High school quarterback dies after brain injury, Alabama's second death in 2 weeks

The new school year began with a tragedy at two high schools in Alabama, where teenage football players were killed in the last two weeks.

On Friday, 16-year-old Caden Tellier suffered a serious head injury during the opening game of the John T. Morgan Academy in Selma. His death was announced the next day.

On the same day that Tellier's death was confirmed, the funeral of another high school football player was held about 115 miles southeast of Selma. 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins died after a medical emergency during a practice at New Brockton High School.

Caden Tellier died at the weekend

According to a post from Michael McLendon, executive director of the Alabama Independent School Association, Tellier was “hospitalized in critical condition with a brain injury” after Friday night's game against Southern Academy.

McLendon did not provide further details about Tellier's condition or how he was injured.

Tellier, a junior who led his team in touchdowns and rushing yards last year, ran for a touchdown in the first half of Friday night's game but suffered an injury in the third quarter, according to the Selma Times-Journal. An ambulance was brought to the field to take the quarterback to the hospital.

Tellier was “a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy,” principal Bryan Oliver said on Facebook. “He was a student, a friend, an athlete and, most importantly, a follower of Christ.”

At a prayer meeting for the Tellier family on Monday, his father, Jamie Tellier, a football coach at Morgan Academy, said his family is grateful for the support they have received.

“The tremendous love we have received from everyone in this room and from people across the country we have never met before should tell you a lot about who my son was – who my son is,” Jamie Tellier said.

Semaj Wilkins died on August 13

/ New Brockton High School

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New Brockton High School

Semaj Wilkins joined the New Brockton High School team last year in junior high school after playing for Enterprise High School. He was a running back who could run the ball at the line of scrimmage or roll out to catch a pass, as seen in videos on his online athletic profile.

Semaj collapsed during an afternoon practice session on a hot day with a high of 35 degrees. Officials called his mother, Regina Johnson-Adams, to alert her.

“I panicked. I grabbed whatever I could and ran out,” Adams told local news station WDHN. “When I got to the field, I was devastated because they wouldn't let me get to my baby.”

An emergency team took Wilkins to Enterprise Medical Center, less than 10 miles away. But he did not survive. His high school held a memorial ceremony for Semaj a week before the season began.

“Semaj was a young man who brought joy and inspiration to his classmates, teammates, coaches and faculty. His loss will be deeply mourned by all who knew him,” Coffee County Schools Superintendent Kelly Cobb wrote on Facebook.

Cobb added that the sheriff's office and the county district attorney are investigating Wilkins' cause of death, which is standard procedure given the circumstances.

Copyright: NPR