In a statement on the school’s Facebook page, Oliver also confirmed the teen’s death, saying he was a “shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy.”
“There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family,” the statement said. “Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”
Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McClendon told CBS News in a statement Sunday that the school was “still in the process of gathering details about the accident” and that “it may be quite a while before we know more information regarding his injury.”
The school is canceling all sports activities for the coming week, including this Friday’s scheduled football game at Wilcox Academy, Oliver said.
SELMA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama high school football player, who died after being critically injured during a game, was remembered at a Monday memorial service as a caring and talented athlete who accomplished much in his 16 years.
Morgan Academy quarterback Caden Tellier died Saturday after being injured during the school’s Friday night game against Southern Academy in Selma. Tellier, a 16-year-old junior, suffered a brain injury, according to a statement from the Alabama Independent School Association.
Students, parents and teachers, wearing school colors of maroon and gold, gathered at a memorial and prayer service held in the gym of the small private school. Members of his family sat in the first row of the memorial service.
“I could tell you a lot about who my son was, who my son is,” said Tellier. “My son was an exceptional athlete. But the thing he loved the most was to talk about Jesus.”
He told the school’s football players that he would still be around because, “Caden is not going to want me to stop doing things.”
“Caden was only here for 16 years. But my son accomplished so much. He accomplished so much. He loved,” said Tellier, though tears.
The second oldest of nine cousins, Tellier would always go out of his way to play with the youngest in the group, even when his peers were around, his grandmother, whom he called Mimi, said. Before he died, Caden was teaching his 4-year-old cousin how to throw a baseball, she said.
