Stunning development to come out of the NFL combine where former Xaverian star defensive tackle and likely first-round draft pick Maurice Hurst Jr. of Michigan was sent home to undergo further testing after media reports indicated he was red-flagged for a potential heart condition.
“I was sad when I heard the news,” said his former high school coach, Charlie Stevenson. “Hopefully when they examine him further, he will be able to get clearance. My thoughts and prayers are with Mo and his family at this time.”
An All-Scholastic at Xaverian, the 6-foot-2, 288-pounder blossomed into one of the top interior defensive linemen in the country. A consensus first-team All-American, Hurst received the 2017 Bo Schembechler Team MVP award and as well as Defensive Player of the Year award.
In 46 games for the Wolverines, Hurst amassed 134 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups, and one blocked field goal. Hurst also excelled in the classroom as he was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree who graduated with a degree in sport management from the School of Kinesiology.
"I spoke to Mo the other day and there was no indication of anything," said Xaverian head coach Al Fornaro, who was the defensive coordinator when Hurst played at Xaverian from 2009-2012. "The number one thing right now is his health, that's all I'm concerned about."
