Louisiana Tech RB Jaqwis Dancy Diagnosed with Cancer

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs head football coach Skip Holtz announced Monday that sophomore running back Jaqwis Dancy has been diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma, according to Sean Isabella of the News Star.

Isabella provided Holtz's comments:

"

What they're going through is traumatic. It is hard to deal with. I've sat in those meetings when you hear that c (cancer) word and how has that is to deal with especially when you're a 19-year-old sophomore in college athletics who is fit and healthy with what he's battling. Jaqwis is in a different battle right now.

"

Dancy was primarily a return man in his freshman season, averaging 17.4 yards per return on 17 attempts. He also carried the ball twice for two yards in 13 games.

On Oct. 13, Holtz announced he planned to redshirt Dancy after an ankle injury kept him out of action to start the 2016 season.

A press release on the team's official website announced Dancy was alerted of his diagnosis Oct. 7 and will start a treatment plan at St. Jude's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner returned to the field this season after announcing he had been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2015. Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry also returned to his team this season less than a year after his cancer diagnosis.