An Alabama high school football player died at the age of 16 on Saturday after suffering a brain injury during his team’s home opener Saturday night.
Morgan Academy junior quarterback Caden Tellier suffered a head injury following a tackle during the third quarter of his team’s 30-22 win over Southern Academy in Selma, Alabama.
Tellier was transported by helicopter to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham but died from his injuries Saturday night.
The Alabama teen’s death was the fourth fatality at a high school football game this month.
“Our boy, Caden Tellier, has come face to face with Jesus,” his father said. The family said in a statement shared on social media. ‘We appreciate all your prayers and value them for the difficult days ahead.
Alabama high school football player Caden Tellier has died at age 16 after a brain injury.
“Everyone who knows Caden has known kindness, generosity and love, and true to his nature, he is giving of himself once again. His way of living has touched lives and now lives will be saved through his passing. We will walk these next days beside him in his earthly body knowing that his spirit rejoices in heaven.”
There was initially confusion surrounding the incident when a statement from Alabama Association of Independent Schools Executive Director Michael McLendon was shared on social media around 12 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The statement said the school had suffered a “tragic loss” before being removed and replaced by a new post later that afternoon, which clarified that Tellier had suffered a “tragic injury” and was in critical condition at the time.
Tellier died later that evening. The family said arrangements for a church service would be made soon.
“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 bright light each day that graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete, and most importantly, a follower of Christ,” Morgan Academy Principal Bryan Oliver told Fox News.
‘There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will rally around and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with all our hearts. We also offer our deepest condolences to the extended Tellier family.
Morgan Academy junior quarterback Tellier suffered a head injury during the game.
“I want to thank all the schools and people who have stepped up to help me 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 will cancel all athletic activities for the next week, including a football game scheduled for Friday at Wilcox Academy.
Tellier played two sports: he played soccer and baseball at the Morgan Academy.
During his first year as university graduate As a sophomore in 2023, he threw for 1,228 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games. In baseball last spring, he hit .311 with two homers and 10 RBIs.
Tellier’s death was the second incident on a football field in southern Alabama and the fourth in the United States this month.
New Brockton High School freshman Semaj Wilkins died at the age of 14 after collapsing during a sweltering practice last week.
Wilkins suffered a medical emergency around 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, when the area was under a Level 3 heat risk, which is considered high. Temperatures in the area were around 100 degrees at 4 p.m. according to the local station. WDHN.
The players defended the school’s heat protocol while speaking to WDHN.
Semaj Wilkins, a freshman at New Brockton High School, died at the age of 14 after collapsing.
Ovet Gómez Regalado, 15, died after suffering a medical emergency after a practice
Later that week, a Missouri high school football player tragically died while also suffering from 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, had been participating in off-season football conditioning for the school’s team, which he has played on since his freshman year.
Jayvion Taylor, 15, another high school football star, died in front of his teammates after suffering a heart attack during practice in early August.
He was about 40 minutes into practice Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after drinking water.
Two trainers attempted CPR on Taylor and called 911. Paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital where he died.
Taylor was a tenth grader who played football for the school, which has since remembered him as a “genuine and extraordinary student.”