A high school football player in Alabama died Saturday after suffering a brain injury in his team’s home opener Friday night.

Morgan Academy junior quarterback Caden Tellier received a blow to the head during the third quarter of his team’s 30-22 win against Southern Academy in Selma, Alabama. He was airlifted by helicopter to University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital.

Morgan Academy headmaster Bryan Oliver told Fox News Digital Tellier died from his injuries Saturday evening.

“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 shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete and, most important, a Christ follower,” Oliver said. 

“There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with our whole hearts. We offer our deepest sympathy to the Telliers’ extended family as well. I want to thank all the schools and individuals that have reached out during this difficult time. Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”

Earlier Saturday, there was social media confusion about Tellier’s health when a statement from Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon was posted on the association’s Facebook page. The initial statement, which went up before noon ET, indicated the school had been dealt a “tragic loss” regarding Tellier. 

However, that post was deleted and replaced with a new statement that was posted around 1:20 p.m. ET that clarified Tellier had suffered a “tragic injury” and was in critical condition at the time. However, he died later that day. 

McLendon added the school is “suspending” all school activities in the coming week.

Incredibly sad news to report. Morgan Academy football player Caden Tellier has died. Tellier died after he was injured during his game on Friday night.Here is a statement from AISA Executive Director Michael McLendon: @wsfa12news pic.twitter.com/lIHzFeYayA

“As a small school, Morgan Academy feels this tragedy even more deeply, and the Alabama Independent School Association is here to offer any support and resources to support them as they grieve,” he said. 

Tellier played both football and baseball for Morgan Academy. During his first year as the varsity starter 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 home runs and 10 RBIs.

A tragic loss for the Alabama high school football community

Tellier’s death comes just nine days after a fellow Alabama high school football player, 14-year-old New Brockton High School freshman Semaj Wilkins, died Aug. 15 after collapsing during a practice. 

A string of tragic deaths

The two deaths have sent shockwaves through the Alabama high school football community. This is the second such incident on a football field in Alabama and the fourth across the United States this month. Tellier’s death comes after the deaths of:

• Semaj Wilkins: A 14-year-old freshman at New Brockton High School who collapsed and died during a sweltering practice on Aug. 15. Players defended the school's heat protocol while speaking to WDHN. 
• Ovet Gomez Regalado: A 15-year-old sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri, who tragically died after suffering a medical emergency during off-season football conditioning on Aug. 16.
• Jayvion Taylor: A 15-year-old high school football star who suffered a heart attack and died during practice on Aug. 6. He was around 40 minutes into practice at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after a water break. 

These tragedies have raised concerns about the safety of high school athletes, particularly in the heat of summer. Schools are under increasing pressure to ensure that their athletes are properly conditioned and hydrated to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

A community mourns

Funeral arrangements for Caden Tellier are expected to be announced in the coming days as the community continues to rally around the Tellier family during this difficult time. The school, in a statement on its Facebook page, said it would cancel all athletic activities for the next week, including a football game scheduled for Friday at Wilcox Academy. The school also encouraged anyone feeling overwhelmed or needing support to reach out to administrators or pastors on campus.

The deaths of these young athletes are a reminder of the risks inherent in sports, and the importance of taking steps to minimize those risks. It’s also a reminder that the high school football community is a close-knit family, and that in times of tragedy, they will come together to support each other. 

As the community mourns the loss of these young lives, the focus will now shift to ensuring that future tragedies can be prevented.