University of Alabama-Birmingham coach Bill Clark says running back Greg Bryant is “still fighting for his life” after he was shot in South Florida.
West Palm Beach Detective Rob McGinley, the lead investigator in the shooting investigation, confirmed through a spokeswoman that Bryant, a former Notre Dame player, is in critical condition at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
UAB had issued statements hours before from Clark, President Ray Watt and athletic director Mark Ingram saying that Bryant had died.
Clark said those condolences “were based on information a family member at the hospital provided and gave us permission to release.”
Bryant started his career at Notre Dame and spent last season attending ASA College, playing in only one game.
He was the biggest name in UAB’s first recruiting class since the school restarted the football program.
Bryant, who is from Delray Beach, Fla., ran for 303 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games for Notre Dame but left before last season after he was ruled academically ineligible. He originally had been suspended for the first four games of last season for a team rules violation.
Bryant was at ASA Miami for a semester before going to UAB, where he planned to play next season.
Many of Bryant’s former teammates took to social media to express their grief Saturday morning.
Quarterback Malik Zaire posted a photo of himself and Bryant to Instagram with the following message: “My brudda since day 1. We did everything together! It’s to hurts to hear the news, but I know deep down you gone keep fighting because #18 we will always overcome. #Godwilling Praying for ya brudda #PrayforGB”
Ronnie Stanley, who was picked sixth overall by the Ravens in this year’s NFL draft, also was among those expressing his feelings.
“Everyone please say a prayer for my friend (Greg Bryant),” Stanley tweeted. “He was shot last night. This world is a crazy place.”
Tribune reporter Paul Skrbina and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Correction [4:56 p.m.]: An earlier version of this story reported Bryant had died Saturday afternoon, citing a statement from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.