SOUTH BEND — Former Notre Dame cornerback Jaden Mickey, who left the field on a utility cart after being injured during Boise State’s home win on Saturday night, has been diagnosed with a concussion, according to a person with direct knowledge.
Mickey, whose Broncos (3-1) play at Notre Dame Stadium for the first time on Saturday, was told he had “no other issues” after extensive testing at a Boise-area hospital, the person said.
“That kid’s a warrior man,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said after Saturday’s win over Appalachian State. “He’s lost his mom (on Dec. 28, 2023). He’s been through a lot. He’s a phenomenal kid.”
According to Danielson, even as team medical staff conducted on-field testing on Mickey, fitting him with a neck brace and strapping him to a stretcher, the deeply religious player kept repeating a Bible verse from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Said Danielson: “When he was in that moment, when life is so hard, the first thing he went to was (scripture). That impacted me, just as a man, not even talking as a football coach. He touched my heart tonight and I’m going to be better for it going forward.”
Mickey, who played parts of three seasons at Notre Dame before transferring, sustained a head injury late in the third quarter on Saturday. Mickey has played 113 total snaps this year for the Broncos, primarily at nickelback and on special teams.
The Eastvale, Calif., product played a season-high 46 snaps on defense before his neck bent backwards while making a tackle.
“It’s a scary moment,” Danielson said. “At that point I don’t know what’s going on. I believe he’s doing much better. You could see when he left the field, he put his arms in the air and was feeling better. …
“He is doing OK, for sure. Even when he was leaving (for the hospital) … he was in a positive mindset, even in a really tough situation.”
Mickey, who committed to the University of California-Berkeley in late December on the anniversary of his mother Nilka’s death, later switched to Boise State after his position coach left the Bears for another job.
“Even in that moment, the amount of guys that the second that cart left the field, our players (were saying), ‘We’re doing this for Mick. We’re doing this for Mick. We’re doing this for Mick.’ “ Danielson said. “I think that shows a team that loves each other.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Source: ‘No other issues’ beyond concussion for former Notre Dame CB Jaden Mickey, now at Boise State
Reporting by Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
