College football running back 'fighting for his life' after Florida shooting

In this Nov. 15, 2014, file photo, Notre Dame running back Greg Bryant (1) runs with the ball against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. (AP)

UAB coach Bill Clark said Saturday that running back Greg Bryant is "still fighting for his life" after the player was shot in South Florida.

West Palm Beach Detective Rob McGinley, the lead investigator in the shooting investigation, confirmed through a spokeswoman that Bryant was in critical condition at St. Mary's Medical Center.

UAB had issued statements hours before from Clark, President Ray Watt and athletic director Mark Ingram saying that Bryant had died. Clark said those condolences "were based on information a family member at the hospital provided and gave us permission to release."

Bryant started his career at Notre Dame and spent last season attending ASA College, where he played in only one game.

He was the biggest name in UAB's first recruiting class since the school restarted the football program.

He spent last season living out of a hotel room in Miami with friends while attending classes at ASA College, playing in only one game. Bryant left Notre Dame after one season when he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2015 season.

"Greg worked extremely hard this spring on the field and in the classroom," Clark said in his initial statement. "He told me his GPA this semester was the highest he has had in his life, and he was very proud."

Because UAB won't play again until the 2017 season, Bryant was allowed to enroll in January 2016 instead of possibly having to wait an extra year to get eligible elsewhere. He could become eligible to compete after spending an academic year at UAB.

"Coach Clark, he really did me a favor, because I was living in hotels in Miami," Bryant told The Associated Press before national signing day in February. "He said I could come in as soon as the semester was over. Any other school I would have had to wait another semester and probably be enrolled by December. I just bought into what coach Clark was saying and I got in with a 2.0" GPA.

He expressed optimism for his future in an April 18 post on his Twitter page: "Accomplished way to (sic) much to stop here. Got so much more to accomplish."