A recently retired Minnesota football player died of cancer Wednesday, according to a report from The Star Tribune.
Nick Connelly, 22, decided to leave football following last season due to concussions. In June, doctors diagnosed the 6-foot-7, 300-pound former offensive tackle with Burkitt’s lymphoma.
Connelly started in five games for the Gophers as a redshirt freshman in 2017, though a concussion — the fifth of his career — against Purdue on Oct. 7 prompted him to retire despite a promising start at Minnesota.
According to the report, the Gophers plan to wear helmet stickers and wristbands in Connelly’s memory for their game at Maryland on Saturday.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
