Medrick Burnett Jr., a freshman linebacker at Alabama A&M University, had sustained a serious head injury late last month during the Magic City Classic football game and required extensive medical care.
Recently, on Wednesday morning, the university’s athletic department first announced that Burnett had died, but they retracted that statement just a few hours later. The announcement was originally made based on information from an “immediate family member” on Tuesday evening, which the athletic staff quickly shared with the A&M community.
The university’s first announcement regarding the death was credited to Athletic Director Dr. Paul A. Bryant and has been taken down from their website after it was found to be inaccurate. In their retraction, the athletic department stated that they felt “immediate regret for disseminating false information” and also shared their “complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition.”
Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old from Lakewood, California, transferred to Alabama A&M after being a member of the football team at Grambling State University. According to ESPN, in his season with the Bulldogs, which spanned seven games, Burnett had his best performance against Austin Peay, where he made about three tackles.
As for the severity of his medical condition, Burnett’s sister set up a GoFundMe page to help support his family during this difficult time. The page reveals that he suffered multiple brain bleeds and significant swelling in his brain, which required a medical procedure known as a craniotomy. So far, the fundraising effort has gathered over $26,000 to assist his family.
As of the latest reports, Medrick Burnett Jr. remains hospitalized in Birmingham, with his family still hoping for his recovery. His mother, Denise Burnett, has stated, “When the time comes, we will issue a statement about what we have been through.”
