Blazing to the sidelines...

[Buzz Killington]

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/sec-fastest-players-2012/

Top 10 fastest players in SEC Football
Brad Crawford @MrPalmettoSDS Tweet
Published August 6, 2012 - 10:30am

Looking for a playmaker with break-neck speed? A guy that can take it to the house anytime he touches the football?

Back by popular demand is SDS’s fastest players in the SEC preseason list, complete with standout athletes’ most recent 40 times. Five of last season’s 10 are now in the NFL. Four others are a year older and possibly even faster.

Times were calculated using a variety of rankings with low and high times taken into consideration. Times documented at NFLdraftscout.com.

10. Robert Lester, Alabama, FS, Sr. (4.54 40-yard dash) — A rangy 6-foot-2 hard-hitter in the Crimson Tide secondary, Lester assumes a leadership role this season on a defense depleted by the NFL Draft. It’s almost mind-boggling how a player so strong has such great speed. With a stellar final season, Lester locks himself into a high-round pick. Lester reminds me a lot of Dre Kirkpatrick.

9. Bacarri Rambo, Georgia, FS, Sr. (4.52) — Along with Jarvis Jones, Rambo’s makes up one of the SEC’s nastiest defenses. The Bulldogs seems to have all the tools to make a BCS run this season and Rambo will help spearhead the effort. He’s a first-team preseason all-conference selection despite being forced to serve a four-game suspension for a failed drug test. You remember, the marijuana-laced brownies.

8. Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, CB, Jr. (4.51) — The Honey Badger. Known more for his moves on special teams and stripping ability as a corner, Mathieu is also fast off the snap and one of the league’s fastest defenders. As LSU’s most dynamic player, Mathieu will get plenty of time in the spotlight this season and could make a run at the Heisman Trophy with his wheels.

7. Justin Hunter, Tennessee, WR, Jr. (4.49) — One of many weapons on the outside for returning quarterback Tyler Bray, expect Hunter to hit double-digit touchdowns as a junior. He’s tough to defend for any undersized corner and nearly impossible to catch from behind.

6. Damiere Byrd, South Carolina, WR, Soph. (4.46) — A football and track star in high school, Byrd can cover 40 yards in just over four seconds. He’s been timed at 10.41 in the 100m and is clearly Steve Spurrier’s fastest player. Byrd is up there with West Virginia’s Tavon Austin and Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas as one of the fastest players in all of college football in the open field.

5. Bradley Sylve, Alabama, CB, R-Frosh. (4.44) — Coaches can’t wait until Sylve sees the field this season. A member of my “Just Missed The Cut” rankings in 2011, Sylve has solidified himself as one of Alabama’s top speedsters with a solid spring. He’ll be a household name in due time.

4. Ace Sanders, South Carolina, WR, Jr. (4.43) — Sanders is only 5-foot-7, so he looks faster than reality, but paired with fellow waterbug teammate Damiere Byrd, the duo creates quite a threat for South Carolina’s offense. Sanders is a guy that can turn a 5-yard hitch into a 50-yard touchdown with a quick turn of the hips.

3. Andre Debose, Florida, WR, Jr. (4.40) — Debose once ran a 4.26 prior to his sophomore season but most scouts recognize him in the 4.39 to 4.41 range, so we’ll keep him here. Florida’s all-purpose has blazing speed any way you look at it and will be a factor on offense and the return game this fall. When he made the catch, Debose averaged 27 yards per reception as a sophomore.

2. Branden Smith, Georgia, ATH, Sr. (4.39) — Smith is one of 49 finalists on the preseason Paul Hornung Award watch list, a honor given to college football’s most versatile player. Smith starts at corner but sees action on offense and special teams for the Bulldogs. Smith takes over for 2011 Hornung winner Brandon Boykin in a fast UGA secondary. He may have the quickest first step in the SEC, one of the reasons Smith’s so deadly.

1. Onterrio McCalebb, Auburn, RB, Sr., (4.38) — McCalebb IS Auburn’s running game this season after the dismissal of oft-troubled bruiser Michael Dyer. As one of his team’s — and the conference’s — fastest players, McCalebb makes any defensive coordinator re-think his scheme when the Tigers have the football.

[wesfau2]

Hopefully he realizes that he can just follow Prosch's blocking this year and run in straight lines toward the end zones. 

[Godfather]

Hopefully he realizes that he can just follow Prosch's blocking this year and run in straight lines toward the end zones.

I swear everytime I see you post now I sing "are you ready for some football" in my head.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

I swear everytime I see you post now I sing "are you ready for some football" in my head.

I just keep thinking about how Obama is a Nazi.

[djsimp]

The only reason OMac became so fast was because of his constant thuggery and running
from the police.

[JR4AU]

Hopefully he realizes that he can just follow Prosch's blocking this year and run in straight lines toward the end zones.

Hopefully he realizes he's 170 lb running back in the sec and continue to avoid contact while still being very productive.

[Tiger Wench]

Hopefully he realizes that he can just follow Prosch's blocking this year and run in straight lines toward the end zones.

[Godfather]

I know we kid, but y'all really do need to cut OMac some slack he has been better about the running out of bounds bullshit since Bo spoke with him during 2010.
                          Car.    Yds.  Avg.   longst     TD's
Michael Dyer         242   1242   5.1   55 (TD)   10
Onterio McCalebb   112   641   5.7     60            5

His production was better than Dyer's last year.

And during Cam's year he was the shit...(highly underrated)
Onterio McCalebb    95   810   8.5 AVG  70 (TD)   9

He is always gonna be a secondary back (I think a great change of pace back)...I look forward to seeing him catching some balls, that aren't swing passes.

[GH2001]

Hopefully he realizes he's 170 lb running back in the sec and continue to avoid contact while still being very productive.

Tis true. I do kid about him a lot but really do like the guy. He's productive as hell. Does make me wonder why he has never came off the 170 mark in weight. You think he would slow down THAT much at 185 even?

[Saniflush]

Tis true. I do kid about him a lot but really do like the guy. He's productive as hell. Does make me wonder why he has never came off the 170 mark in weight. You think he would slow down THAT much at 185 even?

He may not be able to gain that much weight. 

[GH2001]

He may not be able to gain that much weight.

He honestly reminds me of the Kenyan long distance runners. Looks just like one.

[Snaggletiger]

LEAVE HIM THE HELL ALONE, PEOPLE.

Oops, I screamed that too loud and knocked O'Mac for a 3 yard loss.

[Buzz Killington]

Don't try and confuse me with your statistics!

[The Prowler]

That list is garbage, Auburn has a few players that run under 4.5s.

[JR4AU]

I know we kid, but y'all really do need to cut OMac some slack he has been better about the running out of bounds bullshit since Bo spoke with him during 2010.
                          Car.    Yds.  Avg.   longst     TD's
Michael Dyer         242   1242   5.1   55 (TD)   10
Onterio McCalebb   112   641   5.7     60            5

His production was better than Dyer's last year.

And during Cam's year he was the shit...(highly underrated)
Onterio McCalebb    95   810   8.5 AVG  70 (TD)   9

He is always gonna be a secondary back (I think a great change of pace back)...I look forward to seeing him catching some balls, that aren't swing passes.

All that plus if he maintains that pace, he'll crack the top 10 of Auburn RB's for yardage.  Yet some Auburn fans want ding him for running out of bounds and not taking a hit instead of lowering his shoulder to get 9 yards instead of 8, or why he won't gain 15 pounds so he can do that.  Not every fucking body is built to be a 25 carry between the tackles back.  OMac's primary run play is (or was) the jet sweep, and he's coached to run Hash/Numbers/Sideline as he gets up field.  And he does, clearly from his stats, get up field quite well. 

[GH2001]

All that plus if he maintains that pace, he'll crack the top 10 of Auburn RB's for yardage.  Yet some Auburn fans want ding him for running out of bounds and not taking a hit instead of lowering his shoulder to get 9 yards instead of 8, or why he won't gain 15 pounds so he can do that.  Not every fucking body is built to be a 25 carry between the tackles back.  OMac's primary run play is (or was) the jet sweep, and he's coached to run Hash/Numbers/Sideline as he gets up field.  And he does, clearly from his stats, get up field quite well.

You LOVE him! You really LOVE him!

[Snaggletiger]

You LOVE him! You really LOVE him!

If he tries to hug him, O'Mac's going down in a pile.

[JR4AU]

You LOVE him! You really LOVE him!

I DO!  I REALLY DO!

[Buzz Killington]

If he tries to hug him, O'Mac's going down in a pile.

I ROFL'ed

[Snaggletiger]

I ROFL'ed

But only after an 8.5 yard gain first.