The headmaster of his school said, “He was a student, a friend, an athlete, and, most importantly, a follower of Christ.”
A high school football player from Alabama passed away on Saturday following a brain injury he sustained on Friday night during his team’s home opener.
In the third quarter of his team’s 30-22 victory over Southern Academy in Selma, Alabama, junior quarterback Caden Tellier of Morgan Academy sustained a head injury. He was taken to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital via helicopter airlift.
Bryan Oliver, the headmaster of Morgan Academy, told Fox News Digital Tellier that he passed away on Saturday night due to his injuries.
“I must tell you, with heavy heart, that Caden Tellier has departed to be with his Lord and Savior. Every day that Caden walked the corridors of Morgan Academy, he shone brightly and was filled with love and devotion for the Lord. Oliver stated, “He was a student, a friend, an athlete, and most importantly, a follower of Christ.
“Our feelings as a school community and family are beyond words. Together, we will give Jamie, Arsella, and Lyla our utmost support. We also extend our sincere condolences to the Telliers’ extended family. I would like to express my gratitude to all the schools and people who have reached out to me during this trying time. Caden will always be remembered for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”
A statement from Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon was posted on the association’s Facebook page earlier on Saturday, causing confusion on social media regarding Tellier’s health. The school had suffered a “tragic loss” in relation to Tellier, according to the first statement, which was posted before noon ET.
But that post was taken down and replaced with a new one that explained Tellier had sustained a “tragic injury” and was in critical condition at the time. The new statement was posted at around 1:20 p.m. ET. But later that day, he passed away.
The school is “suspending” all of its operations for the upcoming week, according to McLendon.
“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 stated.
Tellier was a baseball and football player at Morgan Academy. In eight games as a sophomore in 2023, he passed for 1,228 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions in his first season as the varsity starter. He had two home runs, ten RBIs, and a.311 batting average in baseball last spring.
Tellier’s passing occurred just nine days after 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins of New Brockton High School, an Alabama high school football player, passed away on August 15 following a practice collapse.
