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“Heartbroken Is A Gross Understatement” | Highly Touted Georgia HS QB Robbie Roper Dies In Surgery

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Tragedy has struck the national high school football ranks.

Robbie Roper, a Class of 2022 recruit and quarterback at Roswell High School in Georgia, died this week. He was only 18.

Roper was a star high school quarterback, leading suburban Atlanta school to a top-10 state ranking this past season. His family announced his passing on social media Wednesday.

Young High School Legend

According to reports, Roswell coach Chris Prewett said that Roper was hospitalized Sunday in Gainesville, Florida, for complications related to routine surgery.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the coach called Roper “a model citizen” both on and off the field.

After Roper’s family posted the news on Twitter, in under an hour it had received more than 1,000 condolences.

Tragedy Strikes

“Robbie did everything in life with a contagious, positive and energetic attitude that will be missed by all who knew him,” Prewett said to AJC. “Robbie fought hard and battled until the very end like he did everything else.”

“He was our biggest joy to our family,” the family said on his Twitter account. “We are proud of the young man he has become. He will be missed by his friends and family dearly.”

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According to reports, Roper was hospitalized on Sunday and later succumbed after complications related to his surgery.

A Beacon of Hope

As late as Tuesday, his sister, Brenna Roper, posted that her brother was still fighting for his life. She, too, was an athlete, a former Ole Miss softball player who has played for Georgia Tech in the past four seasons.

“Robbie was able to touch so many hearts,” Breanna said in a Twitter post. “I am beyond proud of the man he has become, and can only wish to be half as good of a teammate, leader, and person that Robbie was.”

“Robbie was a respected, well-liked student and a leader in our football program,” Roswell Principal Robert Shaw wrote on Twitter. “This is a very difficult time for our RHS family,” Roswell High School principal Robert Shaw said to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Bright Future Extinguished

Prewett also expressed his condolences and devastation on Twitter.

“Heartbroken is a gross understatement. Robbie was a fantastic young man and a fighter all the way [through]! You will be missed in so many ways! Prayers to this grieving family and our community.”

Roper had a bright future in football.

He passed for 3,010 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior and had received multiple college scholarship offers. In addition, he led Roswell to a 10-3 finish and a top-10 final ranking in Class 7A this season.

Georgia’s Son

In addition, his region’s coaches voted Roper as the Region 5-7A offensive player of the year.

The Atlanta Falcons issued a statement on Roper’s passing showing his impact on the state of Georgia.

“Football is family,” the Falcons said in a statement. “And we are saddened by the passing of one of our local high school football family members. May he rest in peace as we keep his family, friends and all those mourning his loss in our prayers.”

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