Alabama A&M linebacker dies a month after suffering injuries at Magic City Classic

Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old linebacker for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, died Wednesday after being hospitalized for injuries he sustained at the Magic City Classic in October.

Burnett was carted off the field after a head-on collision with another player during the Magic City Classic on Oct. 26 in Birmingham. He has been at UAB Hospital since then.

Burnett was a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, California. He transferred from Grambling State in Louisiana to Alabama A&M.

On Wednesday, the school’s athletic department sent out a retraction to correct its own report that Burnett had died just hours earlier. The coroner listed Burnett’s time of death as 5:43 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the latest update on a GoFundMe Dominece James, who was launched by Burnett’s sister, said Wednesday: “Please pray that it will be difficult for him, but we will persevere until the end. “God give us strength so that we can keep the faith.”

The school’s athletic department did not immediately respond to 1819 News’ requests for comment, likely due to the game scheduled for Friday afternoon.

The sister’s GoFundMe, which has raised over $47,000, details treatment for Burnett’s injuries, including multiple brain bleeds, brain swelling and ultimately a craniotomy.

According to the GoFundMe, the money was intended to allow Burnett’s parents and other family members to come to Alabama from California to be with him and care for him during his hospitalization. The family has not yet released a statement on Burnett’s death.

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