Robert Grays, a sophomore cornerback for Midwestern State University, died in a hospital in Houston, Texas on Tuesday
A college football player has died from a neck injury he suffered making a tackle in a game at the weekend.
Robert Grays, a sophomore cornerback for Midwestern State University, died in a hospital in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old injured himself in the final few minutes of Saturday’s game against Texas A&M-Kingsville in Wichita Falls.
He was taken to a local hospital before being flown to his hometown of Houston on Sunday afternoon. Grays died surrounded by his family.
‘He’s made this tackle hundreds of times, but it was just one of those situations that landed wrong,’ Kyle Williams, interim athletic director, told The Wichitan.
‘It was traumatic for all of us, particularly the football players.’
Grays, who was a general business major at MSU, had 24 tackles for the team with two passes defended last season and had 10 tackles this season.
‘Robert touched many lives while attending the university, but perhaps he will be remembered best for his smile,’ MSU President Suzanne Shipley said.
Hundreds of his friend paid tribute to the promising footballer at a vigil on Monday night. He injured himself in the final few minutes of Saturday’s game against Texas A&M-Kingsville
Grays (right) was a general business major at MSU and had 10 tackles this season
‘He was an inspiration on and off the field to those around him, and he will be remembered with love and affection by his friends, classmates, coaches and teammates.’
MSU coach Bill Maskill described Grays as a ‘tremendous individual’.
‘I really believe he might have been the most popular man on our team. He always had a smile on his face,’ he said.
‘I never saw him have a bad day. He was an uplifting spirit for all of us. He was an exciting, fun loving guy. He’s going to be sorely missed. Somehow, someway we’ll find a way to fight through it. Robert would want us to forge ahead.’
About 700 people gathered for a vigil at the university in his honor on Monday night.
It is the second college football death this week after Clayton Geib, a 21-year-old football player at the College of Wooster, died on Sunday.
He was hospitalized after a game on Saturday after reporting that he didn’t feel well. School spokesman, Hugh Howard, said he couldn’t provide any details about what caused Geib’s death.
About 700 people gathered for a vigil at the university in his honor on Monday night
It is the second college football death this week after Clayton Geib, a 21-year-old football player at the College of Wooster, died on Sunday