Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison recently spoke with NBC Sports about former Wolverines defensive lineman Maurice Hurst being drafted by the Oakland Raiders and his draft stock falling because of a heart condition.
On draft day, Mattison wasn’t too happy about Hurst, who was once thought to be a first round selection, dropping all the way to round five. Mattison felt concerns about his heart were overblown. “You watch the draft and so many times I said, ‘Mo’s way better that the kid they just took.’ You know why it was happening, because of this test or whatever. The thing we all knew was that he was fine. It was the same thing when he came to Michigan. He was fine,” Mattison said.
Mattison believes the Raiders have a special player in Hurst, saying “He fits perfectly in a scheme like that. The Raiders got the greatest steal in the world. He’s a perfect fit, and to get Mo when they did is quite something. What you always want in that type of defense is a disruptive, attacking force inside. I’ll put Mo up against anybody in his ability to do that.”
Mattison also spoke about Hurst’s high football IQ and his fast and explosive first step, which helps him get into the oppositions backfield.
It’s safe to say Greg Mattison is among Hurst’s biggest fans and supporters going forward.