(STATS) - Austin Peay sophomore running back Otis Gerron has elected to end his playing career due to ongoing concussion-related issues, the Ohio Valley Conference school announced Friday.
The sophomore from Burns, Tennessee, was the Governors' leading rusher last year and opened this season as their No. 1 running back. He missed the final two games a year ago after suffering a concussion at UT Martin and was forced out of the 2015 season opener at Southern Mississippi due to similar symptoms.
"It's definitely the right thing to do," coach Kirby Cannon said. "It's one of those things where we came together with Otis and it was mutually decided that enough was enough. He came here as a non-scholarship player and accomplished his dream - he earned a scholarship, played at the Division I level and played well at that level.
"We tell our guys all the time to do the right thing. The right thing here is to not try to talk him into playing, not try to convince him he's at less risk than somebody else."
Gerron rushed for 596 yards and two touchdowns on 112 carries last year. He had 131 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards in the Governors' win over Murray State, the only one in Cannon's three seasons.
He rushed for 41 yards on 16 carries this season.
Off to an 0-2 start, Austin Peay plays at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
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