The 2025 NFL Combine lit up Indianapolis with jaw-dropping athleticism, and Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston led the charge with a scorching 4.28-second 40-yard dash. This annual showcase pits the best college football talents against each other in drills like the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, and broad jump, setting the stage for the NFL Draft. From lightning-fast defensive backs to powerhouse defensive linemen, here’s a rundown of the top performers who turned heads in 2025—and why Hairston’s run is the talk of the town.
Maxwell Hairston’s 4.28 40: A Kentucky football Star Shines
Maxwell Hairston, a defensive back from Kentucky, stole the spotlight at the 2025 NFL Combine with the fastest 40-yard dash of the event: 4.28 seconds. Clocking in at a top speed of 24.25 mph, Hairston’s time ties for the fifth-fastest by a cornerback since 2003, per NextGenStats. Despite missing five games in his final college season due to a shoulder injury, he proved his health and speed, topping all defensive backs. His explosive performance didn’t stop there—Hairston also notched a 39.5-inch vertical jump (second among DBs) and a 10’9” broad jump (tied for third), cementing his status as a draft riser.
Fastest 40-Yard Dash Times at the 2025 NFL Combine
The 40-yard dash is the Combine’s marquee event, testing raw speed and acceleration. Here’s how the top athletes stacked up across positions:
Defensive Backs
Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) – 4.28
Darien Porter (Iowa State) – 4.30
Caleb Ransaw (Tulane) – 4.33
Jacob Parrish (Kansas State) – 4.35
Zah Frazier (UTSA) – 4.36
Wide Receivers
Matthew Golden (Texas) – 4.29
Dont’e Thornton (Tennessee) – 4.30
Chimere Dike (Florida) & Jaylin Lane (Virginia Tech) – 4.34
Arian Smith (Georgia) – 4.36
Running Backs
Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech) – 4.32
Jaydon Blue (Texas) – 4.38
Brashard Smith (SMU) – 4.39
RJ Harvey (UCF) – 4.40
Montrell Johnson Jr. (Florida) – 4.41
Defensive Linemen
James Pearce (Tennessee) – 4.47
Fadil Diggs (Syracuse) – 4.57
Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) – 4.59
Jah Joyner (Minnesota) – 4.60
Tyler Baron (Miami) – 4.62
Linebackers:
Kain Medrano (UCLA) – 4.46
Eugene Asanta (Auburn) – 4.48
Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) & Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma) – 4.52
Nick Martin (Oklahoma State) – 4.53
Quarterbacks:
Brady Cook (Missouri) – 4.60
Tyler Shough (Louisville) – 4.64
Seth Henigan (Memphis) – 4.77
Tight Ends
Terrance Ferguson Tops the List
Terrance Ferguson (Oregon) – 4.63
Joshua Simon (South Carolina) – 4.65
C.J. Dippre (Alabama) – 4.69
Strongest Players: Bench Press Standouts
The bench press—lifting 225 pounds for max reps—tests upper-body strength and endurance.
These players dominated:
C.J. Dippre (TE, Alabama) – 32 reps
Ethan Downs (EDGE, Oklahoma) – 32 reps
Jordan Phillips (DL, Maryland) – 29 reps
Darius Alexander (DL, Toledo) – 28 reps
Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall) – 28 reps
Dippre and Downs tied for the top spot, showcasing the power needed to thrive in the trenches or at tight end.
Explosive Leapers: Vertical Jump Leaders
The vertical jump measures lower-body explosiveness. South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori soared above the rest:
Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina) – 43.0 inches
Sam Brown Jr. (WR, Miami) – 41.5 inches
Kitan Crawford (S, Nevada) – 41.5 inches
R.J. Mickens (S, Clemson) – 41.5 inches
Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State) – 41.5 inches
Emmanwori’s 43-inch leap is the highest recorded at the 2025 Combine.
Longest Leapers: Broad Jump Stars
The broad jump tests lower-body power and distance. Emmanwori again topped the charts:
Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina) – 11’6”
Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers) – 11’2”
Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State) – 11’2”
Isaiah Neyor (WR, Nebraska) – 11’1”
Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State) – 11’0”
Emmanwori’s double dominance in jumps highlights his rare blend of speed and power.
Biggest Bodies: Tallest and Heaviest Players
Tallest Players
Deone Walker (DL, Kentucky) – 6’7”
Cam Jackson (DL, Florida) – 6’6”
Landon Jackson (EDGE, Arkansas) – 6’6”
Jared Ivey (EDGE, Ole Miss) – 6’5.7”
Yahya Black (DL, Iowa) – 6’5.6”
Heaviest Players
Jay Toia (DL, UCLA) – 342 lbs
Yahya Black (DL, Iowa) – 336 lbs
Elijah Simmons (DL, Tennessee) – 334 lbs
Tim Smith (DL, Alabama) – 334 lbs
Tyleik Williams (DL, Ohio State) – 334 lbs
Kentucky’s Deone Walker combines towering height (6’7”) and massive weight (331 lbs), making him a physical specimen.
Why These Performances Matter
The NFL Combine isn’t just about numbers—it’s where draft dreams take flight. Maxwell Hairston’s 4.28 40 turned him from a solid prospect into a potential first-rounder, proving speed kills in the secondary. James Pearce’s 4.47 as a defensive lineman shows edge rushers can fly, while Nick Emmanwori’s jump stats scream playmaker. These top performances in 2025 will shape team boards as the draft nears, with Hairston’s Kentucky highlight reel leading the charge.