A high school football player from Alabama tragically died after sustaining serious injuries during a game on Friday evening.
Caden Tellier, a 16-year-old junior at Morgan Academy, was injured during a tackle in the third quarter of a match against Southern Academy in Selma. According to the school’s headmaster, Bryan Oliver, the quarterback suffered a brain injury and was urgently transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital on Friday night.
The family announced his passing through a heartfelt message on social media.
“Our boy, Caden Tellier has met Jesus face to face. We appreciate all of your prayers, and we seek them for the difficult days ahead,” they wrote on Facebook. “Everyone who knows Caden has experienced his kindness, generosity, and love. In keeping with his nature, he is giving of himself one more time. Lives have been touched by his life, and now lives will be saved because of his passing.”
Michael McClendon, the Executive Director of the Alabama Independent School Association, stated that “it is believed that Caden suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his brain following a routine play where he was carrying the ball and was tackled to the ground.” He added that the school is still in the process of gathering further details about the incident and that it may take time before more is known regarding his injury.
In a statement posted on the school’s Facebook page, Oliver confirmed the teen’s death, describing him as a “shining light” who enriched every day at Morgan Academy.
“There are no words to express the feelings of our school community and family at this time,” the statement read. “Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and the impact he had on Morgan Academy.”
As a result of this tragedy, the school has decided to cancel all sports activities for the upcoming week, including the scheduled football game this Friday against Wilcox Academy.