Owatonna's Mr. Football Medically Retires from the Gophers

The injuries have caught up to Owatonna High School graduate Jason Williamson who's announced he is medically retiring from the University of Minnesota Gopher football program. The 2018 Mr. Football Award winner and two-time Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to "live out my dream for how long I did" in a social media post.

Williamson wrote, "Since I was a little kid, it was always my dream to play college football in Minnesota. I am so thankful for being able to have the opportunity by Coach Fleck and all the coaches and staff." He appeared in two games with the Gophers.

"Due to many unfortunate injuries and many surgeries over the last 2 years, I have decided to medically retire. Football has given my the most memorable moments in my life and I have made lifelong friends laying the greatest sport every created. I want to thank everyone who has supported me so much throughout my athletic career and shown me so much lover throughout the years."

Williamson will continue his academic career at the University of Minnesota to earn his degree in Business Management. He closed his post with "Row the Boat, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers!"

Ryan Burns with GopherIllustrated writes, "Williamson was an early enrollee at Minnesota and suffered a [torn] ACL a week into his spring football career and then suffered a shoulder injury this past spring." Williamson also endured a calf injury in the summer before his senior season with the Huskies.

Williamson helped lead Owatonna to back-to-back state football titles in 2017 and 2018. He scored six touchdowns in the 2017 title game and spun his way on the Sports Center Top Ten with a touchdown in the 2018 title tilt. Listen to that touchdown again.

His name fills the Owatonna football record book.