Mississippi State's Brenen Thompson Clocks Fastest 40-Yard Dash at 2026 NFL Combine

SEC prospects dominate the top wide receiver times, showcasing the conference's speed and talent.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:45pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the abstract form of a wide receiver sprinting, with vibrant colors and sharp, overlapping planes capturing the dynamic energy of the 40-yard dash.A cubist interpretation of the raw speed and athleticism on display at the 2026 NFL Combine, as wide receivers push the limits of human performance.Geneva Today

The 2026 NFL Combine saw Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson post the fastest 40-yard dash time among all participants, clocking in at an incredible 4.26 seconds. Thompson's blistering sprint not only topped the field but also dethroned Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles Jr., who had the previous record at 4.27 seconds. Several other SEC players, including Zavion Thomas from LSU and Deion Burks from Oklahoma, also turned in sub-4.30 second times, highlighting the conference's depth of speed and talent at the wide receiver position.

Why it matters

The NFL Combine is a crucial event for prospects to showcase their athletic abilities and impress scouts, with 40-yard dash times often serving as a key metric for evaluating wide receiver talent. Thompson's record-setting performance, along with the strong showings from other SEC players, will likely boost their draft stock and draw significant attention from NFL teams seeking game-changing speed at the wide receiver position.

The details

In addition to Thompson's 4.26-second 40-yard dash, other top wide receiver times included Zavion Thomas from LSU at 4.28 seconds and Deion Burks from Oklahoma at 4.30 seconds. Oregon's Malik Benson, who played at Alabama in 2023, had the best time among non-SEC players at 4.37 seconds. Other notable performances came from Germie Bernard of Alabama, who had the fastest three-cone drill time at 6.71 seconds, and Deion Burks, who jumped 42.5 inches in the vertical leap.

  • The 2026 NFL Combine took place on April 11, 2026.

The players

Brenen Thompson

A wide receiver from Mississippi State University who posted the fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Combine with a blistering 4.26-second sprint.

Lorenzo Styles Jr.

A safety from Ohio State University who previously held the record for the fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, clocking in at 4.27 seconds.

Zavion Thomas

A wide receiver from Louisiana State University who recorded the second-fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Combine with a 4.28-second sprint.

Deion Burks

A wide receiver from the University of Oklahoma who posted the third-fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Combine with a 4.30-second run.

Malik Benson

A wide receiver from the University of Oregon who played at the University of Alabama in 2023 and had the best 40-yard dash time among non-SEC players at 4.37 seconds.

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What’s next

With the offensive linemen yet to run their 40-yard dashes on Sunday, the 2026 NFL Combine will continue to showcase the top athletic talents in college football as they vie for the attention of NFL scouts and teams.

The takeaway

The dominance of SEC players in the wide receiver 40-yard dash times at the 2026 NFL Combine underscores the conference's reputation for producing elite speed and talent at the position. While raw speed is a valuable asset, the debate continues on whether it is the most crucial factor for wide receiver success in the NFL.