4.55 is blazing for the average HS kid...I'm thinking somewhere in the 4.6 range...

 

Either way, I hope Fugate has a fantastic career at UT, And I wish him the best...I'll keep my eye on him..

 

I'm done...

 

Which is pretty good speed for a 220+ pound high school running back. I think people get caught up in the elite speeds they see in college and the NFL sometimes and don't adjust downward for the high school level.

 

To elaborate a little, we're conditioned to think 4.3 speed is lights out, 4.4 is great, 4.5 is solid, and 4.6 is average based on the Sportscenter world...I don't think people realize how fast a 4.5 or 4.6 actually is. It's not world class speed, but it ain't exactly an evening jog. They see a guy break a few long runs and automatically pencil him in as a 4.4...there's more to long runs than just speed...like vision, tackling angles by the defense, alignment, etc. The speeds don't matter that much when Channing Fugate is at full speed and the defenders are trying to cut or turn and accelarate because of bad angles or whatever. JMO

 

I've seen a player at Breathitt who ran in the high 4.3's (reportedly)...I'm guessing that time is close to accurate, because he was a strong track and field guy, and he was noticeably faster than everyone else on the field when he played. And easily the fastest player I've ever seen wear the blue and white.

 

Fugate may have improved his speed over the summer, but based on what I've seen in previous seasons I'd say 4.6ish would be close...

Good point 5wide. I have talked to several college coaches, D1, D2, NAIA, and D3, they have all said that if a player is 4.7 or better that kid can play for them, as far as speed goes. I think people put too much stock in sub 4.6 speed, many of the same coaches have told me repeatedly that most players can take two tenths of a second off their 40 time, by just practicing it. A lot of it is practicing starts and first steps.

 

Sure, some are going to be naturally faster then others, but sometimes football speed and linear speed is not the same thing. I have seen 4.7 guys, linear speed, look like they were 4.4 guys in football games. They just have the vision, the agility, the lateral movement to make would be tacklers look slow. That is where recruiting comes in, they don't just take 40 times and say, "OK, we will take him". They use the 40 times and game performance. Some times they are not the same.

Good point 5wide. I have talked to several college coaches, D1, D2, NAIA, and D3, they have all said that if a player is 4.7 or better that kid can play for them, as far as speed goes. I think people put too much stock in sub 4.6 speed, many of the same coaches have told me repeatedly that most players can take two tenths of a second off their 40 time, by just practicing it. A lot of it is practicing starts and first steps.

 

Sure, some are going to be naturally faster then others, but sometimes football speed and linear speed is not the same thing. I have seen 4.7 guys, linear speed, look like they were 4.4 guys in football games. They just have the vision, the agility, the lateral movement to make would be tacklers look slow. That is where recruiting comes in, they don't just take 40 times and say, "OK, we will take him". They use the 40 times and game performance. Some times they are not the same.

 

:thumb:

 

40 times don't always translate to "football" speed on the field.

 

I've seen a lot of guys in the NFL who don't have elite 40 times, but yet they break a lot of big plays and aren't easily caught from behind. Jerry Rice...what was his time? Emmitt Smith? Barry Sanders? Terrell Owens?

 

Those guys have football speed. I think its more important to watch a guy in pads...I think people get too caught up in 40 times and ignore what they actually see on the field. Fugate has good speed, but he's not going to run away from guys in the SEC.

 

I remember reading an article in SI a decade or so ago about Jonathan Ogden...he was 6'8, 330+ pounds and coming out of UCLA he ran a sub-5.0 40. I found that absolutely amazing.

I always watch the NFL Combines on the NFL Channel, and I love it when the season rolls around and the talking heads say this lineman ran a 4.7 40, and I watched him in the combine run a 5.2. It seems once a player makes it to the NFL, their 40 time gets a lot better.

Just for fun...since linemen have been brought into this...Does anyone remember what Caudill and Robertson ran in their combine?

 

I do 4.88 and 4.76...and it might suprise you who ran the 4.76.

40 times are very sexy, but I bet that S. Alexander ran around a 4.5 ish 40, and he ran away from more than a few defenders during his time. I still remember his three TD game against Oakland (2001) on ESPN, he didn't have any problems running away from a very speedy Charles Woodson. 40 times are nice but football speed is what counts.

Just for fun...since linemen have been brought into this...Does anyone remember what Caudill and Robertson ran in their combine?

 

I do 4.88 and 4.76...and it might suprise you who ran the 4.76.

 

Robertson with the 4.76?

I say Jeremy Caudill ran the 4.76. Those crooked legs could really move.

I say Jeremy Caudill ran the 4.76. Those crooked legs could really move.

 

Very good! I flipped the order just to throw a curve...lol

Very good! I flipped the order just to throw a curve...lol

 

I knew Robertson could move...

Drive for Show, Putt for Doe. Saying kinda reminds me of 40 times, they are mostley for show. Football speed is what matters, too much emphasis put on 40 times. Good Luck to Mr. Fugate and YES HE WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED AN OFFER FROM UK!!!!:isurrender: