2016 NFL Draft prospect Harold Brantley injured in car crash

University of Missouri defensive lineman and projected 2016 first-round draft pick Harold Brantley suffered serious injuries in a one-car crash on Sunday night, per David Morrison of The Columbia Tribune.

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Brantley was reportedly driving southbound on Highway 63 in Columbia, Missouri, just before 2 PM local time, when his car veered off the left side of the road. Brantley overcorrected to the right side, forcing the car to spin, hit a guard rail and flip. Neither Brantley nor his passenger, Missouri women’s basketball player Morgan Stock, were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

University of Missouri Hospital officials say that Stock suffered only minor injuries, but that Brantley was in “serious condition.” The hospital confirmed on late Monday morning that the injuries were non-life threatening, and said that he is “recovering nicely” from Sunday surgery on his fractured left tibia. Brantley will also require surgery on his left knee, but that will not happen for another three or four weeks. The junior also suffered multiple rib fractures.

From a football standpoint, Brantley figured to be the next first-round defensive lineman to come out of Mizzou, joining the likes of Aldon Smith, Sheldon Richardson and others. But assuming he can recover and continue playing football, the injury could potentially derail his hopes of solidifying his stock during the 2016 college football season.

Brantley is only a junior, meaning he could return to Mizzou for his senior season in 2017 and rebuild his draft stock. He has, however, already been a redshirt, so the 2016 campaign will still count as a year of his playing eligibility.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania native had five sacks and seven tackles for the Tigers last season, being named an honorable mention All-SEC. He was also named Mizzou’s Freshman of the Year in 2013, and looked to take over as “the guy” this year on a Tigers squad that has seen Markus Golden, Shane Ray, Kony Ealy and Michael Sam depart for the NFL Draft in the last two seasons.

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