In the 2023 recruiting cycle, a Georgia football sophomore who was ranked as the top tight end prospect in the country is graduating from college.
Before the Bulldogs started spring workouts on Tuesday morning, coach Kirby Smart announced that Pearce Spurlin would accept a medical disqualification for a congenital heart ailment that was already being examined.
According to Smart, Spurling discussed and sought advice from medical professionals before making the decision with his family.
“Over time he and his family had to make a decision,” Smart said. “They made the decision to give up football to be safe. Really a tough decision for him. We’re praying for him and his family. He’s going to be fine. He’s out there with us now helping, but it’s just too much at risk for him.”
Spurlin will continue to be a part of the program and receive a scholarship.
“You hate it for the kid because he was going to be a really good football player,” Smart stated. “He got so much better during the season but it was something we were monitoring closely.”
Spurling noted that yearly cardiac monitoring by cardiologists “showed something different, my margins moved into a zone of being at high risk playing contact sports” in a post on X (previously Twitter). I feel like God graciously granted me a year of playing college football at the greatest level on the top team in America, even though I always knew this was a possibility. That is something I will always remember.”
