MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin defensive tackle Jordan Kohout was expected to make a significant impact on the field this season for the Badgers. Instead, his football career has come to an abrupt end.
Kohout has decided to stop playing as a result of suffering two minor strokes from migraine headaches.
"You don't really think of 21-year-old athletes having strokes," Kohout told UWBadgers.com. "But I'm glad that we caught it early and I can still do a lot of the things that I love to do."
Kohout, a redshirt junior from Waupon, Wis., played in all 14 games last season and registered 22 tackles. He started seven games in 2010.
He began suffering from migraines during the second half of spring practice in April and was pulled from practice as a precaution. When he attempted to return to practice, the headaches persisted.
An MRI ordered by the team physician revealed that Kohout had suffered two small strokes. Kohout said the migraines were constricting the blood vessels in his brain, which led to the strokes. And after receiving a second opinion, Kohout decided to end his football career.
Kohout, who will receive a medical scholarship, will serve as a student assistant coach this season. For his career, he appeared in 26 games with 44 tackles.
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