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15 college football players whose careers ended too soon

By Connor Muldowney

Aug 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Clint Trickett (9) throws the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter of the 2014 Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Clint Trickett (9) throws the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter of the 2014 Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland (50) runs back an interception in front of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) and New York Giants wide receiver Preston Parker (83) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland (50) runs back an interception in front of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) and New York Giants wide receiver Preston Parker (83) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The future, like many other young players to retire early on this list, was bright for Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2009 and finished his career with the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013. He was considered one of the top insider linebackers in the 2014 NFL Draft.

However, there was a growing concern with the Badgers’ star linebacker. Head injuries had been piling up for Borland and he was worried about his longevity in everyday life because of the trauma the injuries had caused.

Borland ended up getting drafted in the third round (No. 77 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 2014 and turned in a heck of a rookie campaign. He finished with 107 total tackles, two interceptions and a sack for the 49ers, proving to be one of the league’s best first-year players and a future star in the NFL.

That was until he announced his retirement in the offseason before his second year. It came as a shock to many, but injuries to the head that he suffered in college built up and led to his early retirement.

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