Alabama A&M's Medrick Burnett Jr. Still Alive, School Regrets Death Announcement

Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. is still alive and remains hospitalized with a head injury he sustained in a game last month ... this after the university announced he had passed away at 20 years old.

Alabama A&M tells TMZ Sports ... "We retract the news of the passing of Medrick Burnette Jr, that was originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening. Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence."

"Upon hearing from a representative from UAB hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive. We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information however, we hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition."

The school initially released the news ... with athletic director Dr. Paul A. Bryant calling Burnett a "remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him."

Burnett -- who transferred to Alabama A&M from Grambling State -- suffered a severe head injury during a collision in the A&M and Alabama State game in late October.

At the time, Burnett's sister, Dominece James, launched a GoFundMe for her little brother, saying Medrick -- who just celebrated his 20th birthday on Oct. 27 -- had several brain bleeds and swelling.

"He had to have a tube to drain to relieve the pressure, and after 2 days of severe pressure, we had to opt for a craniotomy, which was the last resort to help try to save his life," James said.

As of Wednesday, $27K was raised, including $1K from former Grambling State football coach Hue Jackson.

Burnett Jr., a California native, appeared in seven games this season before the tragic incident.