HBCU player’s death report withdrawn, remains hospitalized

Hours after Alabama A&M reported the death of one of its players, the HBCU was forced to retract the statement as he remains hospitalized.

Contrary to an earlier announcement from Alabama A&M University, student-athlete Medrick Burnett Jr. has not died and remains hospitalized in Birmingham, according to Burnett Jr.’s family.

“When the time comes, we will make a statement about what we went through,” Burnett Jr.’s mother, Denise Burnett, told WSFA.

Burnett, a linebacker for the Alabama A&M HBCU football team, suffered a serious head injury during the Magic City Classic Game against rival Alabama State University on Oct. 26. He was carried off the field on a stretcher while reportedly giving the thumbs up and was rolled away, giving teammates and fans a glimmer of hope.

Burnett joined Alabama A&M’s HBCU football program in the summer of 2024 prior to his redshirt freshman campaign. A native of Lakewood, California, he attended Mayfair High School and began his college football journey in 2023 initially at Grambling State University, another prominent HBCU program.

Alabama A&M players and coaches continued to visit Burnett throughout his extended hospital stay, demonstrating the unity and resilience often seen in HBCU communities.

This season, Burnett appeared in seven games and recorded a season-best three tackles at Austin Peay.

Alabama A&M is scheduled to finish its season on Nov. 29 in Tallahassee against Florida A&M University, but the HBCU football family’s focus remains on Burnett’s recovery and well-being.

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