After posting a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine on Saturday, former Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. was captured by broadcast cameras shedding what appeared to be tears of joy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so emotional, man,\u201d Washington told NFL Network reporter Stacy Dales. \u201cI\u2019ve worked my whole life for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-1, 223-pound ball carrier posted the quickest sprint of all the running backs who participated at the combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis \u2014 an impressive feat considering the position group averaged its fastest time since 2003, per the NFL Network.<\/p>\n
.@RazorbackFB<\/a> RB Mike Washington Jr. got emotional after running an incredible 4.33u. \ud83e\udd72<\/p>\n These guys work so hard for this moment. @StaceyDales<\/a> <\/p>\n 2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork<\/a> \u2014 NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n His 4.33 was the fastest 40 by a running back since 2024, when eventual San Francisco 49ers fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo clocked the same time. It also beat the 4.36 time that Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love, the draft\u2019s consensus top running back prospect, posted Saturday.<\/p>\n Washington is coming off a breakout season with the Razorbacks. After transferring from New Mexico State, where he spent a year after three seasons at Buffalo, he posted a career-high 1,070 rushing yards, nine touchdowns and 226 receiving yards.<\/p>\n Washington and the running backs contributed to a trend at this year\u2019s combine, in which several position groups averaged record 40 times.<\/p>\n In addition to the running backs, defensive linemen (4.83 seconds), linebackers (4.55 seconds), defensive backs (4.44 seconds), and tight ends (4.63 seconds) all averaged their fastest times since 2003.<\/p>\n Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq set records for their respective position groups.<\/p>\n What this means for Washington<\/p>\n Washington has been crushing the pre-draft process. He was terrific during Senior Bowl week and kept that momentum going in Indianapolis with the fastest 40-yard dash and big-time numbers in the vertical (39 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 8 inches). Washington is quick to gather his weight and cut against the grain, and you see the big-play ability \u2014 he led the SEC with 16 plays of 20-plus yards in 2025. And he is doing that at 223 pounds, with an impressive physique and power behind his pads (just ask Texas safety Michael Taaffe, who was put on his back by Washington on the Arkansas-Texas tape).<\/p>\n TALK TO ‘EM MIKE pic.twitter.com\/xy83Gm3q9d<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) November 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Love will be the first running back drafted, but Washington made a strong case in Indianapolis for why he should be a top-three back in April. \u2014 Dane Brugler, NFL Draft analyst<\/p>\n Another strong showing<\/p>\n
Stream on @NFLPlus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aF5KlGmL9L<\/a><\/p>\n