At least three Oregon players remain hospitalized after going through grueling offseason workouts last week, a report from The Oregonianuncovered Monday.
The players -- offensive linemen Doug Brenner and Sam Poutasi and tight end Cam McCormick -- were hospitalized with at least being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a soft tissue condition triggered by overexertion that can lead to kidney damage. The workouts, conducted by Irele Oderinde, who followed Willie Taggart from South Florida, were military-style training sessions that reportedly included an hour of continuous push-ups and up-downs. From The Oregonian:
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.
Taggart visited "some" players where they remained at a Springfield, Ore., hospital before leaving the state for recruiting, according to the report.
Iowa had 13 players hospitalized for rhadbo following winter workouts in 2011. The NCAA handbook listed heavy workouts immediately after winter break -- Oregon did not reach a bowl game this fall -- as one of 10 possible factors that could lead to rhabdo.
"The safety and welfare of all of our student-athletes is paramount in all that we do," Oregon wrote in a statement to the paper. "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.
"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."