An Alabama A&M linebacker who suffered a head injury in an October football game died Wednesday night, a Jefferson County, Ala., deputy coroner confirmed Friday.
Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old redshirt freshman for Alabama A&M, sustained the head injury in the Magic City Classic on Oct. 26 against in-state rival Alabama State, according to the Associated Press. AJ Clifton, the Jefferson County deputy coroner, declined to provide further details but said a news release was being planned for Saturday.
A representative from the Alabama A&M athletic department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Alabama A&M announced that Burnett had died Wednesday morning but withdrew its statement hours later after learning that he remained alive. The school said it was “originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening” before it heard from a representative of UAB Hospital.
Statement from Athletics
We retract the news of the passing of Medrick Burnette Jr, that was originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening. Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of
— Alabama A&M Athletics (@_AAMUAthletics) November 27, 2024
“We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information,” Alabama A&M said in its second statement Wednesday.
A 6-foot-2, 225-pound redshirt freshman from Lakewood Calif., Burnett transferred to Alabama A&M from Grambling State. He played in seven games this season, totaling five tackles.
(Photo: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
