Tucker issues statement on giving up football

Sad news came Tuesday afternoon with an announcement from South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp that true freshman tight end Robert Tucker would be forced to give up football due to a hereditary issue with his neck.

On Wednesday, Tucker took to his Twitter account to thank those who have reached out to him in support.

"I just wanna thank everyone for the love I've been receiving (ever) since my situation has been announced," the Tweet reads. "It really hurts that I can no longer play the game that I love. I worked really hard to get to where I am & it saddens me to know that I have to hang up my cleats for good.

"I wanna thank USC for honoring my scholarship and allowing me to get my education. Even though I wonder why this has happened to me, I know that God has something else planned for me. Something bigger than I can see right now. Thanks for the love and support."

Tucker met with a spinal cord specialist on Monday before coming to the decision.

"He had a promising career as a football player, and he’s a great person and a great young man," Muschamp said. "He will continue to stay at the University of South Carolina. He’s going to get his education here.

"He and I are talking about how he’s going to stay involved with the football program, whether that’s helping me or helping (Director of Athletics Ray) Tanner. He wants to be an athletic director one day. We’re going to take care of Robert. I’m really sad for him, as good of a young man as we’ve got in our program. But I’m certainly glad our medical staff was able to catch this before it became more of an issue.”

A 6-foot-3, 235-pounder former three-star prospect from B.E.S.T. Academy in Atlanta, Tucker landed an offer from Muschamp and the new Carolina staff in mid-January and quickly chose the Gamecocks the next week.

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