Gophers redshirt freshman defensive end Alex Reigelsperger has decided to medically retire from football, he announced Tuesday on Twitter.
The Dayton, Ohio, native in the 2018 recruiting class said he suffered “a very serious neck injury and concussion” during spring practices in April.
“I was in the hospital for around four days, in which I had multiple tests, scans and physical therapy sessions,” he wrote. “I am thankful that my injury was not as bad as what it could have been, and I’m very thankful to be healthy.”
Reigelsperger thanked head coach P.J. Fleck, assistant coaches and training staff in his goodbye message and said he will remain at the U to finish a degree in youth studies.
Reigelsperger enrolled at Minnesota in spring 2018, redshirted without playing in a game last season and was seen with his arm in a sling during some home games a year ago. He arrived at Minnesota as one of its top-rated recruits, with ESPN pegging him as the 157th-best prospect in the 2018 class.
