2011 NFL Draft: 10 Players Who Could Run Sub 4.4s at The NFL Combine

Today, it's the Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson and the Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson. Yesterday, it was the Minnesota Vikings' Randy Moss.  Before that it was Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, and Bo Jackson.

Who are they? They're the most exciting players to watch in the entire NFL.  

Why? Simple: they're the fastest.

Who will be the most exciting, the most explosive players in the next draft class?  This question will be answered at the 2011 NFL Combine.

When a player can run a 4.4, they're considered fast.  When a player can run under a 4.4, they have world class speed.  

Here are 10 players that have a chance to run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash in the 2011 NFL Combine:

10. Brandon Saine

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 23: Brandon Saine #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Saine sprinting in high school

While Ohio State running back Dan Herron is called "Boom", Brandon Saine is called "Zoom".

According to Sports Illustrated, he was hand timed in the 4.2s coming out of high school.  On different Ohio State Buckeye web sites, they list his 40 time around the mid 4.3s.  Scout.com has him at a 4.4 forty and other draft websites project him running in the mid 4.4s.

In an interview, Saine actually said he runs in the high 4.3s, so I'll take his word for it.

Projected 40 time: 4.38

9. Armando Allen

A lot of draft web sites actually have Allen at a 4.5 40 time or higher.  Those web sites must have never seen him play.

At the U.S. Army Bowl coming out of high school, Allen ran a 4.38 forty time.  Players often get slower in college because they get bigger.

Still, three months straight of training could get him back up to that impressive time.

Projected 40 time: 4.38

8. Torrey Smith

What a surprise, another Maryland player who should impress at the Combine.

One oblivious web site, *cough*, Scout.com, *cough*, has Torrey Smith at a 4.65 40-yard dash time.

Almost every other source on the internet has Smith in the 4.3 range.  There was a couple that projected a 4.4 or 4.5.  The most common prediction seemed to be a 4.37.

Projected 40 time: 4.37

7. Patrick Peterson

You know the legendary Patrick Peterson is going to have some crazy 40-time stories.  

An LSU Tigers web site said he was hand timed in the 4.2s.

A lot of draft web sites have him in the low 4.4s.  Apparently Peterson was laser-timed at a 4.37 in a past spring practice.  I refuse to doubt the machine.

Projected 40 time: 4.37

6. Jimmy Smith

This one may be a surprise to some people.  

Smith is projected to run in the high 4.4s and in the 4.5s by the vast majority of draft web sites.

A Jimmy Smith bio said that he ran a 4.35 the off-season before his senior season.  He could have improved his speed greatly over the off-season, or the 40 time could be a myth created by what was a Colorado web site.  I'll buy into the hype.

Projected 40 time: 4.35

5. Jerrel Jernigan

Players from small schools like Troy usually aren't as hyped as Jerrel Jernigan is right now.  

Virtually every source on the internet has Jernigan running a sub 4.4 40-yard dash.

I've seen 4.3 flat, 4.32, 4.34, 4.35, and 4.38.  The 4.3 wasn't a good source at all (someone's Facebook) so the next best 40 time will have to do.

Projected 40 time: 4.32

4. Phillip Livas

This explosive player is even more fun to watch than his name is to say.

There are so many different projections on Livas.  They range from a low 4.3 all the way to a high 4.4.  The most reliable source I could find was Rivals which had him running a 4.3 flat out of high school.

Again, he's probably gotten a little slower since then, but three months of training and he could get back to his full potential.

Projected 40 time: 4.30

3. Rashad Carmichael

Geoff Burke/Getty Images

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 18: Cornerback Rashad Carmichael #21 of the Virginia Tech Hokies signals on field against the East Carolina Pirates at Lane Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech won 49-27. (Photo by Geoff Burke/G

I've known about Carmichael for a while but had no idea what kind of speed he had.

Most sources have Carmichael ranging from a 4.26 40 time to the high 4.3s.  One Virginia Tech web site had an article on the Hokies spring workouts and said that he ran a 4.29.

Projected 40 time: 4.29

2. Derrick Locke

(Fast Forward to 0:30)

Locke isn't number two on this list, but more like 1a.

A lot of web sites have him in the 4.3 range.  There have been rumors than he's even run a 4.21 or 4.22.

An article on his combine training mentioned that he has a good chance to run a sub 4.3 time.

Projected 40 time: 4.29

1. Noel Devine

No one with any ounce of intelligence is predicting Devine runs a 4.4 or higher 40-yard dash time.

A 4.30 to a 4.35 is the most commen projection for the speedy Devine.  There are reports that have said he's been clocked under a 4.3.

Here's a rule you must remember when it comes to 40-time rumors: always believe them, it's more fun that way.

Projected 40 time: 4.29

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter or at One Yard Short.com.