Just for funsies, let's look at recent RB 40 results at the Combine:
Courtesy:
http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers
2012
Top: 4.40 Lamar Miller, Miami (1 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
4.53 Edwin Baker, MSU
2011
Top: 4.34 Da'Rel Scott, Maryland (4 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
4.43 Brandon Saine, OSU
2010
Top: 4.35 Jahvid Best, Cal (2 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
N/A
2009
Top: 4.45 Cedric Peerman, UVa (0 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
4.47 Kory Sheets, Pur
4.59 Beanie Wells, OSU
4.60 Javon Ringer, MSU
2008
Top: 4.24 Chris Johnson, ECU (4 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
4.45 Rashard Mendenhall, Ill
2007
Top: 4.40 3-way tie including Adrian Peterson, Okla and Chris Henry, Ari (3 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
4.40 Antonio Pittman, OSU
2006
Top: 4.39 Maurice Drew, UCLA (3 total at 4.40 or less)
Big Ten backs:
N/A
So in summation, over the last 7 combines (2006-2012), there have been a TOTAL, nationwide, of 17 RBs to run a 4.40 or less, or an average of 2.43 RB per year, in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. Keep in mind also that at the time of the combine, these players have likely not touched a football in weeks or even months, and have been focused almost exclusively on building speed and to a lesser extent, strength. There has been 1 TOTAL RB in the ENTIRE Big Ten in the last 7 NFL Combines COMBINED who ran a 4.40 or less, and that was Antonio Pittman, who ran exactly a 4.40 flat, 6 combines ago.
So yes, James Gillum runs a 4.40.
