Georgia-bound football recruit Marcellus Young Casario, 18, dies after medical emergency

Canadian high school football player Marcellus Young Casario, who had committed to the University of Georgia, has died aged 18. His school said he died on Friday following a medical emergency.

Casario was a senior defensive lineman at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in northeast Georgia. He was taken to hospital after an incident on Friday morning. The school announced his death later that day but did not identify him until Saturday. No further details about the circumstances were released.

In a statement, the school said: 'Rabun Gap immediately followed our emergency response protocols, and local emergency personnel responded, transferring the student to the hospital.'

After the incident, the school postponed its state semi-final playoff game against Cannon School scheduled for Friday night.

Casario was originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada. He had moved to Georgia to pursue a college football scholarship.

The 6ft 5in, 255lb defensive lineman committed to the Georgia Bulldogs in June after receiving offers from several major programs.

Rated a three-star prospect, Casario was ranked the No 49 defensive end nationally by ESPN and was part of Georgia's 2027 recruiting class.

Rabun Gap coach Derek White said: 'He was everything a coach wants in a player. He was known for his relentless dedication, and his journey as a student-athlete was marked by hard work and true brotherhood with his teammates.'