Meet the Fastest Prospects Pound-for-Pound of the 2013 NFL Draft Class

Have you ever wondered who would be the fastest prospects in the draft if everyone was the same weight? Well, NFL teams definitely value the answer to this question. 

We should all know by now there's a lot more to a football player than his measurables. Game tape should still be the primary factor when evaluating a prospect, but this basic metric is an unquestionably valuable piece of the puzzle. This scoring system gives us a clear and objective look at how well each player carries his weight. It can clue you in about the type of shape a prospect is in or what type of athlete he is in general. 

With this system, all positions and body types become equal. The bigger guys finally have a chance to compete on an even playing field in regards to speed. 

And we're not just talking about straight ahead speed either.

The formula used to determine the pound-for-pound fastest prospects in the draft includes their ability to run laterally (short shuttle), change-of-direction speed (3-cone drill) and finally, their top-end speed (40-yard dash). The combination of all three aspects of a prospect's speed and quickness is referred to as their "Dynamic Speed" throughout the slideshow. 

The Dynamic Speed numbers are then inserted into an equation that factors in a player's weight. This produces the "Dynamic Speed/Weight Score." An average score should be somewhere in the 50s while anything in the 60s is considered top of their class.

One of the more interesting elements to this class of future rookies is the athleticism at the offensive line position. In the 2012 crop, not a single offensive lineman cracked the top 30. Matt Kalil had the best score for an offensive lineman, a 59.77.

So who tops the list and wears the crown of pound-for-pound fastest prospect in this year's class?

The results just might surprise you. 

Most of the data was attained via NFL.com. All other data was pieced together from various sites covering college pro days. nfldraftscout.com was a frequently used resource. 

Not every draft eligible prospect was included in the Dynamic Speed/Weight Score due to a lack of completed times by some prospects. Only those who were timed the categories mentioned above and invited to the NFL Combine were included. 

Looking Back to Last Year's Draft Class

In order to give the slideshow some frame of reference, I've included last year's top-20 fastest guys, pound-for-pound. 

This should also give you an idea of 1. how they're valued on draft day, and 2. the type of success these elite athletes have had in their brief careers. 

When comparing the two draft classes, there are a handful of guys at the top of the previous year's class that are extremely rare talents. No prospect from the 2013 class has yet to score in the 70s. 

2012's Fastest Prospects with Weight Factored in:

1. DE, Bruce Irvin: 73.77

2. TE, James Hanna: 73.34

3. LB, Mychal Kendricks: 71.70

4. DE, Jake Bequette: 71.41

5. DT, Mike Martin: 69.88

6. OLB, Melvin Ingram: 68.63

7. DT, Fletcher Cox: 66.90

8. CB, Josh Robinson: 66.29

9. LB, Miles Burris: 66.10

10. LB, Luke Kuechly: 65.86

11. DE, Vinny Curry: 64.94

12. DT, Jaye Howard: 64.06

13. DE, Shea McClellin: 63.79

14. DE, Jack Crawford: 63.66

15. WR, Alshon Jeffery: 63.47

16. NT, Alameda Ta'amu: 63.08

17. TE, Michael Egnew: 62.76

18. DE, Tyronne Crawford: 62.65

19. S, Harrison Smith: 62.64

20. RB, Doug Martin: 62.59

27. CB, Desmond Trufant, Washington

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 190 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.38

3-cone drill: 6.76

Short shuttle: 3.85

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 60.96

26. DE, Michael Buchanan, Illinois

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 255 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.78

3-cone drill: 6.91

Short shuttle: 4.44 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.03

25. WR, Chris Harper, Kansas State

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 229 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.55

3-cone drill: 6.89

Short shuttle: 4.26

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.06

24. DE, Malliciah Goodman, Clemson

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 276 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.87

3-cone drill: 7.1

Short shuttle: 4.48 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.06 

23. TE, Vance McDonald, Rice

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 267 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.69

3-cone drill: 7.08

Short shuttle: 4.53 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.27

22. WR, Rodney Smith, Florida State

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 225

40-yard dash: 4.51

3-cone drill: 7.03

Short shuttle: 4.07 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.39

21. WR, T.J Moe, Missouri

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 204 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.74

3-cone drill: 6.53

Short shuttle: 3.96 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.43

20. TE, Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 252 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.65

3-cone drill: 7.12

Short shuttle: 4.27 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.67

19. DE/OLB, Dion Jordan, Oregon

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 248 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.6

3-cone drill: 7.02

Short shuttle: 4.35 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.77

18. QB, Matt Scott, Arizona

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 213 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.69

3-cone drill: 6.69

Short shuttle: 3.99 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.83

17. LB, Kiko Alonso, Oregon

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 238 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.69

3-cone drill: 6.93

Short shuttle: 4.18 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.87

16. RB, Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 216 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.55

3-cone drill: 6.7

Short shuttle: 4.17 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 61.89

15. TE, Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 250 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.72

3-cone drill: 6.92

Short shuttle: 4.32

Dynamic Speed/ Weight Score: 62.42

14. G, Jeff Baca, UCLA

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 302

40-yard dash: 5.03

3-cone drill: 7.26

Short shuttle: 4.44 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 62.45

13. OLB, Barkevious Mingo, LSU

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 241 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.58

3-cone drill: 6.84

Short shuttle: 4.39

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 62.49 

12. DE, Datone Jones, UCLA

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 283 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.8

3-cone drill: 7.32

Short shuttle: 4.32 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 62.76

11. DE, Lavar Edwards, LSU

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 277 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.8

3-cone drill: 7.03

Short shuttle: 4.51 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 62.95

10. LB, Jon Bostic, Florida

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 245 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.61

3-cone drill: 6.99

Short shuttle: 4.24 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 63.05

9. RB, Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 230 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.6

3-cone drill: 6.75

Short shuttle: 4.24

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 63.08

8. WR, Josh Boyce, TCU

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 206 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.38

3-cone drill: 6.68 

Short shuttle: 4.1 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 63.18

7. WR, Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech (Transfer from Tennessee)

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 217 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.52

3-cone drill: 6.71

Short shuttle: 4.06 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 64.32

6. LT, Lane Johnson, Oklahoma

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 303 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.72

3-cone drill: 7.31

Short shuttle: 4.52 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 65.43

5. DE, Margus Hunt, SMU

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 277 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.6

3-cone drill: 7.07

Short shuttle: 4.51 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 65.48

4. RB, Christine Michael, Texas A&M

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 220

40-yard dash: 4.54

3-cone drill: 6.69

Short shuttle: 4.02 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 65.90

3. DE, Ezekiel Ansah, BYU

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 271 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.63

3-cone drill: 7.11

Short shuttle: 4.26

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 66.99

2. DE, Devin Taylor, South Carolina

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 266 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.72

3-cone drill: 6.89

Short shuttle: 4.3 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 67.25

1. LB, Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 234 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.47

3-cone drill: 6.71

Short shuttle: 4.18 

Dynamic Speed/Weight Score: 68.10

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