A former track hurdler and junior-college transfer whose 4.27-second 40-yard dash made him one of the draft class's most explosive athletes at cornerback.
Mory Bamba's path to BYU ran through track meets and junior college stops before he ever played cornerback full time. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but turned elite combine testing into a contract with the Jets, who are betting his rare speed can be developed into NFL-level cover skills.
Path to the league
Bamba only began playing cornerback full time as a high school senior after building his athletic background as a track and field hurdler and triple jumper, initially enrolling at Wisconsin-Oshkosh to run track. He later played at ASA College in Miami and Tyler Junior College in Texas before earning a scholarship to BYU, where he spent four seasons.
Career highlights
Bamba appeared in 36 games across his four years at BYU, recording 47 total tackles, including 37 solo stops, though he made only two starts in his final season. His calling card became his testing numbers: a 4.27-second 40-yard dash and an 11-foot-1 broad jump that ranked among the best of any defensive back in the 2026 draft class.
2025 season recap
Bamba played a reserve and special-teams role in his final BYU season in 2025, making only two starts as the Cougars leaned on more experienced options at cornerback. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent, hoping his elite raw speed can offset his limited starting experience.
Sources
- ESPN: Mory Bamba player page
- BYU Athletics: Cougars receive NFL opportunities via draft and free agency
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- BYU
- Hometown
- Menomonee Falls, WI, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
