Tyler Carr
Southside-Gadsden's Tyler Carr committed to Auburn this summer. (Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com)
Southside-Gadsden opened its 2014 campaign without its star player Thursday night.
Beefy offensive lineman Tyler Carr, who committed to Auburn this summer, was absent during his team's 42-21 loss to Oxford due to mononucleosis. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound left tackle confirmed the diagnosis with AL.com Friday morning.
"My throat is sore I can barely talk," Carr said via text message. "I do have mono. Not sure how long (I'll be out.)"
According to WebMD, mono is common among teenagers and young adults and can leave an individual "feeling tired and weak for weeks or months." Symptoms begin four to six weeks after viral exposure and include fatigue, fever, sore throat and loss of appetite.
Carr led Southside-Gadsden to a deep playoff run last season, but missed the Class 5A state semifinal game against Muscle Shoals because of an emergency appendectomy in November. After recovering from the surgery, he participated in multiple football camps during the offseason.
Carr is currently ranked fifth on AL.com's annual "A-List" of the state's top senior football prospects. He is expected to enroll at Auburn in December.