On the third snap of the second half in the Miami Dolphins’ 31-16 victory over the New York Giants on Oct. 8, wide receiver Tyreek Hill raced under quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s long ball for a 64-yard touchdown reception.
During the play, the former West Alabama standout reached 22.01 mph. That was the fastest time a ball carrier from an Alabama high school or college ran during the 2023 NFL season. It was also the third-fastest time recorded by a ball carrier in the NFL this season. Hill appears three more times in the top twenty. Hill averaged 21.68 mph on a 78-yard touchdown reception in Miami’s 45-15 victory over the Washington Commanders on December 3, 21.66 mph on a 47-yard reception for the ninth-fastest speed, and 21.52 mph on a 35-yard touchdown reception for the 17th-fastest speed during a 36-34 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on September 10.
Derrick Henry (Alabama), a Tennessee Titans running back, reached 21.68 mph on a 69-yard run in a 28-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 7, ranking seventh.
During a 34-11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 23, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (Hoover) reached 21.54 mph on an 86-yard touchdown reception, the 12th-fastest speed, and 21.52 mph on a 66-yard touchdown reception, the 19th-fastest speed.
Calvin Ridley (Alabama), a Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver, achieved 21.52 mph on a 59-yard touchdown reception during a 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans on January 7, ranking 15th.
The fastest ball-carrier speed recorded during the 2023 NFL season was 22.23 mph by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf on a 73-yard touchdown reception in a 41-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on November 30.
The fastest ball carrier in the playoffs was Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama). In the Lions’ 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 28, the rookie raced 13 yards for a score at 20.93 mph.
The fastest ball carrier is one of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, which have produced a new set of statistical measurements.
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