Alabama high school football player dies after suffering brain injury during game
An Alabama high school football player died Saturday, a day after he was seriously injured during a game.
Morgan Academy quarterback Caden Tellier was injured after a tackle in the third quarter of Friday night’s game against Southern Academy in Selma, principal Bryan Oliver told Al.com. Tellier, a 16-year-old junior, suffered a brain injury and was flown to the University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham Friday night, Oliver said.
Tellier’s family announced his death via social media.
“Our boy, Caden Tellier, met Jesus face to face. We appreciate all of your prayers and we yearn for them for the difficult days ahead,” their statement read. “All who know Caden have known kindness, generosity and love and true to his nature, he gives of himself once more. Lives have been touched by the way he lived and now lives will be saved by his passing.”
Michael McClendon, executive director of the Alabama Independent School Association, told CBS News in a statement Sunday that “it is believed Caden suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his brain after a routine play in which he was carrying the ball and was tackled to the ground,” but noted that the school “is still gathering details about the accident” and that “it may be some time before we have more information about his injury.”
In a statement on the school’s Facebook page, Oliver also confirmed the teen’s death, saying he was a “shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family,” the statement said. “Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”
Tellier was a two-sport athlete, football and baseball, for Morgan Academy.
Tellier’s death comes shortly after another Alabama High school football player, 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins, died on August 15 after collapsing during a practice. Two other young footballers suffered acute medical emergencies, leading to their deaths during summer football activities.
Morgan Academy has announced that all sports activities are canceled for the coming week, including next Friday’s scheduled soccer game at Wilcox Academy, Oliver said.