Four-star offensive tackle Matt Beyer (San Antonio/Reagan) had been mentally preparing for two weeks, but that didn't make the news any easier to take.

Beyer said he was told Tuesday by Oklahoma offensive tackles coach Bruce Kittle that his scholarship offer to Oklahoma will not be honored, Beyer confirmed to SoonerNation on Thursday night.

Beyer, who committed to the Sooners on July 2, has been forced to give up football because he was diagnosed with the spinal-cord condition cervical stenosis about three weeks ago.

Beyer said he was born with the condition, which, according to WebMD.com, causes the spinal canal to narrow and leads to the compression of nerve roots where they leave the spinal cord.

If Beyer had continued playing, there was a chance for permanent quadriplegia down the line, he said doctors had told him.

"I was able to talk to coach Kittle, and it was great to talk to him again," Beyer said. "I asked about my scholarship situation. He said the decision went above his head and as much as he would love to let me keep it, it's not possible."

San Antonio Reagan coach David Wetzel has not been able to contact the OU coaching staff about the situation. And because of NCAA rules, OU is not allowed to comment about the situation involving a recruit who is not signed with the program.

"I've called OU, but I haven't heard back," Wetzel said. "Beyer is the best offensive lineman I've ever coached. Our team has missed his leadership. He is a man of great character and this hasn't been an easy deal for him by any stretch."

Just last week, Florida State honored its scholarships for offensive lineman Richy Klepal, who had to give up football after suffering his fifth concussion. Doctors revealed he had a hemorrhage in his brain.

On Thursday, California Gov. Jerry Brown announced he signed a bill that will mandate financial protections for student-athletes who suffer career-ending injuries at the four universities that receive more than $10 million annually in sports media revenue -- the Pac-12's USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford.

The schools will have to give academic scholarships to students who lose their athletic scholarships if they are injured while playing their sport. They also will have to cover insurance deductibles and pay health-care premiums for low-income athletes, among other provisions.

The Sooners have honored scholarships for recruits with career-ending injuries before. After this year's National Signing Day, it was revealed that a back injury would force tight end signee Laith Harlow to give up football. Harlow was given a medical scholarship and he is now a freshman at OU.

The difference with Harlow, however, was that he already had signed with the school. Beyer, though 100 percent firm with his commitment and love of OU, was only a verbal commit.