Fastest combine receiver played at now-defunct football program

UAB football is dead. Long live UAB football.

Mere months after the University of Alabama-Birmingham shut down its football program, one of its wide receivers made a little noise Saturday at the NFL scouting combine.

Diminutive J.J. Nelson might only stand 5-10 and weigh a paltry 156 pounds, but he can flat out fly. Nelson ran a combine-best (through Saturday) 4.28-second 40-yard dash.

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Now that’s representing your school — nicknamed the Blazers, fittingly — well.

Nelson led UAB in receptions (42), receiving yards (846) and receiving touchdowns (8) this past season, despite missing two games, and averaged a whopping 38.7 yards per kick return average with four more touchdowns.

At 156 pounds, his chances of getting drafted and making a life in the NFL remain slim. Other undersized burners such as Trindon Holliday, Aaron Lockett, Brandon Banks and Onterrio McCalebb have had limited NFL success, with most of it coming as a return specialist.

Still, it was fun to watch the former track star Nelson put on a show, reaching a 40-yard dash time that only a handful of players have ever touched in Indianapolis.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm