Georgia State quarterback Mikele Colasurdo will not be able to play this season, he announced Thursday.
He made his decision on the same day doctors diagnosed his with a heart condition related to the coronavirus. He said he contracted COVID-19 over the offseason.
A freshman, the former three-star prospect and South Carolina native arrived on campus in the spring. He posted a statement on Twitter saying that Georgia State provided “a safe environment for us to train and practice.
“Ultimately, it was the procedures and tests set forth by GSU that allowed the doctors to find this condition in my heart and help keep me safe,” Colasurdo said.
Sources, including ESPN, indicate Colasurdo’s concerns match the factors behind the Pac-12 and Big Ten’s decisions to postpone the season. There is a rare heart condition caused by inflammation of the heart muscle linked to COVID-19.
He said he expects this time away from football to be temporary — and that his coaches, trainers and doctors have been key throughout this process. “I am very thankful,” he said in the statement. “I can’t wait to watch my team compete this fall and I could not be more excited to return for the 2021 season.
Georgia State is part of the Sun Belt and will open its 10-game season on Sept. 19 against Louisiana. It will do so without its freshman quarterback.