Gophers junior tight end Noah Scarver announced on his Facebook page Thursday that he is retiring from football.
The 6-5, 274-pound Scarver was an All-State player at Minneapolis Washburn and started his college football career at Montana. He transferred to Minnesota as a walk-on in 2014, sitting out that year under NCAA transfer rules. Last season, he played in seven games for the Gophers, serving as a blocking tight end and getting one catch for five yards. Scarver is a communication studies major.
His Facebook post said, in part: "As of this week I will stepping away from the game of football. Some people may understand and some may not but I have lost the Love to play the game and the drive I used to have for it! It was making me someone I did not want to be and making me struggle with my dally life! Since I have made this decision I have become a much happier person and a better person.
"I would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout my entire career from the Washburn days to me going to Montana then coming back to the U of M. Thank you all! ... I still love football as a sport but playing it is not in my future right now and I don't think it ever will be again! I will still be continuing my academics at the U of M."
Note: The Gophers' practice on Thursday at 3:45 p.m., is open to the public inside the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. The team was off for spring break last week, and Tuesday's practice was closed, so this will be everyone's first chance to watch practice since March 10.
