Adidas Wants To Give Away An Island To The Next Great Speedster At The NFL Combine


Very few individuals in this world own their island.

Enter Adidas.

The shoe company is offering up a chance for one lucky professional football player participating in the 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine to win his very own piece of land -- terms and conditions apply.

The all-time record for the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine is held by former Tennessee Titans speedster Chris Johnson, 31, who took the crown in 2008 by running a blistering 4.24 seconds.

The crux: If you break Johnson's record, you win an island. 

Good luck. The three-time Pro Bowler, who's currently with the Arizona Cardinals, is on pace to accumulate over 10,000 rushing yards over his nearly 10 years in the NFL. He has the record for a reason. It's been untouchable over the last decade. 

Make your picks for the HS sprinters that you think could break 4.24s in a 40m


Johnson, of course, has a track background. 

His sprinting career first started at Orlando Olympia (FL) High, where he graduated in 2004 before going on to Eastern Carolina. At Olympia, the 5-foot-11 athlete ran a personal record of 10.38 seconds in the Metro Conference Championship and finished his senior season by running under 11 seconds nine times. In the 200, Johnson owned a PR of 21.67.

 Is 4.24 within reach?

NFL.com put together a list of potential candidates with a chance to break Johnson's all-time mark. And luckily for us, MileSplit has profiles for almost all of them!

Lavonte "Kermit" Whitfield, Johns High (FL), Class of 2013

Whitfield is probably the surest bet to win the grand prize -- out of all the contenders -- as his record indicates some magnificent times: 6.64 seconds in the 60m at Brooks PR in 2013; 10.15 seconds in the 100m at the Bob Hayes Invitational in 2013; and 20.66 seconds in the 200m at the same meet. He finished his high school career as a three-time state champion. Whitfield was a wide receiver and kick returner for the Florida State Seminoles.

John Ross, Long Beach Jordan High (CA), Class of 2013

Ross is a speedster who finished his high school career with PRs in the 100m of 10.66 seconds and 21.56 in the 200m. He told MMQB.si.com that he ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash in February. Ross was a wide receiver for the Washington Huskies. 

Adoree Jackson, Serra Junipero High (CA), Class of 2014

Jackson, who is also a two-time Pac-12 long jump standout -- he finished 10th at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2016 -- for Southern California, ran 10.35 seconds in the 100m and 21.08 in the 200m in 2016. He's got a PB of 50.29 seconds in the 400m as well. He was a star cornerback for the Trojans.


Jalen Myrick, Savannah Christian Prep (GA), Class of 2013

Myrick, a cornerback for the University of Minnesota, held personal records in high school of 10.61 seconds in the 100m and 22.15 seconds in the 200m.

Shelton Gibson, Cleveland Heights (OH), Class of 2013

Gibson never won a state title with Cleveland Heights, but he did run a personal record of 6.47 seconds in the 55m, 10.67 seconds in the 100m, and 21.35 in the 200m. He was a wide receiver for West Virginia University.

Jabriell Peppers, Paramus Catholic (NJ), Class of 2014

The University of Michigan safety was a four-time NJSIAA Meet of Champions winner in the 100m and 200m. Peppers had a PR of 10.51 seconds in 100m, which he recorded in 2013, and 21.13 in the 200m in 2014.

Dalvin Cook, Miami Central (FL), Class of 2014

Cook was part of a string of state championship football teams at Miami Central, but he also made personal waves on the track, running 10.92 seconds in the 100m and 22.58 seconds in the 200m. While his times don't jump off the page, his block-start quickness is unquestioned, especially in the first few meters.

Joe Williams, Emmaus (PA), Class of 2011

A blog post from the Allentown Morning Call in 2011 reported that Williams ran 10.4 seconds in the 100m and 21.1 in the 200m at a tri-meet! And it was buried at the end of the story!

KD Cannon, Mount Pleasant High (TX), Class of 2014

Cannon, a wide receiver for Baylor, ran a personal best of 10.32 seconds in the 100m at the UIL Texas Track and Field Championships in 2014, winning a state title. He also added a time of 21.42 seconds in the 200m. In 2015, he ran for the Bears track and field team.

Caution: As it's been reported over the last few days -- Deadspin has a nice rundown of the conditions Adidas has given those wanting to contend for the island prize -- the Island giveaway has a series of clauses that may deem the winning athlete void of the prize if they don't meet certain guidelines. Among the most important:

- The athlete must wear Adidas' shoes during the 40-yard dash

- They must enter into an agreement with Adidas before the start of the 2017-18 season

- Adidas can substitute payment of $1 million instead of an island

- The athlete is responsible for the fees and all associated taxes involved with winning an island

- Read the terms and conditions for the full scope of guidelines