College Football Recruiting 2011: The 25 Fastest Prospects

Speed isn't everything, but it also can't be taught.

You either have it or you don't. 

How a prospect uses that speed that separates them from the herd though and in the 2011 recruiting class there is a ton of speed to choose from. 

Here's a look at the 25 fastest 4-star and 5-star prospects in the nation. 

25. Nick Waisome

Commitment: Florida

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.44

Waisome is joined by Valdez Showers to form a solid duo of 4-star cornerbacks the Gators have received commitments from.

Waisome is ranked as the No. 8 cornerback on Scout and the No. 11 cornerback on Rivals. He and Showers have the potential to be a scary pair, but if you had to chose one to hitch your wagon to, it's Waisome; he's faster, more explosive and has elite closing speed. 

24. Demetrious Nicholson, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.43

Nicholson is a playmaker with a great set of hands. He moves well and has great closing speed, but gambles a lot and needs to play more with a lot more control.

He also struggles when it comes to run support and tackling and that has a lot to do with his small frame. Nicholson could probably use a redshirt year while he bulks up and learns the position.

23. Isaiah Crowell, RB

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.43

He has great breakaway speed, is very elusive, has top of the line instincts, makes lightning-fast cuts, doesn't hesitate, and can break tackles with the best of them.

Crowell has played with a talented stable of rushers his entire high school career behind a very good offensive line. He's never carried the load himself and there are serious questions about his ability to ever be able to.

22. Chris Conley, WR

Commitment: Georgia

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.42

One of the top prospects from the state of Georgia, Conley is a dangerous deep threat with great size and a solid pair of hands.

The 4-star receiver's game is limited at the moment though and he needs to improve his footwork and route-running in order to take his talents to the next level. 

21. Devon Blackmon, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted 

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.41

Blackmon plays quarterback, receiver, running back, and cornerback in high school and has a wide range of possibilities ahead of him.

He's a 4-star athlete projected at any number of positions at the next level, but receiver is where he'll likely find his home. He's simply a "get the ball in his hands" type of player.

20. Bradley Sylve, WR

Commitment: Alabama

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

The third of Alabama's 4-star receivers, Sylve might be the least-heralded but he's also the fastest of the the three. 

He's so quick off the line and has great top-end speed as well as elusiveness in the open field, but injuries have hampered him and kept him from being as fast as he really can be. 

19. Robensen Therezie, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Therezie is one of the quickest cornerbacks in the country and has displayed excellent closing speed and an overall good ability to cover receivers man-to-man.

But he's also a big hitter who craves contact and plays with an aggressive style. If he can improve his footwork and play with more consistency he has a ton of potential.  

18. Senquez Golson, CB

Commitment: Mississippi

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Golson is a versatile 4-star athlete that lines up at cornerback, wide receiver and running back for his high school team, but scouts agree his future is on the defensive side of the ball.

His ball skills and instincts are really impressive. Golson is the type of player who switches from cornerback to receiver when the ball is in the air and has incredible closing speed. 

17. Chris Sanders, S

Commitment: Georgia

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

The 4-star safety is best known for his speed, which combined with his skill-set at receiver, makes him a very interesting prospect in the back of the secondary. 

He can change direction so fast and has excellent closing speed and a solid pair of hands. The only areas he needs significant work are on his strength and size. 

16. Javares McRoy, WR

Commitment: Florida

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

McRoy has the skill-set of a 5-star prospect, but the size of a 3-star prospect. At 5'8" and 160 lbs, there's no denying the 4-star receiver is small, but he's also lightning in a bottle. 

A prospect at both receiver and cornerback, McRoy has off the charts footwork and change of direction ability that make him a prospect to keep your eye on. 

15. Daniel Lasco, RB

Commitment: Cal

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

For a back who's 6'2" and 190 lbs, Lasco isn't built to be a between the tackles back, but runs with a compact motion and is shifty enough where he can make things happen in the middle. 

But it's when he gets on the outside or in open space that Lasco really shines.

He has that sixth gear you love to see and is one of the smoothest rushers in the class. His cuts are a thing of beauty and there really aren't many backs who make it look easier in space.

14. Charles Jackson, CB

Commitment: Nebraska

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Jackson needs to bulk up a bit, but he's got the height and long arms that scouts drool over. Not too mention his hip movement and quick feet are really impressive.

The 4-star corner has a knack for big plays and plays with really strong instincts, but can play overly-aggressive some times and get himself into trouble

13. Sheroid Evans, S

Commitment: Texas

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Evans is one of the fastest long distance runners in the country, posting the best 400 meter nationally last year. 

An undersized 4-star prospect who will need to bulk up in order to hold up at the next level, Evans is still considered one of the top safety prospects in the nation.

12. Malcolm Mitchell, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Mitchell is one of the most intriguing 4-star cornerbacks in the 2011 class. He's an elite athlete who moves really well and has ideal size at 6'1" and 190 lbs. 

But Mitchell is still very raw though and and needs a lot of practice reps to get fine tune his skills before he can make an impact.

11. Nickolas Brassell, WR

Commitment: Mississippi State

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Brassell is a high-energy, competitive wideout who can get deep in a hurry every play of the game. He goes hard no matter what the situation and when he's hot, he's one of the best play-makers in the country. 

The problem is he tends to play out of control and needs to refine his route-running skills to be more than just a deep-ball threat.

If he can figure that out and play with more consistency, Brassell has the chance to be potent force on the next level.

10. Savon Huggins, RB

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

There's no one from the 2011 class who can juke quite like Savon Huggins. He has such a broad array of moves that you really never know what he's going to do on any given play.

When you watch him play, you immediately think Barry Sanders. He's got the vision, the balance, the change-of-direction ability, and simply the unwillingness to go down.

9. Sammy Watkins, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Sammy Watkins is one of the best prospects from the state of Florida and a game-breaker at the receiver position.

He's the complete package in terms of size and speed and a dangerous weapon in the return game as well; he's a threat to take it the distance on any play and has that sixth gear you look for in elite prospects.

The only knock on Watkins is that for someone with his size and catching ability he hasn't been much of a redzone threat to this point in his career and that's a bit troubling.

8. DeAnthony Thomas, ATH

Commitment: USC

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.40

Thomas has the potential to play any number of positions, from running back to cornerback, safety, and even linebacker.

Most experts agree he'd be a five star prospect regardless the tag put on him. 

If he wasn't listed at 5'9" and 160 lbs, Thomas would most likely be the top prospect in the country, but even at his size, he has the tools to be a star wherever he lines up.

7. Miles Shuler, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.38

A high school quarterback, Shuler is rated as a four-star receiver who's projected to make the transition into the slot at the next level.

He throws the ball well and has good accuracy, especially on the move, but it's the way he's able to put pressure on defenses with acceleration and change of direction ability that makes him an interesting prospect.

6. Tobias Singleton, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.38

Singleton is a big, physical receiver who can beat pretty much any defender at the line of scrimmage if you play off of him or use his size to ward off defenders who try to jam him.

It makes for a very difficult cover.

Singleton has great speed for his size, 6'2" and 195 lbs, and even better body control. He's raw and struggles to run good routes, but has a ton of potential.

5. George Farmer, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.38

He has the speed to get past pretty much anyone and the size to ward off stronger defenders without much effort.

Farmer has an ideal combination of skills and natural ability, but needs to fine tune his game some.

He'll make the spectacular catch, but then drop an easy one.

Some scouts question his level of concentration and desire to go all out on every play; that's troubling. If he can improve on his consistency though, Farmer has the goods to be a special talent.

4. Doran Grant, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted 

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.37

Grant is the best cornerback prospect in the country, rated No. 1 by Rivals and No. 2 by Scout. He's even better than advertised and definitely fits the bill at a generous 5'10" and 175 lbs.

He's lighting-fast, tests are off the charts athletically, tackles with a lot of power, and has a great nose for the ball.

3. Tacoi Sumler, WR

Commitment: Oregon

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.33

Sumler is one of the most versatile players of the 2011 class.

He's a dangerous return man, has great coverage skills as a cornerback, can do some damage as a scat back, and has an especially solid skill set at receiver.

He runs crisp routes, makes smooth cuts, gets off the line very fast, and moves with elite breakaway speed.

He's undersized, though, which has somewhat lowered his value.

2. Mike Bellamy, RB

Commitment: Clemson

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.31

Bellamy is considered to be one of the top prospects of the 2011 class.

He's a top-five running back on pretty much every list that matters and is one of the fastest prospects in the state of Florida, clocking in at 4.3 seconds on his 40-time.

He's a playmaker who will light up scoreboards and burns defenders regularly.

Bellamy is incredibly elusive and has tremendous balance and body control.

1. Damiere Byrd, WR

Commitment: South Carolina

40-Yard Dash Time: 4.27

Byrd is one of the most athletic prospects of the 2011 class.

He would be rated even higher if he was just a little bigger than 5'9" and 160 lbs. As it stands, he is a 4-star wideout with a ton of potential and unmatched speed. 

He has great straight-line speed and can put eye-popping moves on anyone; he changes direction seemingly at will.

Byrd is a touchdown waiting to happen as a halfback, receiver, or return man. If he was just a little bit bigger he'd likely be a 5-star prospect.