Ohio State defensive tackle Malik Barrow has decided to medically retire from football, he announced via his Twitter account on Sunday afternoon.
— Malik Barrow (@MalikB_55) October 21, 2018
"I love this game with all my heart," Barrow wrote in his statement. "It's opened so many doors for me in my life and I've gotten to experience things that I'd never thought I'd be able to. But due to unfortunate circumstances throughout my football career, I found it was in my best interest to medically retire."
Barrow, a redshirt sophomore, suffered a torn ACL in Ohio State's game against UNLV last season and had not played since. A four-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Barrow also suffered a torn ACL in his senior year of high school – which forced him to redshirt his first year on campus – and he appeared in just two games last season before suffering what proved to be a career-ending injury.
While he is no longer playing football, Barrow said in his statement that he does intend to stay enrolled at Ohio State and complete his degree.
"I will be successful and I am determined to make it happen!" Barrow said. "I will continue to grow as a man and I am ready to take on this next chapter in my life!"
