A high school football player from Alabama tragically passed away after sustaining severe injuries during a game on Friday.
Caden Tellier, a 16-year-old junior at Morgan Academy, was injured during a tackle in the third quarter while playing against Southern Academy in Selma. Bryan Oliver, the headmaster of Morgan Academy, confirmed that Caden suffered a brain injury and was subsequently airlifted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.
The family announced his passing through a heartfelt message on social media, stating, “Our boy, Caden Tellier has met Jesus face to face. We appreciate all of your prayers, and we covet them for the hard days ahead.” They emphasized Caden’s legacy of kindness, generosity, and love, noting that his gift of life would continue to impact others.
Michael McClendon, Executive Director of the Alabama Independent School Association, mentioned in a statement that Caden likely suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his brain during what was considered a routine play. He added that the school was still gathering information about the incident and that further details may take time to emerge.
In a separate message on the school’s Facebook page, Oliver described Caden as a “shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy.” He expressed the deep sorrow felt by the school community, saying, “There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family.”
As a mark of respect, the school will be canceling all sports activities for the upcoming week, including a scheduled football game against Wilcox Academy.