A West Virginia boy has died after colliding during soccer practice, the third death of a student soccer player this month | CNN

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Cohen Craddock was the baby of the family, a sociable 13-year-old who “cared more about other people than he did about himself,” his father Ryan Craddock said.

“He was very loving, very kind, and always wanted to make you laugh, make you feel better, and lift people’s spirits,” Craddock told CNN.

But Cohen’s family in West Virginia is now suffering without him. The teenager died Saturday after colliding during Friday’s soccer practice — becoming the third high school football player to die in the first few weeks of the school year.

Their deaths highlight the risks posed to America’s most popular sport as the country heads into Labor Day weekend and football season.

Cohen’s fatal injury came the same day a 16-year-old Alabama football player suffered a fatal injury during his high school season opener. Caden Tellier, a quarterback for John T. Morgan Academy in Selma, suffered a brain injury Friday night, Alabama Independent Schools Association Executive Director Michael McLendon told CNN in a statement. His death was announced Saturday.

Caden’s family decided to donate the teenager’s organs, his mother wrote on Facebook.

“Caden is still struggling in his earthly body as he prepares for his final act of generosity to bring new life to others,” Arsella Slagel Tellier wrote Tuesday.

“We continue to pray for those whose lives will be changed forever by His gifts.”

And another Alabama teenager, Semaj Wilkins, died on August 13 after suffering a medical emergency during football practice at New Brockton High School, Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham told CNN on Wednesday. The football practice lasted only “10 or 15 minutes,” Woodham said.

“Semaj was a young man who brought joy and inspiration to his peers, teammates, coaches and faculty,” the Coffee County School System said. “His loss will be felt deeply by all who knew him.”

Nationwide, 16 youth soccer players — ranging from youth leagues to the college level — died in 2023, according to data compiled by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research. At least 13 of those deaths were directly or indirectly related to soccer participation, two of those deaths were unrelated to soccer or physical activity, and the cause of the final death during soccer participation was not immediately known.

Three deaths involved traumatic brain injuries — two at high school football games and one at a youth league — and all three occurred during games. Other causes of death included heatstroke, sudden cardiac arrest and pulmonary embolism.

Cohen, an eighth-grader at Madison Middle School, fell in love with tennis before football. But the outgoing teen enjoys the social aspect of team sports and is a soccer player, just like his father and older brother.

He was also active in his church youth group and dreamed of becoming an engineer, his father said. Those dreams were shattered Friday in what his father called a tragic accident during soccer practice.

“My understanding is that he was practicing defensively, and the two kids collided,” Craddock said. “Cohen fell to the ground and hit his head, and that’s what caused his brain to start swelling” and bleeding, the father said.

“On the way to the hospital, he aspirated, then his oxygen levels were low, which caused brain death, and when the brain dies, it basically causes the body to not be able to regulate itself and causes him to die.”

After medics took Cohen to a hospital, the teen died from his injuries on Saturday, the Boone County Ambulance Authority said, according to CNN affiliate WSAZ.

Craddock said the family is waiting for Cohen’s autopsy report to be completed. In the meantime, he is on a mission to help improve safety in youth football.

In memory of Cohen, Craddock said he wants college football players to wear helmets with soft-fitting pads.

“I’m sure if my kid was wearing something like this, it would make a huge difference,” Craddock said. “You don’t have to modify the helmet. It’s just something that can be installed right away. So why not add an extra layer of protection?”

While some might scoff at the added protection, “Which image would you rather have – someone seeing you lying in a coffin, or you wearing something to protect your body?” Craddock said.

A study of high school football players showed that a combination of helmet visors and safer tackling techniques reduced head impacts.

However, when it comes to the effectiveness of helmet covers alone, laboratory studies have shown that soft-shell helmet covers can reduce acceleration and force in simulated hits. However, in real-world studies of college football players using them on the field, helmet covers showed no benefit.

Even on Cohen’s worst days, “he wanted to make sure you felt good. He wanted to make sure other people were happy,” his father said.

Cohen’s passing has left a profound impact on his school, where he was “loved by his classmates, teachers, administrators and the entire Madison High School staff,” Boone County Schools said in a statement.

“In terms of mental health services, we have additional counselors at Madison Middle School,” Principal Matthew Riggs told CNN. “Students just need to let a staff member know that they want to talk to someone.”

Craddock said the best way to honor Cohen is to live as he did.

“I want them to do the same thing he did for so many other people – try to make other people happy, love each other,” the father said.

“Cohen, he loves to hug everyone. He loves to hug everyone. So, reach out. Hug your kids. Kids, hug your parents. Make someone feel loved and happy.”

Contributors to this report were CNN’s Rebekah Riess, Melissa Alonso, Amy Simonson, Emily Smith, and Jamie Gumbrecht.