An Alabama high school football player died at age 16 from a brain injury during his team’s season opener on Saturday night.
Morgan Academy junior quarterback Caden Tellier suffered a blow to the head during his team’s victory over Southern Academy in Selma, Alabama.
Tellier was taken by helicopter to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital, but died of his injuries Saturday evening.
The Alabama teen’s death was the fourth fatality in high school football this month.
“There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with all our hearts,” his family said in a statement shared on social media.
“We also offer our deepest condolences to the Telliers extended family. I want to thank all the schools and individuals who reached out during this difficult time. Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”
Alabama high school football player Caden Tellier died at age 16 from a brain injury
Confusion initially arose surrounding the incident when a statement from Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon was shared on social media around 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The statement said the school had suffered a “tragic loss.” Later that afternoon, the statement was removed and replaced with a new message clarifying that Tellier had suffered a “tragic injury” and was in critical condition at the time.
However, Tellier died that same evening.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Caden Tellier has gone to be with his Lord and Savior. Caden loved the Lord with all his heart and was a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete and most importantly, a follower of Christ,” Morgan Academy President Bryan Oliver told Fox News.
“There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with all our hearts. We also extend our deepest condolences to the Tellier extended family.
“I want to thank all the schools and individuals who reached out during this difficult time. Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”
Oliver confirmed that the school is canceling all sports activities for the coming week, including a soccer game scheduled for Friday at Wilcox Academy.
Tellier’s death was the second incident on a football field in south Alabama and the fourth in the United States this month.
Semaj Wilkins, a freshman at New Brockton High School, died at age 14 after collapsing during a sweltering practice last week.
Wilkins suffered a medical emergency around 4:30 p.m. on August 13, when the area fell below a heat risk level of 3, which is considered high. Temperatures in the area were around 100 degrees around 4 p.m., according to the local station, WDHN.
Semaj Wilkins, a freshman at New Brockton High School, died at age 14 after collapsing
15-year-old Ovet Gomez Regalado died during a medical emergency after training
Later that week, a high school football player in Missouri tragically passed away after suffering a medical emergency after a practice in 100-degree heat.
Ovet Gomez Regalado, a 15-year-old sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri, participated in off-season soccer practice for the school team, where he had played since his freshman year.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, a star high school football player, died in front of his teammates after suffering a heart attack during a practice earlier in August.
He was at practice for about 40 minutes Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after a water break.
More to come.
