Report: Georgetown RB Ty Williams breaks neck, could be paralyzed

The junior reportedly underwent surgery late Saturday and could be left paralyzed.

Georgetown running back/linebacker Ty Williams suffered a broken neck in the Hoyas’ game against St. Francis (Pa.) and underwent surgery late Saturday, reports Mike Cornejo of MoCoFootball.com.

Williams has five broken bones in the neck/vertebrae and can’t move his legs, though he has feeling in them.

update on Tyrell Williams: "He has 5 broken bones in the neck/vertebrae.. will not be awake until tomorrow." #mocofb pic.twitter.com/Y9pt8yCYFt

— Michael Cornejo (@MikeCornejo) September 6, 2015

In a statement issued Sunday night, Georgetown called the injury “serious” and said Williams had surgery at a hospital near St. Francis on Saturday night. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ty Williams and his family,” Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed said in a statement. “The coming days will be very important and we will be here to support him and his family. We ask our fans and the entire Georgetown community to believe and pray for Ty as he begins the recovery process.”

John Kelley, who coached Williams at Quince Orchard High School in Maryland, said Saturday that the injury could leave Williams paralyzed.

“Please pray for him and family,”​ Kelley, now the head coach at Quince Orchard, said. “[Williams is] one of the best kids ever, hopefully things work out.”​​

Dave Mencarini, who was Williams’s head coach at QO, offered his support:

Tyrell...we love you. Praying for you and your family.

— Dave Mencarini (@CoachMac_TGP) September 5, 2015

- Kenny Ducey