Texas Longhorns junior quarterback David Ash has decided to end his football career after suffering at least one concussion and remaining symptoms over the last year.
Texas coach Charlie Strong said on Wednesday that he told Ash "there was no way we were going to let you back on the field," Yahoo! Sports reports. "His health is our major concern."
While Ash will no longer be playing for the Longhorns, Strong did say that he would remain with the program by working with the team's younger quarterbacks.
Ash suffered a concussion in week two of the 2013 season in a game against BYU. As of now, that is the only concussion Ash and the Longhorns have acknowledged. Ash returned to game action two weeks later, against Kansas State, but left the game with a head injury. Ash did not play again that season.
The signal caller was determined to return this season and played in the opener against North Texas. But after experiencing headaches and dizziness after the game, Ash missed the next two games and approached Strong during the off week to discuss his future. Soon after, the decision was made to end his football career.
Ash's decision comes at a time when the sport of football is under intense scrutiny due to the lasting damage caused by concussions and head injuries. 25 former football players have committed suicide, many of whom were suffering from CTE, a condition found to be concussion-related.
Ash started 22 games at Texas and is seventh in school history in career touchdown passes with 31. He is eighth in passing yards with 4,728.
Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes has filled in for Ash in losses to BYU and UCLA and projects to remain the starter the rest of the season.
"Tyrone played very well," Strong said after Swoopes completed 24 of 34 passes with two touchdowns against UCLA.
Swoopes has completed 44 of 65 passes with three touchdowns and one interception in game action this season. Behind Swoopes on the depth chart is freshman Jerrod Heard, who has not appeared in a game this year and is eligible for a redshirt season.
''We'll go with Tyrone as long as we can unless something happens,'' Strong said.
