NFL Draft prospect Maurice Hurst has been projected as a first-round pick in many circles.
The Michigan product has drawn comparisons to Aaron Donald in the early draft process, making a name for himself as an undersized, yet explosive player on the defensive line. In four years with the Wolverines, Hurst produced at a high level, racking up 13.5 sacks and 32.0 tackles for loss in that time span. He’s commonly been recognized as a NFL Draft prospect for the Washington Redskins to keep an eye on.
Hurst was expected to wow scouts at the NFL Combine this week, headlining a deep draft class on the defensive line. But after undergoing a physical, it was discovered that Hurst has a heart condition. He will not partake in combine drills.
Michigan DT Maurice Hurst, projected as a potential first-round pick, was diagnosed today with a heart condition, league sources told ESPN. Hurst will not go through combine drills and will undergo further testing this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2018
The news is a shock for many, but none more than Hurst himself. He likely had little to no knowledge of the condition, and the emergence of it at such an important point in his life has to be hard.
For now, the severity of the issue is still up in the air. Hurst will likely take time to learn more about what is ailing him. According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Hurst’s condition has been compared to Nick Fairley’s coming out of college. Fairley managed to play football for six years with the condition, but he was ultimately blocked by the New Orleans Saints in 2017, as a result of the heart condition. He sat out the entire 2017 season, and a return is still up in the air.
There is still quite a bit of information to learn, in regards to the Maurice Hurst situation. It is clear, however, that his NFL Draft stock can and will likely slide as a result of the news. On Matt Valdovinos’ Top 100 Big Board, Hurst is currently listed as the No. 20 prospect in the NFL Draft. In our most recent NFL Draft Mock, Hurst was taken at No. 18 overall by the Seattle Seahawks. In light of the recent developments surrounding his health, Hurst’s standing will ultimately fall. It remains to be seen how far.
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But when a life is in question, as is the case with any heart condition, the primary concern is not the draft status, or the rookie paycheck, but the player and person himself. Here at Riggo’s Rag, we wish Hurst the best of luck, and we hope that the condition is only minor. That way, he can get back to playing the game he loves.