Alabama freshman DB Kyriq McDonald collapses on sideline during CFP National Championship

For all the intense in-game action going on in the third quarter of Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship game, Alabama faced a potentially scary situation off the field.

Kyriq McDonald, a freshman cornerback for the Crimson Tide, collapsed on the sideline toward the end of the third quarter.

It is unclear at this time what happened, but McDonald’s teammates were told to stand back from him as medical personnel brought in a stretcher to take him off the field.

McDonald’s eyes were open, he was conscious, and nodding after giving a bit of a smile to the crowd — according to a report from ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi during the broadcast.

McDonald did not see any in-game action this season, but signed with the Tide as a 3-star prospect in the class of 2017.

Alabama trailed Georgia 20-10 at the time of this post early in the fourth quarter.

Update: ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reports McDonald had a “non-athletic medical issue:”

Alabama freshman Kyriq McDonald collapsed on the sideline with what a team spokesman calls a “non-athletic medical issue.” He was taken to the locker room on a stretcher and is being evaluated. He was alert when he was taken off the field. https://t.co/k1AcLCbLb3

— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) January 9, 2018

Cody McClure

Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.