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Arizona Wildcats running back Ka'Deem Carey ran a 4.62 and 4.65 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, a disappointing number for a player whose only on-field knock is his breakaway speed.
Ka'Deem Carey ran 40yd times of 4.65 & 4.62 at the @nfl #ScoutingCombine. Also had 19 bench press atts this morning. pic.twitter.com/7FQVstm1R7
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) February 23, 2014
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey ran an unofficial 4.65. Figure is average at best, but he's a slasher with good lateral ability.
— Dion Caputi (@nfldraftupdate) February 23, 2014
Ka'Deem Carey's official 40 time at Combine is 4.7 seconds.
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) February 23, 2014
The former Arizona running back measured in just shy of 5-foot-9 and at 207 pounds, but Washington's Bishop Sankey, who is two pounds heavier and the same height, ran his 40-yard dash in 4.47, unofficially.
Carey even struggled to separate himself in pass-catching drills.
Ka'Deem Carey's first run in three-catch drill scrutinized by La'Dainlian Tomlinson. Carey dropped one pass,brought ball into body on others
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) February 23, 2014
In general, NFL teams will red flag Carey, and it could cost him a round if he continues struggling. The combine results and his off-the-field run-ins won't help him head-to-head with the best backs. But the game tape doesn't lie. While Carey struggled with breakaway speed and his longer runs were helped by the Wildcats' spread attack, his strength lie in his vision, ability to make the correct cut quickly and then in gaining yards after contact.
CBS Sports' Rob Rang says Sunday will hurt Carey's positioning in the draft, but like De'Anthony Thomas failing to break 4.5 seconds, it's not telling of how fast he plays on the field.
The 5-09, 207 pound back's staggeringly slow time will certainly drop his draft stock, though he plays much faster than this workout indicates. He's an instinctive, determined runner with good quickness whose soft hands and grit as a pass blocker make him a weapon on all three downs.