Nevada football coach Brian Polian says wide receiver Tucker Melcher, a redshirt freshman who starred at Galena High, has been hospitalized with a serious, undisclosed illness.

 

Polian said in a statement the school released Tuesday that he has visited Melcher and that he and his staff have been in constant contact with his family since Saturday.

 

Polian said the program's thoughts and prayers are with Melcher and his family. He said the 6'1", 180-pound wide receiver who walked on to the team last summer has shown great "physical and mental toughness" as he "fights a serious illness."

 

He provided no additional details and asked for everyone to respect the Melchers' privacy.  (AP)Â