Top 10 official 40 times for cornerbacks at 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books and players across all position groups absolutely lit up the turf at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year, there were a grand total of 31 players with sub-4.4, 40-yard dash times, the most ever. The cornerbacks are generally one of the fastest position groups at the combine and this year was no different. As a matter of fact, this year’s defensive backs were the fastest group at the event since 2003, per NFL Research.

Let’s get into the Top 10 official 40 times for the cornerbacks at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.

• 1. Kalon Barnes, Baylor Bears: 4.23 seconds

The Baylor Bears had a historic weekend in the 40 time in Indianapolis, with three of their players running sub 4.4 40-yard dashes. Barnes made history of his own, clocking in as the fastest defensive back in NFL Scouting Combine history and the second-fastest time by any player in the event’s history. He’s always had world-class speed dating back to his high school days at Silsbee (Silsbee, Texas), where he won the state championship in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash in 2018. He still owns the 100-meter dash state record. He may be undersized compared to some of the other corners in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he certainly makes up for it in speed, as evidenced by his 40-yard dash time.

• 2. Tariq Woolen, UTSA Road Runners: 4.26 seconds

Woolen was one of several eye-opening stories on a resurgent UTSA team this year, as the Road Runners went from nothing to something and burst onto the college football season. He also opened some eyes today with his lightning-quick 40-time. A native of Fort Worth, TX, Woolen had 60 tackles and two interceptions over his final two seasons as a cornerback at UTSA. Recently after the Senior Bowl, ESPN’s Todd McShay had Woolen rated as his No. 6 overall cornerback prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft.

• 3. Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston State Bearkats: 4.33 seconds

After his excellent combine performance, McCollum once again earned praise from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, one of their NFL Draft analysts. Reuter noted that McCollum was one of his favorite non-FBS prospects heading into the 2021 season. He also noted that after his impressive combine performance and blazing 40-time, he likely “cemented his status as a late-third or early fourth-round selection,” according to Reuter.

• 4. Alontae Taylor, Tennessee Volunteers: 4.36 seconds

Taylor clocked in with a 4.36 40 time. The former Volunteer was named to the 2021 All-SEC fourth team by Phil Steele. In the 2021-2022 season, he started all 12 games, posting a career-best 60 tackles, six pass breakups, and two interceptions. He had to battle through injuries late in the season. Per PFF, Taylor was flat-out dominant in the red zone area, playing 47 red zone coverage snaps without allowing a catch, ranking him second in the country only to Georgia’s Derion Kendrick in the stat.

• 5. Cobie Durant, South Carolina State Bulldogs: 4.38 seconds

On Sunday night, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter also listed Cobie Durant as a non-FBS winner. Not only did he run an excellent 40-yard dash, but he looked fluid in workout drills as well. South Carolina State has had eight players drafted in the NFL since 2000, the most famous of which is the Indianapolis Colts’ wrecking ball of a linebacker, Darius Leonard. Durant is hoping he can be the next Bulldog football alum to shine on the next level.

• 6. Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State Nittany Lions: 4.38 seconds

Per Next Gen Stats, Castro-Fields, blazing 40-time earned him a 97-athleticism score, putting him for a tie for second among all defensive back combine participants since 2013. After the 2021-2022 season, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten. While at Penn State, he played in 52 career games, making 30 starts at cornerback and racking up 138 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 25 pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

• 7. Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska Cornhuskers: 4.38 seconds

Per NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, running a 4.38 40 time could push Taylor-Britt to be selected as a top 100 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was named second team All-Big Ten in 2021 by the league’s coaches and the media. He started all 12 games in 2021, posting a career-best 51 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, a career-high 11 pass breakups, and one blocked kick.

• 8. Damarri Mathis, Pittsburgh Panthers: 4.39 seconds

Mathis posted an excellent 40 time today and it’s of course, great news for the former Pitt Panther standout. He had to miss the entire 2020 season due to an injury that was unrelated to football. In 2021, he was named honorable mention All-ACC after tallying 44 tackles, six pass breakups, and two interceptions. Per PFF, he had one of the lowest completion rates allowed by an outside defensive back in the country, lower than LSU’s Derek Stingley, Jr.

• 9. Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama Crimson Tide: 4.39 seconds

Like most of the Crimson Tide’s roster, Armour-Davis has long been an exceptional athlete. His 40-time on Sunday was impressive but he’s been doing exceptional things dating back to his high school career. As a high school junior for St. Paul’s Episcopal (Mobile, Alabama), Armour-Davis posted the fourth-best triple jump in the state (46-feet, 9.5 inches). This year for Alabama, he finished with 32 tackles, seven pass deflections, and three interceptions playing across from Josh Jobe before injuries set back both starters. Armour-Davis’ performance this season earned him second-team All-SEC honors.

• 10. Kaiir Elam, Florida Gators: 4.39 seconds

After the Senior Bowl, Elam was rated as the No. 8 corner in the 2022 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Todd McShay. A highly-coveted cornerback in the state of Florida coming out of high school, Elam ultimately decided to stay close to home. While the Gators’ 2021 season may not have gone as planned, he still looked the part of a top 10 NFL Draft cornerback. He had 68 tackles over the last two seasons combined, while also posting three interceptions. His 40-time on Sunday likely bolstered his case to be one of the top cornerbacks selected in the upcoming draft.

On3’s Simon Gibbs and Nikki Chavanelle also contributed to this report.