Over 250 players ran 40-yard dashes on Sunday in Daytona. Three players ran a sub 4.49 -- Orange Park junior Karl Barr and Matanzas junior Jay Jones.
The two then raced to determine the fastest man at the entire event. Barr won by less than a foot with a time on the clock of 4.41.
At 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, Barr has a slight frame but the kid can flat out fly. He ran for over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns at Orange Park High as a junior and is a threat to score every time he touches it. He also plays on defense and is a playmaker over there as well.
Barr was a key member of the Pro Impact Team that won the 7on7 state tournament in Tampa last month. Barr trains with former NFL player Gerard Ross in Jacksonville.
"Karl can fly," Ross said. "He's one of the fastest kids you'll see at this level, anywhere. You can't teach speed like that and he has something that most of these prospects don't have. He's a 10.5 kid in the 100. His speed alone should get him some scholarship offers and on top of that, he's one heck of a player."
Jones is a little bigger at 5-10 and 172 and is every bit as fast. He plays on both sides of the ball at tiny Matanzas High but has a size/speed combo that's about as good as you'll find at this level. That should give college coaches from all over a reason to visit his school this spring.
College coaches from all over come to Florida for speed every year. Barr and Jones are two of the fastest players this state has to offer for the Class of 2011 and they proved it on Sunday.