5-11, 175), Alabama’s sophomore cornerback with 4.3 speed and an eye-catching 46″ vertical, has off-the-charts physical skills.

John Burt (6-3, 189), Texas wide receiver, has 46 career catches and runs 110 meter hurdles for Longhorn track. He had six grabs for 111 yards vs. Notre Dame in 2016.

Ahmmon Richards (6-1, 190), Miami sophomore wide receiver, runs 4.31 forty. He led the ‘Canes in ’16 with 49 catches for 934 yards.

UCF running back Adrain Killins (5-8, 155) with a 4.31 forty and 21.05 200 meters. He paced the squad with 974 all-purpose yards in 2016.

T.J. Brock, USC cornerback with 10.34 hundred and 20.78 200 meters, also runs the 4×100 relay for the Trojans track team.

Derrius Guice, LSU running back, has a 4.32 forty to his credit. The 5-11, 218 pound junior squats 650 pounds. He had 1,387 yards rushing with 15 touchdowns last season. Off to quick start with 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns in ’17, he has Reggie Bush-like openfield skills but stronger.

Mecole Hardman (5-11, 183) Georgia sophomore wide receiver/cornerback, has posted a 4.32 forty, 10.64 hundred and 46′ triple jump.

Tyrie Cleveland (6-3, 189), Florida wide receiver with a 4.32 forty, averaged 21 yards per catch as a freshman in 2016. Thus far, four catches 56 yards.

Jaire Alexander, Louisville cornerback with a 4.32 forty, had five interceptions in ’16. He is also a dynamic punt returner.

Winton Lee (5-9, 193), Syracuse junior cornerback, turns in a 10.33 hundred. A three-time track All-American, he is the 2015 National champion in the 60 meters yet was a walk-on for football.

Darryl Rollins-Davis, Austin Peay running back formerly at Arkansas State, is a 5-9, 165 pound dart with a 4.33 forty.

Tony Brown, Alabama cornerback with a 4.38 forty and 13.52 110 meter hurdles.

Rashad Fant (5-9, 175), cornerback at Indiana with a 4.37 forty, broke up 17 passes in 2016, ranking him second nationally in that category. The previous season, he broke up 22 passes.

USC running back Ronald Jones (6-1, 195) has a 10.37 hundred and 21.98 200 meters to his sprinting credit. He ran the third leg for the Trojans’ 400 meter PAC 12 relay championship squad. Jones posted 1,082 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2016. Thus far, he has 275 rushing yards (6.7 yards avg.) and five touchdowns this season.

Nyheim Hines (5-9, 197), junior wide receiver for North Carolina State, has a twin sister who runs hurdles at the school. He posted a 10.42 hundred, 6.71 60 meters previously. Hines had a 100-yard kick return vs. Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl last season. He has 8 catches and 110 yards rushing in 2017.

Denzel Ward is an Ohio State cornerback with a 4.31 forty and 10.49 hundred meters.

Running back Tony Brooks-James (5-9, 185) from Oregon has posted a 10.5 hundred and 6.7 60 meters. In 2016, he compiled 1,059 yards (7.8 yards per tote and 13 touchdowns.

Tavien Feaster at Clemson has run a 6.88 in the 60 meters and 21.11 in the 200. Thus far, he has 84 yards and a touchdown in ’17.

Amir Rasul (5-10, 196) Florida State running back sophomore, has a 10.44 hundred and 21.05 in the 200 to his credit.

Domanic Davis (5-10, 180), running back at USC, has run a 10.47 hundred, 6.78 in the 60 and 21.48 in the 200.

Tony Pride (6-0, 183), sophomore cornerback at Notre Dame, has a 21.28 200, 10.47 hundred and 48.28 in the 400 meters on his resume’ to date.

Stanford’s Isaiah Brandt-Sims (5-11, 175) has run a 10.53 hundred, 6.64 60 meters and 20.93 in the 200 meters.

Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett is a senior with 4.34 forty speed.

Akron junior wide receiver Kwadarrius Smith (5-9, 165) touts a 10.45 hundred and 21.35 in the 200.

Wide receiver Demetrious Robertson (6-0, 175), California sophomore with a 4.32 forty and 10.7 hundred, has run 4X100 relays. He had 50 catches for 767 yards, surpassing mark set by DeSean Jackson and Keenan Allen as school record last season. Robertson snared nine passes against USC in 2016.

Robert Foster (6-2, 196), Alabama senior wide receiver with 4.34 forty, is not as well known as teammate Calvin Ridley (6-1, 190), the junior All-American for the Crimson Tide with 4.35 forty who has 12 catches for 127 yards and one score for 2017.

Deontay Anderson, Ole Miss sophomore safety, is rangy at 6-1, 200 pounds. He has a 20.99 in the 200 meters and 4.41 forty to his credit.

Wide receiver Penny Hart, Georgia State junior with a 4.4 forty, was a 2016 Freshman All-American and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan wide receiver with a 4.42 forty and 10.93 hundred is called “freaky” by his coaches.

LeVonta Taylor, Florida State cornerback, has a 4.37 forty and 42″ vertical.

LSU freshman cornerback Kary Vincent (5-10, 178) has run a 4.38 forty. A four star recruit in 2017, his father was a wide receiver drafted by Saints.

Braxton Berrios (5-9, 185 4.33 forty), senior Miami wide receiver, has 45 catches for 496 yards and five touchdowns for career.

Ryan Mayes (6-1, 180) is a Miami senior cornerback with a 4.37 forty. His secondary mate is rangy Michael Jackson (6-1, 200, 4.38 forty).