Two football players from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have been discharged from the hospital following an alleged stabbing incident involving a teammate just hours before a scheduled game. The players, identified as defensive linemen Josh Underwood, a freshman, and JaSire Peterson, a redshirt sophomore, were treated for their injuries after the shocking event occurred at the team’s practice facility.
The suspect, Daniel Israel Mincey, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail after the incident unfolded around 10:00 AM on November 25, 2025, just before UAB’s home game against South Florida. Mincey, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman, appeared in a mugshot released by authorities the following day.
Interim head coach Alex Mortensen provided a health update on the players during a press conference, stating, “I’ve had the opportunity to sit with our injured players and their families, and they are okay with me telling you that they have left the hospital and are recovering. They appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers.”
A statement from UAB on the day of the incident confirmed that both players were in stable condition. “Our thoughts are with them and their families as they recover,” the statement read. The university emphasized that the safety of its students is the organization’s top priority. Due to patient privacy concerns and the ongoing investigation, further comments were not provided.
Despite the incident, the UAB football team decided to proceed with their game against South Florida, which was played at Protective Stadium at 14:00 local time. The visitors secured a decisive victory, winning 48-18. Coach Mortensen addressed the incident after the game, expressing gratitude that the injured players were stable and highlighting the need for support from the community.
“I do want to address what happened this morning,” Mortensen said. “As you’ve heard, we have one player in police custody and two players who are in stable condition after sustaining injuries. More than anything, I’m grateful that those two players are in stable condition, and we will make sure that they have the support that they need. I hope you will join me in lifting them and their families in your thoughts and prayers as our team is doing right now too.”
The coach also acknowledged that several players chose to sit out the game following the incident, a decision he fully respected. The investigation into the stabbing is being handled by the UAB Police and Public Safety department as the team begins to focus on recovery and support for all involved.
