Northern Iowa wide receiver Terrell Sinkfield ran such a fast 40-yard dash time Monday at Minnesota's pro day that he was asked to run it again.
Sinkfield's second attempt was clocked at 4.19 seconds, 0.05 faster than Chris Johnson's NFL Scouting Combine record of 4.24 seconds in 2008, according to Fox Sports North. Sinkfield ran a 4.27 in his first attempt. He stumbled in his third attempt yet still finished it in 4.41 seconds. It's important to note that his 4.19 was hand-timed.
"I knew it was good when I finished," Sinkfield said of his 4.19. "I was pretty happy, so I came back. I thought I messed up when they said go again. I'm like, 'Dang, why do I have to run again?'"
The former track sprinter grew up in the Minneapolis area but wasn't heavily recruited by Division I programs. He led Northern Iowa with 43 catches for 499 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season.
Whether he ran a legitimate sub-4.2 40-yard dash is debatable. It's unquestionable that the unknown receiver turned heads in front of scouts, which is one of the reasons pro days exist.
NFL teams always have loved speed, and even without the 4.19, Sinkfield's blazing times are at an NFL level.
Watching the 6-foot-1 receiver's highlights on YouTube (link contains explicit language), we expected to see a lot of go routes and Sinkfield just running away from defenders, but the senior displayed a lot more polish than just a track runner. He adjusts well to many of the underthrown passes, fights for the ball and displays elusiveness in the screen game.
The NFL wasteland is littered with fast athletes who couldn't find a role. Sinkfield's speed will earn attention, but he has to prove his other skills warrant him a chance to play at the pro level.
Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.
