COLUMBIA, Mo., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The cause of death for Missouri redshirt freshman linebacker Aaron O'Neal last month was announced Tuesday as lymphocytic meningitis.
The school made the announcement after receiving the news from the Boone County Medical Examiner.
O'Neal died on July 12 after collapsing during a voluntary workout with teammates.
Lymphocytic meningitis, a condition that affects the brain, was likely caused by a virus. According to the release, environmental conditions, such as heat, or the nature of the physical activities were not factors in O'Neal's death.
"Learning of this certainly doesn't ease the pain that Aaron's family and everyone here are feeling," said Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel in a statement. "As I am told, this is such an unusual condition for someone who seemed to be so healthy."
The medical examiner's office also told the school that there is no apparent reason to believe that any of O'Neal's teammates or classmates are at risk of developing meningitis.
