The college football career for offensive lineman Drew Carroll has come to an end due to a kidney disease. The Rice player announced his decision to step away form football to his teammates this week.
According to the Associated Press, Carroll has immunoglobulin A nephropathy. In short, the disease is when abnormal proteins build up in the kidneys and cause scarring and deterioration. Carroll could have to go through dialysis treatments and a potential kidney transplant.
“I just try to focus on the next day right now,” Carroll said to the Associated Press. “I don’t think too much down the road about a transplant or dialysis. I kind of worry about each day. I don’t think focusing on all of that will help me that much.”
That sure sounds like a good way to approach what has to be a troubling situation. Carroll is scheduled to graduate this December with a degree in sports medicine. Carroll will remain a part of the team in the meantime. Rice head coach David Bailiff has added Carroll to the coaching staff as an offensive line coach.
“You hope a day like this never comes,” Bailiff said. “But it’s important to keep him close, let him feel the emotions of the game and keep those relationships with the team.”