10 of College Football's Fastest Players in 2025

Speed is the ultimate game-changer.

When you're watching a college football game, it doesn't take an expert to know someone is fast. Running backs and wide receivers leave everyone in their dust on their way to the end zone, and defenders take the ball the other way in a hurry.

Modern technology, however, allows us to easily quantify just how quickly the fastest players are moving.

And on that note, a hearty shoutout to Reel Analytics.

There is plenty of speed around the nation, but these players have all reached 22.1-plus miles per hour in college.

Jeremy Payne, RB, TCU

Jeremy Payne held a reserve role as a true freshman, but he certainly turned a few heads in his scattered snaps.

During a late-November win over Arizona, the Horned Frogs held a comfortable fourth-quarter lead. They brought in Payne, who touched 22.1 miles per hour on his 30-yard touchdown.

Payne wrapped up the campaign with 54 carries for 239 yards and three scores, adding 12 catches for 99 yards.

Since top rusher Cam Cook entered the transfer portal, Payne has a chance to earn significant snaps in 2025.

Dazmin James, WR, Cal

Said kindly: What a tease for Arkansas fans.

During the Liberty Bowl, redshirt freshman Dazmin James logged his very first offensive snaps of that entire season. He managed the small role because top receiver Andrew Armstrong had opted out of the postseason clash with Texas Tech.

James promptly took his first career reception to the house, turning a simple slant into a 94-yard touchdown while scampering past the defense at 22.1 miles per hour.

Shortly after the game, James entered the transfer portal and ultimately committed to Cal.

Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville

Not only is Isaac Brown one of two Louisville players on the list, this is the first of two touchdowns in the same game.

Brown put together a tremendous year as a true freshman, running for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns. He capped the regular season in style against rival Kentucky with a career-high 178 yards and two scores, including this scorching 67-yard touchdown on which he boasted a 22.1 max speed.

Safe to say the Louisville backfield is in good hands.

Thanks to a speedy complement, though, Brown won't be tasked with shouldering an unnecessarily heavy load.

Duke Watson, RB, Louisville

Fellow freshman Duke Watson also showed off his electric speed earlier in Louisville's rout of Kentucky.

In the second quarter, Watson burst through a beautiful blocking lane and ran 58 yards untouched for a score at 22.2 miles per hour. He rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

For the season, the UL newcomer notched 657 scrimmage yards and made eight trips to the end zone.

Watson will return as Brown's complement in 2025, but he should command a heavier share of touches next season.

Xavier Robinson, RB, Oklahoma

Oklahoma—which held a 5-5 record at the time—stunned the nation when it smoked Alabama 24-3 in late November.

That upset doubled as Xavier Robinson's breakout game.

On the way to a career-best 107 yards with two scores, the freshman notched the first touchdown of the game. He accelerated to 22.2 miles per hour on only an 18-yard score.

Robinson ended his college debut with 49 carries for 233 yards and four touchdowns. He'll again be fighting for snaps alongside Gavin Sawchuk, Javontae Barnes and Taylor Tatum in a new-look offense led by dual-threat transfer QB John Mateer.

Aidan Laughery, RB, Illinois

Speaking of breakout games, Aidan Laughery had quite a performance in the regular-season finale.

Illinois went to rival Northwestern, and the sophomore back scurried to career-high marks of 172 yards and three touchdowns in the 38-28 triumph. He capped the afternoon with a 31-yard score, during which Laughery maxed at 22.3 miles per hour.

Decent way to end a massive day, no?

Laughery is set to split the backfield with Josh McCray and, if healthy, Kaden Feagin in 2025 for an Illinois squad that quietly has real College Football Playoff upside.

De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

The first of two incoming Ole Miss transfers, De'Zhaun Stribling reached his top speed on a fun play.

Oklahoma State eventually lost, yes, but the Cowboys pulled off a flea-flicker opposite Kansas State. Stribling slowly ran a crossing route before bolting down the sideline at 22.3 miles per hour.

Despite the Pokes' disappointing 3-9 year, Stribling reeled in 52 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns.

Stribling entered the portal and landed at Ole Miss, where he should be a key player immediately as the receiving unit replaces Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins and Antwane Wells Jr., among others.

Kapena Gushiken, DB, Ole Miss

The other newcomer to the Rebels is Kapena Gushiken, who largely played nickelback at Washington State.

Gushiken is a holdover from last offseason's list thanks to his impressive pick-six against UCLA. On that play, he started to blitz but jumped and snared a pass, returning it 88 yards for a score with a max speed of 22.4 miles per hour.

Last season for Wazzu, Gushiken posted 52 tackles (3.5 for loss), six pass breakups and two interceptions.

Ole Miss capitalized on the chance to add Gushiken, who as a former JUCO player received an extra year of eligibility after the recent NCAA ruling. He should hold a regular spot in the Rebels' secondary next season.

Barion Brown, WR, LSU

I'd like to pretend Louisville's pair of speedy touchdowns were a direct retaliation to Barion Brown's sprint in 2023.

When the rivals met to close that regular season, Brown ripped off a 100-yard kickoff return for a score. He sizzled up to 22.6 miles per hour on that valuable moment in a 38-31 win.

Brown returned to the Wildcats in 2024, collecting 866 all-purpose yards and scoring a touchdown in three ways.

He has since transferred to LSU, which reloaded its pass-catching group with Brown and a couple of Oklahoma departures Nic Anderson and tight end Bauer Sharp.

Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

The good news: Demond Claiborne cut short Miami's celebration of a pick-six by returning the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. He'd already been a nuisance on offense, so it was only fitting that he excelled on special teams, too.

The bad news: Well, he, uh, lost his lunch afterward.

Nevertheless! Claiborne's ascent at Wake Forest continued in 2024 as the junior piled up 1,580 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. He became the team's top playmaker.

Claiborne, who paced the nation last season at 22.6 miles per hour, elected to return a final year in college.