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McCalebb

He followed up his 4.34 Combine forty with an even more blistering time. McCalebb added a 37-inch vertical, 10-foot-1 broad jump, and 10 reps of 225 pounds on the bench. McCalebb is a pint-sized 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds, and only received 112 offensive touches as a senior. He projects as a late-round pick.

The 4.21 is not yet “official” -- and official times tend to be universally slower than the “unofficial” times -- but McCalebb is now threatening Chris Johnson’s Combine record of 4.24. Texas WR Marquise Goodwin came close earlier in the day with a 4.27 “official” time. We should know McCalebb’s “official” forty within the hour.

Former longtime Rotoworld stud Chris Wesseling -- now of NFL.com -- passed along the news via Twitter. McCalebb ran “unofficial” forty times of 4.21 and 4.27, and even NFL Network’s “simulcast” of Johnson and McCalebb’s runs seemed to indicate McCalebb had broken the record. Apparently, not so. Perhaps we’re conspiracy theorists, but the Combine directors seem to have gone out of their way to “protect” Johnson’s record. And maybe they didn’t want to “give” it to a projected late-round pick or UDFA like McCalebb.

Interestingly, the Bengals are listing him as a cornerback. McCalebb (5-foot-10 1/4, 168) is a straight-line burner who rushed 406 times for 2,586 yards (6.37 YPC) and 24 touchdowns across four seasons at Auburn. McCalebb boosted his stock with a 4.34 forty and scintillating 1.45 ten-yard split at the Combine. He went undrafted because he lacks physicality and elusive running ability, but the Bengals will give his speed a shot on defense. McCalebb could also make an impact on returns and as a gadget offensive player in space.

An all-purpose running back at Auburn, McCalebb has spent the last two seasons struggling on the Bengals’ practice squad as a corner. Now he’s shifting back to the offensive side in an effort to find a role. At 5'10/175, McCalebb’s ceiling is a seldom-used gadget guy and return man despite 4.34 speed.

Cincinnati waived DE Christo Bilukidi in a corresponding move. The signing likely means rookie Darqueze Dennard will not suit up Week 1.