Journey Brown of Penn State, considered one of the country’s top returning backs and potential high-round NFL draft picks, announced his medical retirement from football medical lath on Wednesday.
Brown, Redshirt Jr., has been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick. Penn State coach James Franklin said the condition was found during a COVID-19 test in September but was not related to the virus.
According to the American Heart Association, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of genetic heart disease. “Sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of death in young people and athletes under the age of 35,” according to the AMA. Those who are diagnosed with it are encouraged to make lifestyle changes, including limiting their physical activity.
Brown posted a statement on Twitter announcing the decision.
“I’m sad not to be able to play the game I like now and I can’t explain how I’m feeling right now,” Brown said. “However, I can walk away from the game knowing that I have really given my all in every practice, every day downstairs and in the locker room.”
Franklin Brown, Penn State’s 2019 breakout offensive star and locker-or-caterer became emotional discussing. He called the news a “heartbreak” and added that Brown was serving as a volunteer assistant coach with a running back.
“We’re working through this and dealing with this as a team,” Franklin said. “Journey is one of the most famous and respected players in our team. The whole organization is rallying behind Journey and his family. We need a nation of Nit to do the same.”
The announcement marks the latest difficult moment for Penn State, which is 0-3 for the first time since 2001. Penn State has been vague about Brown’s condition since October, when the program announced five days before the opener that Brown would “miss” the potential. When treatment is given for a medical condition.
Brown finished the 2019 season as one of the nation’s top backs, averaging 118.6 yards in his last five games, according to his position coach Ja’juan Cedar. He paused the stretch with a 202-yard performance in the Cotton Ton Bowl, setting a Penn State Postseason Rushing record.
Brown trained in California through parts of the California Fiscon, and said he expects to become stronger while maintaining the breakout momentum he has shown over the past season. Runbacks have a similar effect on the field with teammates.
“He’s gone through a lot of stuff, but he’s always had a positive attitude,” kicker Jordan St said earlier in the season. “He goes out every day to help us. He’s my mentor, and we’re the same age. He says a lot.”
Prior to Franklin’s announcement on Wednesday, Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruges described how he has supported Brown throughout the season. Brown was one of the first team players to visit Scruggs at the hospital after Scruggs’ 2019 car accident.
“I just do what he did for me, who stays there whenever I need to.” “Only he knows how much I love him and I’m always here for him. During this time, we’ll just be with him, his back, 100 percent. The whole team.”
Penn State is visiting Nebraska on Saturday. The kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on FS1.
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