UPI en Español  |   UPI Asia  |   About UPI  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Tennessee State football player dies

|
 
Published: Nov. 8, 2012 at 8:00 AM

NASHVILLE, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- William Wayne Jones III, a freshman Tennessee State football player, collapsed and died at practice, the school said.

Jones, 19, of Smyrna, Tenn., was involved in a non-contact drill when he fell to the ground about 4 p.m. Wednesday. He was unresponsive to actions by team trainers and was taken to Baptist Hospital in Nashville where he was pronounced dead.

"This is a very tragic day for our entire Tennessee State University community and we are devastated by the sudden passing of this young man," Athletic Director Teresa Phillips said in a statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time. Our university and our football team are hurting as we feel the loss of one of our own. As a team and a family, we will grieve alongside the family and do everything we can to help support the family through this very difficult time."

School officials said they were unaware of any pre-existing conditions that may had led to Jones' death.

Jones was a walk-on to the team and hadn't appeared in a game this season.

Tennessee State (8-2) is off this week and completes its regular season Nov. 17 at Tennessee-Martin.

Topics: Teresa Phillips
© 2012 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening NBC upfronts Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York Spire raised on top of One WTC 2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces
Additional College Football Stories
1 of 14
The 2013 Billboard Music Awards
View Caption
Singer Miley Cyrus arrives at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 19, 2013. UPI/Jim Ruymen
fark
The twelve most significant moments in the history of pizza. Missing from the list: the advent of...
The pope goes to Church to catch up on sleep, just like every other Catholic
Pro tip: If you're going to butt-dial someone, make sure it's not 9-1-1 while you are breaking into...
Photo of monster sized hailstones that fell out of the sky in Oklahoma City today
Sarah Palin did not see this coming
Two puppies devoured by king cobra after falling into well. Sorry, did I say devoured? I meant saved...