Miami Hurricanes' DeMarcus Van Dyke Runs Fastest 40-Yard Dash at NFL Combine

Miami, you may be trophy-less, but you've still got the goods.That's the news out of this year's NFL combine, where Hurricanes cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash in an absurdly fast 4.28 seconds. That's the speediest time so far this year and the third fastest for any player...

By Michael E. Miller

March 2, 2011

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Miami, you may be trophy-less, but you've still got the goods.

That's the news out of this year's NFL combine, where Hurricanes cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash in an absurdly fast 4.28 seconds. That's the speediest time so far this year and the third fastest for any player since 2000.

Several other Floridians also impressed.

Van Dyke, a 6'1" senior at UM, attended Monsignor Pace High School in Miami. Until his blistering combine performance, he had been overshadowed by fellow UM cornerback Brandon Harris.

Finishing just behind Van Dyke was Pompano Beach native and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson with a 4.34-second 40-yard dash. Ohio State defensive back Chimdi Chekwa -- from Clermont, Florida -- clocked a 4.40-second sprint to round out the top ten.

Van Dyke's time ranked third fastest since 2000, just behind running back Chris Johnson (4.24 in 2008, East Carolina) and cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27 in 2005, Houston). Johnson, by the way, hails from Orlando.

Who knows? Maybe Al Golden will actually figure out how to use South Florida's redonkulously fast football players next year.

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Michael E. Miller was a staff writer at Miami New Times for five years. His work for New Times won many national awards, including back-to-back-to-back Sigma Delta Chi medallions. He now covers local enterprise for the Washington Post.

Contact: Michael E. Miller