National Signing Day 2012: Ranking the 10 Fastest Blue Chip Recruits

Before I start, I must stress, please do not base speed evaluations solely on 40-yard dash times. To go even more in depth, based on my years of experience evaluating high school prospects, 40 times at this level are usually rumored and estimations.

Forty times are a piece of the puzzle that is my evaluation of speed. I also heavily weigh in if that speed translates to the field, foot quickness and more. 

Without further delay, here are the 10 fastest players based on what I've seen.

10. Avery Johnson, WR

Johnson is 6'2", 185 pounds and plays very, very fast. He skates around all over the field and routinely gets past some of Florida's top secondaries.

He'll be a deep threat in the Rueben Randle mold at LSU.

9. Tracy Howard, CB

Howard is a normal 4.4 kid in a straight line and it translates to his play on the field.

He can carry WRs deep with ease and it helps him jam at the line because he knows he can recover easily and gamble.

8. Stefon Diggs, WR

Diggs' speed was on full display at the Army game. He dazzles with the ball and if he gets space, he'll split the safeties and blur to pay dirt.

He's also explosive off the line and has a second gear in and out of his cuts. His speed will take him far.

7. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

To be 6'6" and 220 pounds and still be a consensus 4.4 guy is remarkable. That's how fast DGB plays once he gets revved up.

He can build up and blow by DBs and run by defenders with the ball.

At that size...wowsers.

6. Aaron Burbridge, WR

Burbridge has been timed as low as 4.37 in the 40. He stands 6'1", 180 pounds and will be a big-time and much-needed deep threat for Mark Dantonio at Michigan State.

He flies off the line and blows by CBs with ease.

5. Justin Thomas, QB

Thomas has been timed at 4.35 in the 40 and is regarded one of the fastest players ever in Alabama prep sports history. He's headed to Georgia Tech to play QB in Paul Johnson's option offense.

Expect a ton of long runs from him down the line. 

4. Trey Williams, RB

Scout.com has Williams listed as a 4.31 guy, and his speed is obvious.

Williams isn't big, but he knows speed kills, and he uses it to murder defenses. He's also extremely quick in both tight quarters and in space.

3. Ronald Darby, CB

At 5'11", 175 pounds, Darby carries receivers deep and almost never gets beat downfield. His speed allows him to play tight on the line, and he shows excellent acceleration for the ball in flight. 

He's so fast that Darby is seriously considering running track in college. FSU, Auburn and Clemson are in the hunt.

2. Keith Marshall, RB

Committed to Georgia and standing 5'11", 190 pounds, Marshall may be the fastest running back in the country. He boasts a 4.32 40 time to prove it, and it also shows on tape, where you see Marshall running by people with ease.

1. Marvin Bracy, WR

Although he may be a bit raw at WR, check the following speed numbers.

Bracy runs a 4.32 40-yard dash, 10.19 100-meter dash (a national No. 1 time) and a remarkable 6.24 55-yard dash.

He's also likely to try out for the U.S. Olympic team. Florida State awaits his arrival.