How Fast Did Taylor Mays Run at the NFL Combine?: When USC safety Taylor Mays ran the 40-yard dash at the recent NFL Combine, he was originally reported at a shockingly fleet 4.24 seconds -- one of the fastest times ever recorded at the scouting event, equal to Titans running back Chris Johnson. Later, Mays' time was revised down to 4.43 seconds. But some cool video from the NFL Network shows the fastest athletes running simultaneously, and Mays is clearly the second fastest runner behind wide receiver Jacoby Ford's 4.28. Former USC Coach Pete Carroll says he once clocked Mays at 4.19 seconds. He's projected to be a top 10 pick.