Alabama A&M’s Medrick Burnett Jr. dies a month after suffering a head injury

Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. has died a month after suffering a serious head injury during a game.

Burnett, a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, Calif., was involved in a direct collision during the Bulldogs’ 27-19 loss to Alabama State on Oct. 26, the day before his 20th birthday. The injury occurred during a kickoff return.

Burnett was hospitalized with multiple brain bleeds and brain swelling and had to undergo a craniotomy to relieve the pressure, Burnett’s sister Dominece James said in a GoFundMe account set up for Burnett’s care.

Burnett died Wednesday, the Jefferson County coroner confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. He was 20.