DENVER (AP) — Colorado coach Deion Sanders could also be dropping a tailback however gaining a future dentist.
Charlie Offerdahl stood in entrance of his teammates and coaches on the primary day of fall camp Tuesday and introduced he’s retiring from soccer because of a historical past of concussions. He’s on observe to graduate in December and has a yr of eligibility remaining.
On the horizon: Dental college as he goes from the sector to fillings.
Sanders, who introduced the day earlier than he’s been declared cured from bladder most cancers, put out a plea to ensure Offerdahl’s dental college was taken care of via some form of scholarship.
“There’s someone on the market that’s in command of a dental college,” Sanders stated in a video of the second posted on his Instagram account. “I wish to be sure we deal with you. … We’re going to get someone on the market to bless you.”
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The Buffaloes have their coach again after what’s been a daunting previous few months for Sanders. He described his well being scare Monday as docs eliminated his bladder to beat back an aggressive type of most cancers. He had a bit of his gut reconstructed to operate as a bladder.
“I’m allowed to undergo these trials and tribulations in order that I may contact and attain and bless individuals with the phrases, with the vitality, with that factor that God gave me,” Sanders stated at his information convention the place he was accompanied by his medical group. “So I by no means considered no demise. … I’ve acquired an excessive amount of life in me.”
Sanders promoted Offerdahl from a walk-on right into a scholarship participant on the spring recreation in 2024. Sanders gathered the group collectively that day and offered him a scholarship.
Offerdahl’s 150 yards dashing in 2022 — the yr earlier than Sanders arrived on campus — had been essentially the most in class historical past by a walk-on.
Final season, Offerdahl performed in 13 video games, dashing for 126 yards and one TD. He wore an “L” on his jersey to indicate “chief.”
“Charlie by no means had a foul day,” Sanders stated. “At all times got here to work, got here to play.”
It was an emotional assembly with the group for Offerdahl, who’s majoring in molecular, mobile and developmental biology.
“I haven’t been right here this summer time. If it’s not apparent already, I gained’t be coming again this yr,” Offerdahl defined within the video. “Simply how critical this final concussion was and what number of I’ve had main as much as it, it was fairly scary for me and my household. I can be hanging it up.”
He additionally expressed his appreciation in Sanders for believing in him.
“I can’t thanks sufficient for that,” stated Offerdahl, who embraced Sanders. “This can be a actually robust resolution for me simply due to how a lot soccer does imply to me.”
Offerdahl advised his teammates of his dental plans — and prolonged a future supply.
“In about six or seven years, if any of you guys want some ‘grillz,’ you already know the place to come back,” cracked Offerdahl, referring to the metallic covers worn over tooth. “I really like you guys.”
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You can even take heed to our Brush Up podcast that includes an interview with Canadian athlete and dentist Dr. Arden Younger.