Brenen Thompson Blazes to a 4.26 40 at the Combine, Instant headline material
In most football roles, the 40-yard dash doesn’t directly determine success. Players at those positions encounter straight-line sprints on the field only in specific moments—either when things are going exceptionally well or disastrously off-script.
But for wide receivers, the 40 is dramatically more meaningful. And this past Saturday in Indianapolis, Mississippi State’s Brenan Thompson turned heads with a blistering reaction time, clocking a remarkable 4.26 seconds in the 40.
According to Jeff Legwold from ESPN, Thompson posted the fastest 40 at the 2026 Scouting Combine, a time that stunned observers (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48066932/mississippi-state-thompson-clocks-426-40-nfl-combine). Unless an offensive lineman performs an extraordinary feat on Sunday, Thompson is positioned to be the standout speedster of this year’s workouts.
That 4.26 places Thompson just 0.05 seconds shy of the Combine record of 4.21 seconds, set two years earlier by Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy.
With this performance, Thompson lands in a five-way tie for the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash in Indianapolis history. Yet, it’s worth noting that there isn’t a perfect link between blazing sprint speed and NFL stardom. The most successful fast runners in history include running back Chris Johnson, who posted a 4.24-second 40 in 2008.
Still, speed is a clear asset. Thompson’s Saturday showcase confirms that he belongs among the elite sprinters ever measured in Indy, and that kind of time always adds intrigue for evaluators and fans alike.
