Alabama A&M declares demise of 20-year-old soccer participant after on-the-field head harm

Officers at Alabama A&M on Wednesday introduced the demise of soccer participant Medrick Burnett Jr. in an announcement that has since been deleted from the varsity’s web site. His household, nevertheless, informed NBC Information affiliate WFAF that the athlete stays within the hospital.

The 20-year-old suffered a head harm throughout a sport 4 weeks in the past, officers on the HBCU stated.

“When the time comes, we’ll challenge an announcement about what we have now been by means of.” Burnett Jr’s mom, Denise Burnett informed the station.

The college didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Wednesday afternoon after its on-line announcement about Burnett’s demise was deleted.

Burnett’s household couldn’t instantly be reached for remark by NBC Information.

The redshirt freshman linebacker was damage Oct. 26 when the Bulldogs took on rival Alabama State in an annual gridiron contest referred to as the Magic Metropolis Basic, pitting that state’s greatest and most well-known HBCUs towards one another.

Burnett performed in seven video games this season after transferring to Alabama A&M from Grambling. Burnett’s finest sport got here on Sept. 21 when he recorded three tackles at Austin Peay.

“Our Bulldog household is heartbroken by the lack of Medrick Burnett Jr.,” Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Paul Bryant stated within the since-deleted assertion.

“Medrick was greater than an distinctive athlete; he was a exceptional younger man whose constructive vitality, management, and compassion left an indelible mark on everybody who knew him. Whereas phrases can’t adequately specific our grief, we’re humbled by the energy of his household, who stood by his aspect all through this unimaginable ordeal.”

Burnett graduated from Mayfair Excessive College in Lakewood, California, simply outdoors Los Angeles.

“We pray for his household and teammates at this extremely tough time,” Mayfair HS stated in assertion.

Alabama A&M, which is 6-5 general and 4-3 within the Southwestern Athletic Convention (SWAC) motion, has yet another sport this season, on Friday afternoon towards Florida A&M in Tallahassee.