Iowa DB Josh Jackson's 40-yard dash time takes dramatic turn at NFL Scouting Combine

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock likes former Iowa star Josh Jackson's hands and his ability to find the football.

But most important has always been the speed, and that's the subject of scrutiny after Monday's times in the 40-yard dash.

Jackson turned in unofficial 40-yard dash times of 4.49 seconds and 4.60 during the final day of the NFL Scouting Combine. The first one was what got Mayock raving about Jackson.

"That's a good time right there for Josh Jackson, who I think has got the best hands of any of the D-backs in this draft," Mayock told viewers after Jackson's first attempt.

The second ... not so much.

Jackson's time slipped the second time around but his first attempt may have been good enough to make the impression he needed.

"That's not a good time for Josh Jackson, but at least he had the 4.49 on the first one," Mayock said.

But.

That first impressive time was later downgraded to a 4.56, a clocking that will lightly sully his first-round draft prognosis.

The former Iowa cornerback had a breakout season in 2017 when he grabbed eight interceptions, tallied 18 pass breakups and earned unanimous all-American honors.

As good as Jackson was during the season, the Hawkeyes star still had to show NFL officials some more speed during the combine.

Jackson was turning into a hot commodity for the NFL Draft. He already has a big fan in Mayock, who compared Jackson to Pro Bowl pick Marcus Peters.

"The ball finds them, and they both have the ability to finish because of their elite ball skills," Mayock said. "Now I think Marcus Peters is a little twitchier than Josh Jackson, but I loved watching Josh Jackson play."

Even Hall of Famer and NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders was impressed by the comparison Mayock made.

"That's a heckuva comparison," Sanders said.