Terrible news came out of Evanston, Illinois on Monday morning, as Northwestern running back Jeremy Larkin was forced to medically retire from football after being diagnosed with cervical stenosis.

While the condition is not life-threatening, it will not permit Larkin to continue to participate in football.

“Football has been a lifelong passion and it has been a process to reconcile the fact that I won’t be on that field again,” Larkin said in a statement Monday. “I came to this university to engage in the absolute highest level on the field and in the classroom, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue one of those while supporting my teammates from the sideline.”

Monday’s news came as a huge surprise all across the college football landscape. Here’s just some of the reaction from Twitter after the announcement:

Larkin was emerging as one of the top running backs in the B1G this season, taking over for the departed Justin Jackson. In Week 1 against Purdue, Larkin racked up 143 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries to lead the Wildcats to a 31-27 victory over the Boilermakers.

Through three games this season, Larkin had rushed for 346 yards and a five touchdowns.

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald said Larkin will still be with the team and will join the staff as a student assistant coach.