Alabama A&M says the player is in stable condition, hours after announcing his death

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. remains in hospital with a head injury sustained during a game in October, the school said hours after announcing his death.

The athletic department sent a retraction on Burnett’s status on Wednesday. who was injured in a game against Alabama State on October 26. The second statement said the first news of Burnett’s death “came from an immediate family member on Tuesday evening.”

“Our staff acted in accordance with the family member’s wishes to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate event,” the Wednesday evening statement said. “When we heard from a UAB Hospital representative this afternoon, we learned that he is still alive.

“We express our immediate regret for spreading false information. However, we are absolutely delighted to know that Medrick remains in stable condition.”

A statement about the gofundme.com page for Burnett said Wednesday: “Please pray he struggles, but we will hang in there until the end. God, give us strength that we may keep the faith.”

The redshirt freshman from Lakewood, California, joined the Alabama A&M team this summer after starting his college career at Grambling State.

Burnett played in seven games and made five tackles, including three against Austin Peay.

___

Receive poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season long. Sign up here. AP college football: And https://apnews.com/hub/college-football