Marcellus Young Casario, an 18-year-old Canadian high school football player who had committed to Georgia, died Friday following what his school described as a medical emergency.

Casario, a senior defensive lineman at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in northeast Georgia, was taken to hospital after an incident 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.

“Rabun Gap immediately followed our emergency response protocols, and local emergency personnel responded, transferring the student to the hospital,” the school said in a statement.

The school postponed its state semi-final playoff game against Cannon School scheduled for Friday night.

Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Casario moved to Georgia to pursue a college football scholarship. The 6ft 5in, 255lb defensive lineman committed to the 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.

“He was everything a coach wants in a player,” Rabun Gap coach Derek White said. “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.”