Officials at Alabama A&M on Wednesday announced the death of football player Medrick Burnett Jr. in a statement that has since been deleted from the school’s website. His family, however, told NBC News affiliate WFAF that the athlete remains in the hospital.
The 20-year-old suffered a head injury during a game four weeks ago, officials at the HBCU said.
“When the time comes, we will issue a statement about what we have been through.” Burnett Jr’s mother, Denise Burnett told the station.
The redshirt freshman linebacker was hurt Oct. 26 when the Bulldogs took on rival Alabama State in an annual gridiron contest known as the Magic City Classic, pitting that state’s biggest and most well-known HBCUs against each other.
Burnett played in seven games this season after transferring to Alabama A&M from Grambling. Burnett’s best game came on Sept. 21 when he recorded three tackles at Austin Peay.
“Our Bulldog family is heartbroken by the loss of Medrick Burnett Jr.,” Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Paul Bryant said in a statement.
“Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.”
Burnett graduated from Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, just outside Los Angeles.
“We pray for his family and teammates at this incredibly difficult time,” Mayfair HS said in statement.
Alabama A&M, which is 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action, has one more game this season, on Friday afternoon against Florida A&M in Tallahassee.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The Associated Press contributed.
