Kelee Ringo shows off speed at NFL Combine
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo was expected to run a fast time on the 40, and that’s exactly what he did in his first attempt. His unofficial 4.36 is fourth fastest on the first attempt from the cornerbacks, tied with Deonte Banks of Maryland and behind DJ Turner II (4.27) of Michigan, Jakorian Bennett of Maryland (4.31) and Emmanuel Forbes of Mississippi State (4.35).
“I come from a track background so continuing to work on my technique and explosiveness in the game and using it in football, I’ve been running since I was a kid and that’s one of my strengths of course,” Ringo told reporters on Thursday during his availability. “In football and running out there in the 40. I definitely have something to show tomorrow.”
“Man, specifically, my first love continuously was football. I would definitely say track definitely helped me throughout the football aspect,” he added. “Just being able to focus on your technique and being able to translate your speed and know when to use it specifically and how to use it throughout your breaks or also running downfield vertically.”
Ringo reportedly ran 23.5 miles per hour during his pre-Combine preparation. He’s expected to run a second attempt.
UPDATE (4:21 p.m. ET): Ringo’s second attempt came in at 4.45 unofficially after a false start. Banks ran better on his second attempt (4.35), the only top five corner on their first attempt to do so. Turner (4.27) did not run a second time. Unofficially, Ringo finishes with the fifth fastest time in his position group.
Ringo is one of two Georgia players working out on-field at Lucas Oil Stadium Friday afternoon. Safety Christopher Smith is in the afternoon’s later group and will go through drills after the cornerbacks wrap up.
Yesterday the defensive linemen and outside linebackers took center stage, and while Jalen Carter opted not to workout, the Bulldogs still stole the show. Nolan Smith ran an official 4.39 40 and jumped 41.5 inches in the vertical. He is the heaviest player to post sub-4.4 and above 40 inches in the vertical in Combine history.
Furthermore, Robert Beal ran well too. His official time came down to 4.48, second quickest among players working out with the defensive ends behind only Smith.
Coverage of the NFL Combine can be found on NFL Network. Quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends go at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday while running backs and offensive linemen do so at the same time on Sunday.
