Johnson’s time is the best at any position in the 21st Century. Deion Sanders ran either a 4.17 or 4.19 time at his, and Bo Jackson is known to have run a 4.12 – the fastest ever seen anywhere to date to my knowledge. Bo was a 225 pound once-in-a-lifetime athlete whose career had ended way too early…a modern-day Gale Sayers.

Since the “official” times aren’t released in NFL Combine drills until everyone at the position has completed that particular drill, we await the official time that they say the 5’10″ 158 lbs. running back will wind up with posting.

Thanks to the NFL Network, I already know that Texas Longhorns WR Marquise Goodwin’s official time from earlier today came in at 4.27 seconds – so far the fastest at the 2013 NFL Combine while Knile Davis posted the next-best time, a 4.30. Knile’s an Arkansas Razorback with 227 pounds to go with it, so that’s even more impressive.

What the NFL Network did was superimpose images of the 4.27 official time trial run of Marquise Goodwin over that of Auburn’s Onterio McCalebb. The two were, for all intents and purposes, the exact same image for about 30 of the 40 yards of that run.

Oct 6, 2012; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns wider receiver Marquise Goodwin (84) runs after making a catch during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. West Virginia beat Texas 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Goodwin won the battle of the ghost images by pulling away in those last few yards, and he ran a 4.27 time, so McCalleb did not, in fact, break Chris Johnson’s modern 4.24 time. He ran somewhere in the 4.3s.

Of course, now that I’ve written all of this, the running backs have finished their runs and the official times have been announced. Oh well, that saves me the trouble of having to make another post on the topic later.

McCalebb ran a 4.34 and Davis a 4.37. Since Davis has 60 pounds of bulk over the thin McCalebb with the same 5’10″ frame, I’d say Davis just improved his draft stock while McCalebb more or less met expectations. We knew going in that he was one of the fastest kids in the draft…and he is indeed.

Chris Johnson just Tweeted “I can’t lie…that one scared me”

The guy has a sense of humor, at least.

Follow me on Twitter @Ken_Dye

Chris Johnson, or CJ2K for the hipsters out there, put himself on the NFL radar and indeed ran himself right into the first round when the Tennessee Titans took him with the 24th overall selection.

Darren McFadden was drafted by Oakland 4th overall that year, the same year the Carolina Panthers took Jonathan Stewart 13th overall. A small “run” on running backs began with the 22nd overall pick when the Dallas Cowboys took Arkansas’ Felix Jones, a back with a similar style to CJ2K. The Steelers took Rashard Mendenhall, a power back, with the 23rd and then Johnson went off the board.

Today, as the rookie receiver hopefuls lit up the track, some eye-popping times were seen.

Tavon Austin of West Virginia ran a 4.25 as did Texas wideout Marquise Goodwin this morning.

What’s the issue, then, if any?

Size. Or…lack thereof.

Austin measured in at 5’8″ and 174 lbs. Goodwin’s not much bigger at 5’9″ and 184 lbs. Both make Chris Johnson’s 5’11″ 191-pound frame a hulk by comparison.

But that’s okay. We’re talking wide receivers here and both Austin and Goodwin might make electrifying return men and/or slot receivers at the NFL level. Both are too small and lack strength to play on the outside, thus limiting their value. I’ll be very surprised if either runs their way into the first round like Johnson did five years ago.

As we await the “official” times, Chris Johnson’s 4.24 mark could be eclipsed, but the point is that whoever drafts either of these two kids is going to get more speed than anything. I watched a bit of Tavon Austin in the route-running drills and it looks like he has trouble tracking the football in flight – something obviously troubling, considering the position he plays.

We know “you can’t coach speed,” but both of these young speedsters are going to need some heavy coaching in other areas before they likely start seeing the field in the NFL as receivers.

Kinda reminds me of one of Carolina’s draftees last season – WR/KR Joe Adams.