According to several sources NAIA receiver, running back and kick returner Wendall Williams wowed everyone at the NFL Regional Combine in Minnesota clocking a 4.19 in the 40 yard dash. Williams, who played for NAIA Division I University of the Cumberlands last year, had actually dropped out of football altogether a couple of years ago.
Apparently Adidas had offered a $1 million award for anyone who could break running back Chris Johnson’s record of 4.24 from the 2008 NFL Combine. Unfortunately, that offer it seems did not extend to the regional events.
However, there is a caveat.
Williams apparently was timed by hand, the method used at the combine. If that is true then according to NFLDraftScout.com’s Frank Cooney who researched the differences between hand timing and electronic timing, he actually ran a 4.36 timed electronically. That is the average difference between a manually timed 40 and an electronically timed one, 0.17 seconds.
Nevertheless, that is still blazing speed. And his vertical leap was also eye popping as apparently he recorded a jump of 45 inches which is tied for the best jump ever recorded at the regular Scouting Combine. Williams appeared in 10 games last season for Cumberland and hauled in 15 passes for 457 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed seven times for 205 yards and three touchdowns, and returned six punts for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Williams was also on the track team naturally. He received All-American honors in the sprints and long jump while winning a national championship in the long jump.
Not surprisingly, he was also a three-time NAIA All-American in track and field. He is small at 5’10” and 170 lb but you can put on size but you cannot coach speed.