Morgan Academy football player, Caden Tellier, 16, dies after suffering brain injury during game

An Alabama high school football player died at the age of 16 Saturday after suffering a brain injury during his team's opener Saturday night. 

Caden Tellier, Morgan Academy's junior quarterback, suffered a blow to the head following a tackle during the third quarter of his team's 30-22 win over Southern Academy in Selma, Alabama. 

Tellier was transported to University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital by helicopter but died of his injuries Saturday evening. 

The Alabama teen's death was the fourth high school football fatality to take place this month. 

'Our boy, Caden Tellier has met Jesus face to face,' his family said in a statement shared to social media. '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, and true to his nature, he is giving of himself one more time. Lives have been touched by the way he lived and now lives will be saved through his passing. We will walk out these next few days alongside him in his earthly body knowing that his spirit is rejoicing in heaven.' 

There had initially been confusion surrounding the incident when a statement from Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon was shared on social media at around 12pm ET Saturday. 

The statement indicated that the school had endured a 'tragic loss' before it was deleted and replaced with a new post later that afternoon, which clarified that Tellier had suffered a 'tragic injury' and was in critical condition at the time.

Tellier did later pass away that evening. The family said arrangements for a service will be made soon. 

'It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Caden Tellier has gone to be with his Lord and Savior. Caden loved the Lord with all his heart and was a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete and, most important, a Christ follower,' Morgan Academy headmaster Bryan Oliver told Fox News.

'There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with our whole hearts. We offer our deepest sympathy to the Telliers' extended family as well. 

'I want to thank all the schools and individuals that have reached out during this difficult time. Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.' 

Oliver confirmed that the school will cancel all athletic activities for the next week, including a football game scheduled for Friday at Wilcox Academy. 

Tellier was a two-sport athlete, playing both football and baseball for Morgan Academy. 

During his first year as the varsity starter as a sophomore in 2023, he threw for 1,228 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games. In baseball last spring, he hit .311 with two home runs and 10 RBIs.

Tellier's death was the second incident on a football field across south Alabama and fourth across the United States this month. 

Semaj Wilkins, a freshman at New Brockton High School, died at the age of 14 after collapsing during a sweltering practice last week. 

Wilkins suffered a medical emergency at around 4:30pm on August 13, when the area was under a level-3 heat risk, which is considered high. Temperatures in the area were around 100 degrees at 4pm according to local station, WDHN.

Players defended the school's heat protocol while speaking to WDHN. 

Later that week, a Missouri high school football player tragically died while also suffering a medical emergency after practice in 100-degree heat.

Ovet Gomez Regalado, a 15-year-old sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri, had been participating in off-season football conditioning for the school's team - which he has played for since his freshman year.

Jayvion Taylor, 15, another high school football star died in front of his teammates after suffering a heart attack during practice earlier in August. 

He was around 40 minutes into practice last Monday night at Hopewell High School when he collapsed after a water break. 

Two coaches attempted CPR on Taylor and dialed 911 with paramedics arriving and taking him to a hospital where he died.

Taylor was a 10th grade student who played football for the school, which has since remembered him as being a 'genuine and remarkable student'.