Report: Intense workouts leave at least three Oregon football players hospitalized

Nov 26, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks players walk off the field following a lose (24-34) Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The Oregon Ducks football team came back from holiday break and got back to work to put a dismal season behind them.

It appears some of them overdid it.

At least three players, offensive linemen Doug Brenner and Sam Poutasi and tight end Cam McCormick, remain hospitalized in fair condition after falling ill during some intense workouts last week, according to The Oregonian.

Poutasi's mother told The Oregonian her son suffered from rhabdomyolysis -- a syndrome in which muscle tissue breaks down and is released into the bloodstream, potentially leading to kidney damage or even failure.

The workouts -- the first since the school hired Willie Taggart to be its new head coach -- were said to be akin to military basic training, though some Oregon players on Monday disputed the intensity being reported.

From the report:

Junior cornerback Ugochukwu Amadi wrote on Twitter: "The workout was not even what the media is portraying it to be."

Some players later complained of discolored urine, which is a common symptom of rhabdomyolysis. After testing, others were found to have highly elevated levels of creatine kinase, an indicator of the syndrome.

Rhabdomyolysis can be triggered after a spike in intensity of an athlete's workouts and by overexertion during those workouts. For the first time since 2004, Oregon did not qualify for a postseason bowl game in 2016, and players were left to exercise on their own during their nearly monthlong break from school. Oregon hired Irele Oderinde its new football strength and conditioning coach earlier this month. He followed Taggart from South Florida, where Oderinde had worked as the school's director of athletic performance since 2014.

"The safety and welfare of all of our student-athletes is paramount in all that we do. While we cannot comment on the health of our individual students, we have implemented modifications as we transition back into full training to prevent further occurrences," the school said in a statement.

"We thank our medical staff and trainers for their continued monitoring of the students and we will continue to support our young men as they recover."