Linebacker Jon Sumrall has given up playing football because of a medical condition, Coach Rich Brooks announced after Friday morning?s practice at Commonwealth Stadium.
Sumrall has been diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, a condition which makes him more susceptible to neck injuries. He has had pinched nerves in his neck and shoulder, known commonly as a ?stinger,? which prompted the evaluation.
?First of all, I?m glad that Jon is OK and that this was discovered before any additional issues occurred,? Brooks said. ?I know how hard this is on him and that this is a trying time for him emotionally. Clearly, he loves and enjoys playing the game of football. Jon has done a lot for our program and he will stay involved with the team as a student coach next season.?
?I love playing football at the University of Kentucky and I?m glad to have a group of guys here, my Kentucky football family, that can help me get through this,? Sumrall said. ?This is kind of hard for me to handle, but the team is being very supportive. I?m going to stick around and help coach the linebackers this fall, so I have the opportunity to be a part of the team.?
Sumrall is a three-year letterman and would have been a senior on the 2005 Wildcats. A former all-state performer in high school (Huntsville, Ala.), he came to UK as a defensive back and moved to linebacker during the 2002 season. He totaled 91 tackles during his career. His best season came in 2004 when he started every game while leading the defense with 72 tackles.
Sumrall will graduate in May with a degree in finance. In the fall, he plans to work toward a second major or begin work on a graduate degree while he begins a coaching career as a student coach for the Wildcats. He has been a member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and also was selected to the Frank G. Ham Society of Character by UK Athletics.
Kentucky Football Calendar (practices held in Commonwealth Stadium or Nutter Field House):
Sat. Apr. 16 – Practice (scrimmage), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mon. Apr. 18 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 20 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 22 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 23 – Blue/White Spring Game, 1 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium
