The injury history for UCLA star Laiatu Latu has left his stock for the 2024 NFL draft in flux.

NFL Network's Peter Schrager reported "teams are split on the medical" for Latu going into the first round on Thursday night.

On the First Draft podcast (starts at 7:00 mark), ESPN's Adam Schefter said Latu would be regarded as the top pick in this class if not for the injury red flags.

Latu began his college career at Washington in 2019. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman.

After suffering a neck injury during fall practices going into the 2020 season, then-Washington head coach Jimmy Lake announced in April 2021 that Latu was forced to medically retire.

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman noted Dr. Robert Watkins, who previously treated Peyton Manning when he had neck injuries during his career, cleared Latu to play in August 2021 after examining images of his neck and putting him through a battery of tests.

However, according to Feldman, Washington's team doctors still refused to clear Latu to play. He transferred to UCLA in December 2021 and eventually received clearance to play from the Bruins' medical staff in June 2022.

There were no indications Latu was hampered by the injury issues at UCLA. He appeared in 25 of 26 games over the past two seasons. The only game he missed was the 2023 LA Bowl against Boise State because he chose to skip it and prepare for the draft.

Latu told reporters during the NFL scouting combine that "no teams have talked about any kind of concern" with his medical history, and he wasn't asked to do anything beyond the usual evaluation that every other prospect had to go through.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Latu ranked as the third-best EDGE player and No. 14 overall prospect in the 2024 draft.

The 23-year-old racked up 34 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks in two seasons at UCLA. He was a unanimous All-American selection and Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year winner in 2023.