North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall announced his retirement from football on Wednesday after suffering a head injury in a game earlier this month.
The 23-year-old was carted off the field during N.C. State’s October 5 matchup against Wake Forest after being hit by two defenders while scrambling. His helmet came off during the play, resulting in a fumble that a defender returned for a touchdown, while McCall lay on the ground.
“I have faced injuries throughout my career, but this is one I cannot recover from,” McCall shared in an Instagram post. “After discussions with brain specialists and my family, I’ve concluded that it’s best for me to step away from the game. I’ve tried everything to keep playing, but I feel called to serve in a different way.”
This concussion was McCall’s second this season; he missed two games in September due to a previous injury sustained on September 14 against Louisiana Tech. This incident marked at least the third concussion of his college career, following an injury last October while he played for Coastal Carolina. During that game against Arkansas State, he suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit while attempting to slide.
At Coastal Carolina, McCall earned the title of Sun Belt Player of the Year three times and amassed over 10,000 passing yards and 91 touchdowns in 46 games over six seasons.
Reflecting on his childhood dreams of becoming a professional player, McCall stated, “Unfortunately, my dream has been cut short. I played with all my heart because I never knew which play would be my last, and I have no regrets.”
Awareness of concussion risks has significantly increased in recent years, particularly in youth sports, with ongoing discussions about their long-term effects, including conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In football, the risks of head injuries have become a widely discussed issue among millions of fans who watch games weekly. Concussion protocols, developed with neurologists, now guide when players can safely return to the field.
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