Georgia high school QB Robbie Roper dies at 18 from surgery complications

Robbie Roper, a high school quarterback from Georgia who had been offered several college scholarships, died at age 18, his family announced in a tweet on Roper's account Wednesday.

Roper led Roswell High School in the Atlanta area to a state-quarterfinal finish.

"Hey guys, it's the Roper family," the tweet read. "We just wanted to update everyone on Robbie. Robbie just passed. He was the biggest joy to our family. We are proud of the young man he has become. He will be missed by his friends and family dearly. We are still working on funeral arrangements, and will update everyone on the time, date and location."

Chris Prewett, who coached Roper at Roswell High, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Roper was undergoing a routine procedure after being hospitalized Sunday.

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

Roper led Roswell High to a 10-3 record and final top-10 ranking in Georgia’s Class 7A. He threw for 3,010 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Prewett said he was "heartbroken" on Wednesday in a Twitter post.

"Heartbroken is a gross understatement," the tweet said. "Robbie was a fantastic young man and a fighter all the way thru!! You will be missed in so many ways!! Prayers to this grieving family and our community."

Roswell High School posted a statement on Twitter from its principal, Robert Shaw, on Wednesday.

"It greatly saddens me to announce that Roswell High School senior @robbieroper2022 passed away earlier today," the tweet said. "Robbie was a respected, well-liked student and a leader in our football program. This is a very difficult time for our RHS family."

The recruiting site 24-7 Sports reported that Roper had received offers from UMass, Morehead State, Morgan State and Western Carolina. According to Sports Illustrated, Roper had also seen interest from several schools, including Ole Miss and Pittsburgh, and had talked with Florida.

Roper told SI that he was a fan of former Gators quarterback Kyle Trask, who like himself had been considered a late bloomer, not starting until his senior year in high school. After serving as a backup for two seasons with the Gators, Trask exploded onto the scene in 2019, and was a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2020.

“Football is family,” the NFL's Atlanta 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.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Robbie Roper, QB from Georgia, dies at 18 after surgery complications