Want to see a real-life comeback story? Look no further than Gunnar Helm, the Texas Longhorns’ TE. Now, when most people fixate on setbacks, allowing roadblocks to prevent them from reaching their peak, there are individuals like Gunnar who rise above it all. That’s precisely what he did at the NFL Combine. He faced an ankle injury, confronted it head-on, and rose like a champ. He proved that injury never held him back. It’s no wonder he’s the No. 8 tight end and No. 104 overall prospect. And the best part is that his dedication isn’t just turning heads—it’s also significantly improving his NFL draft prospects.

With the NFL Combine wrapping up, Texas Longhorns’ tight end Gunnar Helm received praise from fans for his impressive performance despite dealing with an injured ankle. Yahoo Sports shared the news on Instagram, reporting that Helm had twisted his ankle during a false start in the 40-yard dash. However, this setback did not deter him in the slightest. He quickly recovered and continued to excel in the remaining drills, showcasing his resilience and determination. Despite the ankle injury, he still managed to clock a solid 4.84 seconds in the 40-yard dash, placing him third-lowest among tight ends at the Combine.

Yeah, you could tell the ankle was bugging him, but it didn’t slow him down one bit. Helm toughed it out, got an MRI to check the damage, and showed the scouts he wasn’t messing around. Plus, he performed well in the other drills—fourth out of eight in the three-cone, sixth out of nine in the 20-yard shuttle. Now, his speed’s still a question mark ’til he runs on a healthy ankle at Texas’ Pro Day, but one thing’s for sure: he’s got grit.

For now, evaluators hold Gunnar Helm in high regard. NFL.com ranks him as the fifth-best tight end in this draft class, saying he will “eventually be an average starter.” But Helm’s more than just an average starter. Texas fans know what this guy is capable of. He’s coming off a stellar senior season, accumulating 786 receiving yards—a significant jump from the 236 yards he totaled in his first three years. He also scored seven touchdowns.

In addition, B/R NFL scout Dame Parson sees Gunnar Helm’s potential to significantly contribute to 12-personnel offensive sets. “Gunnar Helm projects as a TE2 for 12-personnel teams,” Parson wrote. “He can play with his hand in the dirt, off the line as an H-back, and flexed out into the slot. He is built like a traditional Y tight end with functional pass-catching abilities but needs to improve his run blocking.” Helm not only displayed his skills but also demonstrated his toughness. Finishing every combine drill despite an ankle sprain? That’s the kind of grit scouts love. And even fans can’t get over it.

Fans going crazy over Gunnar Helm’s Combine performance

Now, we know that Gunnar Helm’s combine dash time was the third lowest among all the tight ends. But what we don’t know is that despite recording a worse time, he did break certain records. Like Gunnar, he surpassed UNC’s Bryson Nesbit’s (4.88) and Bama’s Robbie Ouzts (4.91) records. Now you get why his draft stock might jump and why fans are so hyped. One wrote, “Tough injury but also respect for going through the drills without complaining. There will be teams who appreciate that toughness. He’s also very talented, so that doesn’t hurt.”

With a bum ankle, Gunnar Helm showed impressive determination, flawlessly completing every drill. That kind of grit? Scouts eat that stuff up. In the NFL, it’s not just about being tough; it’s about playing through the pain; that’s the mentality. “Way to fight through it, kid. Love to see it,” one fan wrote.

Look, the football world’s seen guys like Gunnar Helm, guys who just refuse to let their dreams die. Remember Andrew Vorhees, former USC offensive lineman? Total inspiration. Tore his ACL during a drill, right? Next day, he’s back on crutches, bench pressing 38 reps. 38! That’s the most of anyone that year. That’s how you turn a setback into a comeback. And a fan comment sums it up perfectly: “Plays through pain, love it!” That’s exactly what Gunnar and Andrew did.

Now, NFL teams are definitely taking notice of Gunnar. Even though the Tennessee Titans might draft a quarterback with their first pick, they’ll still need a tight end to bolster their roster, making Gunnar Helm a strong possibility. Plus, his passing and receiving skills? They’re eye candy for any team. Looks like more and more pro-league eyes are on this TE talent. Just like this fan said, “That boy will be my 1st pick.”

Now, we all know what Gunnar Helm did for Texas over his four-year run with them. Plus, let’s not forget how he became a reliable option for Quinn Ewers, especially in the red zone. And this fan knows the grind he went through. They wrote, “He’s going to get drafted off pure toughness; he already has tape at Texas to know he’s a dawg. Oh yeah, and he went to Texas; I wouldn’t expect anything less. #HookEm 🤘🏾” Gunnar’s got everything lined up, so let’s see if this hard work actually pays off with better NFL odds.