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2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Who Will Run the Fastest 40-Yard Dash? Gamecocks’ Chances

South Carolina football's Darius Rush was picked in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts but signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after being waived. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina football's Darius Rush was picked in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts but signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after being waived. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine begins on Tuesday, February 28th and will last for a week, finishing on Monday, March 6th. South Carolina football will have five players in attendance at the Combine, but it is unclear how much each player will participate. The 2023 NFL Draft will be influenced by what happens at the Combine in Indianapolis. The Draft will take place from April 27-29.

One of the most-watched events at the Scouting Combine is the 40-yard dash. Former Washington Husky wide receiver John Ross holds the official record of 4.22 seconds, and unofficial times for players like Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson were equally as ridiculous. While matching that number is not expected at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, there are plenty of athletes competing who will put up impressive times.

According to odds released by USBettingReport.com, Texas A&M running back Devon Achane has the best chance of posting the fastest time. The gambling outlet has the former Aggie listed at +420 and with a 19.2% chance of running faster than any other player over the next week. Tennessee wide receiver (and South Carolina native) Jalin Hyatt, Cincinnati receiver Tre Tucker, TCU wideout Derius Davis, East Carolina running back Keaton Mitchell, and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez have all been given their own odds. “The field” (or the other 313 players invited to the Combine) are listed at +1233 odds and 7.5%.

For the South Carolina football team invitees, three players are expected to run fast 40-yard dash times (sorry, Zacch Pickens and Jovaughn Gwyn). Jalen Brooks, Cam Smith, and Darius Rush are all fast players, and Smith and Rush are viewed as having “plus” speed as defensive backs. However, Darius Rush is the only one in the group who has a realistic shot at posting the fastest time out of all 319 players at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

2023 NFL Scouting Combine
South Carolina football alum Darius Rush will look to show he is one of the nation’s fastest players at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

Rush is a Columbia-area kid who was a developmental story as a Gamecock, but his physical tools were always present. A long and fast corner, Rush has seen his draft stock rise about as much as any other player over the last six months. Often listed as an undrafted player before the 2022 season began, Rush is now comfortably expecting to be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft. While at the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, Rush was voted by his peers as the most outstanding defensive back. He also posted the fastest sprint speed of all players during Senior Bowl practice, an event in which one of the betting favorites Derius Davis also participated.

Rush is expected to run a sub-4.4 second time this week, but he will need to be close to the high 4.2s to beat Achane and the other speedsters in Indianapolis. It will be difficult, but Gamecock fans everywhere will not be shocked to see #28 pull it off.