Northwestern's leading rusher is retiring because of a neck condition, the school announced Monday.

Jeremy Larkin decided to stop playing after medical staff discovered that he has cervical stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. Larkin had run for 346 yards and five touchdowns for the Wildcats in their first three games of the season.

"This is heartbreaking because I see every day how much Jeremy loves the game, loves his teammates, and loves to compete," coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a statement released by the school. "But this is the absolute best possible outcome for him. The discovery of this condition allowed Jeremy and his family to make an informed decision for his long-term health and well-being."

Northwestern said in its news release that cervical stenosis in not life-threatening, but it will prevent him from playing football again.

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Larkin, who was a three-star recruit out of high school according to 247 Sports, spent last season as a backup after redshirting as a true freshman in 2016. He had emerged as arguably the Wildcats' most reliable offensive playmaker this season, twice eclipsing 120 yards and twice rushing for multiple touchdowns in the team's first three games.

"Football has been a lifelong passion and it has been a process to reconcile the fact I won't be on that field again, given I've played this game since I was five years old," Larkin said in a statement. "I'm extremely appreciative of the Northwestern sports medicine and athletic training staffs for uncovering this condition, and for my coaches and the medical staff for always putting my health first. I came to this University to engage at the absolute highest level on the field and in the classroom, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue one of those while supporting my teammates from the sideline."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.