South Carolina senior TE Kiel Pollard announced his retirement from football on Friday via social media. Pollard shared that a neck injury meant his football career would have to end prematurely. Now Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp has publicly commented on Pollard’s retirement in a statement released to the media:

“Kiel suffered a small fracture in his neck last week, which was to have sidelined him for 4-6 weeks,” said head coach Will Muschamp. “However, during an MRI, the doctors discovered a cyst on his spinal cord, which appears to have been there since he was a child. The severity of the situation and the possible long-term consequences from that medical condition forced him to give up his playing career.

“Our hearts go out to Kiel and family,” continued Coach Muschamp. “He is a great representative of our program and our University. He is on schedule to graduate in December and will no doubt have a successful career in the coaching profession.”

Pollard appeared in 38 games during his Gamecocks career. He won the team’s Unselfish Teammate Award for special teams las fall at South Carolina and the Harold White GPA Award for Special Teams during the 2019 Garnet & Black Spring Game. Pollard finishes his college football career with 17 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns.