Colorado defensive end Nikhil Webb-Walker diagnosed with lymphoma

Buffs’ commander to start chemotherapy, miss the football season

CU Boulder's junior defensive end diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Nikhil Webb-Walker, a junior defensive end for the University of Colorado Boulder football team, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymph nodes.

Webb-Walker started experiencing symptoms in July while training for the upcoming season. Tests revealed a mass in his chest, which was later diagnosed as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Webb-Walker is from Suwanee, Georgia, and was a three-star recruit coming out of Collins Hill High School.

He played in all 13 games for the Buffaloes last season, starting the final two games and finishing with 17 tackles. He was expected to be a key contributor on the defensive line this season.

Webb-Walker missed most of the 2021 season with a pectoral injury.

Webb-Walker will begin chemotherapy immediately and will miss the 2023 football season.

“Nikhil is a great young man who has been dealt a difficult hand,” head coach Karl Dorrell said.

“He is a fighter and we will support him every step of the way.”

The Buffaloes open the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2, at home against Northern Colorado.