Sadly, a non-football health issue will bring to an end Josh Mabin‘s football-playing career.
On his personal Twitter account, Mabin announced that he will be forced to retire from the sport due to a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The Mayo Clinic’s website describes the disease as one in which “the heart muscle (myocardium) becomes abnormally thick (hypertrophied),” with the thickened heart muscle making it harder for the heart to pump blood. The condition could cause “problems in the heart’s electrical system, resulting in life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).”
Oklahoma State has yet to publicly address the linebacker’s status with the program moving forward.New Beginnings. pic.twitter.com/zNuoOGFrbA
— Joshua Mabin (@OGClarkKent) August 29, 2016
It’s likely Mabin will remain on scholarship at OSU, but won’t count against the Cowboys’ 85-man limit.
A four-star 2014 recruit, Mabin was rated as the No. 18 inside linebacker in the country and the No. 54 player at any position in the state of Texas. After redshirting as a true freshman, Mabin played in five games last season. He was credited with four tackles in that limited action.
Mabin was listed as the backup middle linebacker to starter Chad Whitener on the depth chart OSU released last week.