What was supposed to be a celebration of the start of a new season for the John T. Morgan Academy football team (Selma, Alabama) Friday night turned into a tragic situation when quarterback Caden Tellier suffered a traumatic brain injury and ultimately passed away. He was just 16 years old.
His mother, Arsella, announced his passing Saturday in a Facebook post.
“Our boy, Caden Tellier has met Jesus face to face,” she wrote. “We appreciate all of your prayers and we covet them for the hard days ahead. Everyone who knows Caden has known kindness, generosity and love.”
Tellier’s fatal injury occurred on a routine play in the third quarter of Morgan Academy’s game against Southern Academy, as he was tackled and made contact with the ground. Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon told CNN it could be “quite some time” before medical experts are able to determine exactly what happened. Initial reports are that he likely ruptured a blood vessel.
Tellier was the second high school football player in Alabama to die in less than two weeks. Semaj Watkins, 14, died Aug. 13 after collapsing during a New Brockton High School practice.
Morgan Academy released a statement from its headmaster, Dr. Bryan Oliver, confirming Tellier’s death Saturday night. In the statement, Oliver described Tellier’s strong faith in God as one of his defining characteristics.
“Caden loved the Lord with all his heart and was a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy,” Oliver said. “He was a student, a friend, an athlete and most important a Christ follower. There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family.”
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Tellier’s mother thanked the doctors who provided care for him, said that his “final wish” was to be an organ donor, and expressed a desire for God to be glorified through their family’s tragic loss.
“Caden is still fighting hard in his earthly body as he prepares for this final act of generosity to bring new life to others,” she wrote in the post. “We continue to pray for those whose lives will be forever changed by his gifts. Our hope is that God will be glorified through our story, His love will be evident, and that Caden’s impact will touch the lives of many.”
The school hosted a family prayer time honoring Tellier’s life on Monday. Multiple people spoke at the event, including his father, Jamie, and youth pastor. Tellier’s love for the Lord was evident throughout.
“My son was an exceptional athlete, and my son loved playing football, and he loved playing baseball, and he loved trying to lead people in whatever sport he was doing,” his father said. “But my son’s favorite thing in the world to do was to talk about Jesus.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for Tellier’s family. More than 1,100 donations totaling more than $109,000 had been made as of Wednesday morning.
Please join Sports Spectrum in praying for the Tellier family and their community.
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