CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — Not long after one record fell at the CFL National Combine on Sunday, the same record was broken again.
Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell set an electronic record in the 40-Yard Dash, setting a time of 4.355. That time was just ahead of Shaquille Murray-Lawrence’s 4.41 posted in the same day, at the time also an electronic record.
Steven Turner still holds the all-time CFL record with a 4.31, a mark registered in 2009 when the 40-yard dash was hand-timed only. The CFL began using electronic timing for the 40 in 2010, with Shamawd Chambers and Kristopher Robertson each holding an electronic-best mark of 4.42 since then.
Murray-Lawrence was the first to break the electronic record, dazzling scouts with a run of 4.41. After getting advice from Chambers, the previous record-holder, leading up to the week, the UNLV alum received congratulations from the current Edmonton Eskimo right after.
“Preparation, hard work, determination,” responded Murray-Lawrence, asked after one-on-ones how he managed to break the record.
“The whole team got me ready for this. Everybody got me ready, not to mention Shamawd Chambers.”
“He was texting me the whole weekend and told me to ‘stay relaxed, this record is for you’.”
Chambers congratulated Murray-Lawrence after, while the running back prospect mostly shrugged off his accomplishment to the media like it was really no big deal.
“I feel like everything I’ve done is on film,” Murray-Lawrence told reporters. “The 40 is really to verify, but there’s not too much emphasis on the 40.”
“Mainly I just wanted to have fun, being back in Canada for the first time in four years and actually playing Canadian football,” he added. “That was good.”
To add to his impressive feat, the record was broken on an injured leg. Murray-Lawrence said he hurt his leg during his second 40 at a pro day two weeks ago. What he might’ve put up if fully healthy is a scary thought.
“There’s no telling,” he responded to the thought. “Who knows.”
The spotlight stayed on Murray-Lawrence only shortly, as Campbell’s record-breaking run came within the next couple of hours.
Campbell and Murray-Lawrence were the two favourites in the 40, and they used to compete in track as they grew up. While Murray-Lawrence usually had the upper-hand, Campbell now holds the bragging rights.
Both of Campbell’s runs were phenomenal, as the second of 4.363 lagged just behind his first of 4.355, the record-breaker.
Kahlen Branning was another top favourite in the 40 after dominating during the Edmonton Regional Combine, and he finished third in Sunday’s 40 with a 4.53, leaving two Regina Rams in the top three finishers.
Highly-touted receiver Lemar Durant likely raised his stock this weekend, building on a solid Saturday with a fourth-place finish in the 40 thanks to a 4.55 time. Nic Demski, competing with Durant for the status of top receiver prospect, was no less impressive at 4.56.
Below are the top-10 finishers in Sunday’s 40-Yard Dash:
| RANK | Name | Pos | School | Time (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tevaughn Campbell | DB | Regina | 4.36 |
| 2 | Shaquille Murray-Lawrence | RB | UNLV | 4.41 |
| 3 | Kahlen Branning | DB | Regina | 4.53 |
| 4 | Lemar Durant | WR | Simon Fraser | 4.55 |
| 5 | Nic Demski | WR | Manitoba | 4.56 |
| T6 | Brendan Morgan | DB | Queen’s | 4.57 |
| T6 | Dillon Campbell | RB | Wilfrid Laurier | 4.57 |
| 8 | Mikhail Davidson | WR | Montreal | 4.60 |
| 9 | Melvin Abankwah | WR | Saint Mary’s | 4.61 |
| 10 | Dexter Janke | DB | Okanagan | 4.62 |
