Medrick Burnett, Jr., an Alabama A&M football player who suffered a head injury during the Magic City Classic, has died. The 20-year-old linebacker was injured during the rivalry game against Alabama State in Birmingham in October.
Alabama A&M issued an official statement on Wednesday morning.
“Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him,” Bryant said in a statement, according to TMZ Sports. “While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.”
The school issued a retraction later in the day. The statement placed the source of the erroneous report as “an immediate family member.”
The Jefferson County coroner announced the news of Burnett’s death in a statement on Friday. The coroner listed his official time of death as Wednesday evening.
Burnett was a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, California, who joined Alabama A&M after beginning his college career at Grambling State.
This season, Medrick Burnett appeared in seven games, recording a season-best three tackles at Austin Peay. AAMU is scheduled to conclude its season against Florida A&M University on Nov. 29 in Tallahassee.