The NFL draft’s gonna hit sooner than the Marvel’s first Superhero family hit the big screens. CFB stars like Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter, are making headlines as potential game-changers. And why not? They’re hoping to be the next big thing in the NFL. As for the teams… well, they’re surely keeping an eye on them, hoping to land the next superstar. BUT! Before any of that happens, there’s one major checkpoint: the NFL Combine.

It’s the place where prospects get picked apart—literally. From 40-yard dashes to medical checkups that feel more intense than a hospital visit, every little detail matters. And for some players, that’s where things get tricky. Injuries from college don’t just disappear, and teams aren’t exactly eager to gamble on damaged goods. So keep an eye on the following players—some are gonna shine like LeBron in the playoffs, while others might go down faster than a Game of Thrones character at a wedding. Let’s break it down!

Major prospects with injury concerns

1. OT Josh Simmons
2. CB Shavon Revel
3. CB Benjamin Morrison
4. ER Mykel Williams
5. CB Maxwell Hairston
6. TE Elijah Arroyo

Josh Simmons, Ohio State Buckeyes

Imagine your name is making headlines for being the top-rated offensive tackle ahead of the Draft. That’s the dream, right? But bam…you tore your ACL and now the buzz is that you’re gonna cling on in the final few picks of the first round. Yeah, that’s the story of Josh Simmons of the Ohio State—well, at least that’s what the mock draft predictions suggest.

Josh Simmons has a pretty solid reputation of being a very athletic OT with a 74.4 PFF overall grade this past season. However, his ACL injury can play a negative impact on his NFL future. And reportedly, he’s gonna have massive medical checkups. Whether the teams are going to look for his talent and draft him early in the first round or they decide to move on from him considering his injury concerns? We’ll find that out soon.

Shavon Revel, East Carolina Pirates

Before talking about his NFL draft predictions, let’s learn how Shavon Revel earned a spot to play for the East Carolina Pirates. At an ECU prospect camp, Revel was credited a 4.40s 40-yard dash and an 11-foot broad jump. The result? A scholarship to play cornerback for the EC Pirates back in 2021. And just a bit more than a year, the CB earned second-team American Athletic Conference for the team.

Now, y’all must be thinking of a great future for Revel in the 2025, right? Yeah, we hope so, but that’s where things get pretty messy. See, the 22-year-old CB tore his ACL back in September 2024 in practice and missed the rest of the season. With 5 months of recovery, let’s see if he can bounce back and impress the NFL scouts.

Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame

In his first two seasons with Notre Dame, Benjamin Morrison recorded a total of 45 solo tackles, 64 combined, 17 assists, and earned a 90.4 PFF coverage grade. Meaning? Well, if we look at talent’s POV, Morrison was predicted to be on a top-20 list in the 2025 NFL draft. BUT! During a matchup against the Stanford Cardinals, the 20-year-old CB suffered a hip injury.

Following a surgery requirement, Morrison wrapped up his season after playing just 6 games. Now, the NFL scouts are probably gonna look for his long-term mobility after hip surgery than his talent. A total red flag.

Mykel Williams, Georiga Bulldogs

“The number one thing that stands out about Mykel is his work ethic. … I’m excited for him … He’s a great young man.” These are the words of the head coach of Georgia, Kirby Smart, about Mykel Williams. And why wouldn’t he say that? I mean, the 20-year-old edge rusher was the highest-rated recruit signed by the Bulldogs.

Hold that thought! Unfortunately, the guy suffered an injury in the season opener and played the remainder of the season while suffering with pain. But let’s not blow it out of proportion—the guy is 6’5” and weighs nearly 265 pounds. If he’s healthy, he’s straight-up wrecking dudes on the field, no question. And we can expect that teams are probably gonna take a chance on him.

Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky Wildcats

After red shirting his freshmen year, Maxwell Hairston started in 12 games during his sophomore year and recorded two tackles. And then came his junior year, or should we say, his breakout year. The CB led the SEC with 5 interceptions, amassing 131 return yards and scoring two touchdowns from those interceptions.

After having a successful third season with the Wildcats, Hairston got a setback in his final season when he sustained a shoulder injury. The guy played in just 7 games and had to miss a significant portion of his final season. Fast forward to now, analysts projected him to be selected in late first or early second round—unless his shoulder injury pulls a surprise visit.

Elijah Arroyo, Miami Hurricanes

Elijah Arroyo and injury—yeah, these two sit side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, and honestly, it’s more like Klaus and Elijah Mikaelson’s relationship—they just won’t leave each other’s sides. His injury history goes back to September 2022 (his sophomore season), when he tore his ACL. The result? He missed out on the remainder of the season after playing just 4 games.

But hold on! It wasn’t just a season-ending injury for Arroyo. In fact, the tight end had to miss out on the starting of his third season for the Hurricanes. Sure, he’s at his best when he’s stretching the field, outrunning defenders, or throwing up solid blocks. But let’s be real—NFL scouts aren’t just gonna brush off that injury history.

And there you go, the major prospects who are gonna be under scrutiny for their injury concerns during the NFL combine. But one thing’s clear, the 2025 NFL draft is gonna be one hell of a ride. For some, it’s their shot at greatness, and for others… well, it might feel like Squid Game—one wrong move, and it could all be over.