Over the last two decades, a host of players have gone to the NFL Combine boasting of sub-4.3 speed. But only three -- Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson and Brett Perriman -- delivered on those promises.

Fitness guru Chip Smith thinks former Hawaii receiver Ashley Lelie has a chance this weekend to become the fifth. Smith, who has trained Lelie, as well as 40 other top prospects, since mid-January, is as anxious as anyone to see just want kind of time Lelie will post this weekend.

Smith said that during training, Lelie ran a 4.37 on a grass surface and both a 4.27 and a 4.26 on a Mondo track surface similar to what's used at the Olympics, as well as the combine. Hence the anticipation for this weekend.

"I don't think I've ever had a player in the years that I've been doing this that I've been so ready for him to perform," said Smith, who has been preparing players for the combine for 10 years. "Is he capable of a (sub-4.3)? Absolutely."

June Jones, Lelie's coach at Hawaii, agrees.

"He has absolute lightning speed," Jones said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he ran the fastest time of anyone at the combine."

Prospects as highly regarded as Lelie (he currently ranks No. 9 on ESPN Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.'s Top 25) typically don't run at the combine. But for Lelie, whose game is based largely on his speed, the decision to run came down to playing to his strengths.

"Traditionally, when a player is ranked as high as Ashley, I wouldn't recommend that he run," Smith said. "But Ashley wants to set the bar. And imagine if you're one of the other receivers who aren't running at the combine. Those guys are going to have to stare at the time Ashley runs until their pro (workout) day. And I can't imagine that pressure."

For Smith, this weekend is the most nerve-racking of the year. The endless days of training and preparation are over, and now he can only watch. He said he doesn't make the trip to Indianapolis, instead staying behind in Atlanta and getting word on his client's times via cell phone.

As for what time Lelie will post, it depends on a host of variables. Smith said it is critical that Lelie gets ample time to stretch and take a few practice runs. In addition, he was worried about what sort of timing system the NFL would use.

In the early days of the combine, scouts used a handheld stopwatch. More recently, they've switched to electronic timing, which typically adds 0.1 or 0.2 of a second. Last year, the NFL used a handheld stopwatch at the start, but employed an electronic stopping mechanism that was triggered when the player crossed the finish line 40 yards away. Last year's times proved to be faster than previous years.

"As for this year, who knows?" Smith said. "Every year they change the rules. So the guys won't really be able to get a handle on things until they get there."

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at Wayne.Drehs@ESPN.com.