According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, one of the NFL’s elite prospects Utah defensive Tackle Star Lotulelei, will not be able to workout on Monday after an echo-cardiogram revealed a heart condition.
Lotulelei has been ranked as a Top 5 player in plenty of Mock Drafts, including drafts from Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. ESPN says that:
The 6-foot-2, 311-pound Lotulelei will undergo further testing in Salt Lake City in an effort to seek more clarity with the condition, a source said. If it’s a confirmed chronic condition, medical experts consider it an indication of possible heart damage.
Tollner [Lotulelei’s agent] said that Lotulelei was asked by combine officials to not participate until consulting a specialist. Lotulelei still will be interviewed by NFL teams this weekend in Indianapolis and plans to participate at Utah’s Pro Day on March 20.
You have to feel bad for Lotulelei. This is going to absolutely kill his draft stock, and instead of going Top 5 in the first round, it’s possible he won’t get drafted at all. It is important though to remember that this is only football, and that his long-term health is far more important. It’s almost a good thing that the NFL Combine is extremely thorough with their exams and that they put players through a various array of medical exams. Without it, they may have never found this heart condition.
[ESPN.com]