South Carolina linebacker Davonne Bowen is walking away from football because of medical reasons.

Bowen, a redshirt freshman, signed with the Gamecocks in 2017 as a Shrine Bowler out of Woodmont High School. He learned earlier in the month that a lingering neck injury "made it too dangerous for him to play," according to a report from SportsTalk radio.

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He will remain on scholarship at USC on a medical hardship.

Bowen began to suffer from stingers during his true freshman season a year ago, a source told The State. The stingers returned this spring and wouldn't go away, often occurring at the slightest contact, the source said. Bowen opted not to risk further injury and was forced to retire from the game.

Bowen was also a former defensive end, with 14 sacks as a high school junior before moving to linebacker and was fast enough to run the 100-meter dash in under 11 seconds.