Northwestern football lost running back Jeremy Larkin, who will start his new career earlier than expected after announcing his retirement this week.
Larkin, who was well on his way to an all-Big Ten season for the Wildcats, was forced to end his career as a sophomore after being diagnosed with cervical stenosis, which is a condition that causes narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck and upper back.
Before Larkin could wind up not being able to walk, he elected to continue his education and take on a role as a student-assistant with Pat Fitzgerald’s staff. He had already racked up 346 yards and had 19 catches for 127 yards with five touchdowns in three games for Northwestern. He released this statement:
"Football has been a lifelong passion and it has been a process to reconcile the fact I won’t be on the field again, given I’ve played this game since I was 5 years old. I’m extremely appreciative of the Northwestern sports medicine and athletic training staffs for uncovering this condition, and for my coaches and the medical staff for always putting my health first."
Larkin is just the latest in a long line of players that have either elected on their own to step away from the game, or been forced by medical staff.
Here’s five more players who have had their careers cut too short: