A 21-year-old football player has tragically died after he collapsed suddenly on the field during practice.
Bryce Stanfield, a defensive tackle for South Carolina’s Furman University, died on Friday, two days after he collapsed.
Stanfield “collapsed unexpectedly” at Paladin Stadium and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was placed on life support.
Furman announced Stanfield’s passing in a statement that it released on Friday, Feb. 9. 2024.
Other statements have been released as well, including one from Clay Hendrix, Stanfield’s coach.
Furman’s statement was written by the school’s president, Elizabeth Davis.
“It is with great sorrow that I write to inform you that Furman University student Bryce Stanfield passed away this afternoon surrounded by his family and his Furman family,” Davis wrote on Friday.
She went on to detail what led up to Standfield’s death.
Davis wrote:
“Bryce, a junior health sciences major from Acworth, Georgia, was a defensive tackle on the Paladins Football team.
“According to medical personnel, Bryce collapsed unexpectedly at a morning workout on Wednesday.
“He was taken to a local hospital, where he was placed on life support.”
Reports state that Stanfield had suffered a mysterious “medical emergency,” according to CBS Sports.
However, the exact cause of the collapse has yet to be revealed.
Reports on social media suggest that Stanfield was fully vaccinated for Covid, as reportedly mandated by the college.
College football player, Bryce Stanfield collapsed and died during a workout. @FurmanU required vaccination and boosters.
Take every last dollar from them. pic.twitter.com/PFDw3jkAO4
— Vance Murphy (@vancemurphy) February 9, 2024
In the remainder of her statement, Davis expressed her “heartfelt condolences to Bryce’s family and friends.”
She thanked various university personnel, including Coach Hendrix.
Davis described the various measures that the university is taking to help the community process Standfield’s passing.
Hendrix has released a touching statement of his own on Stanfield’s passing.
“We are heartbroken beyond measure with Bryce’s sudden passing and ask that everyone, first and foremost, lift up his parents, Fred and Teri Stanfield, and their family, in prayer on this day and in the days ahead,” he wrote.
The coach went on to describe what Stanfield meant to the community.
Hendrix wrote:
“There are so many more who are really hurting — namely Bryce’s teammates, coaches and staff, classmates, friends, and the entire Furman community and beyond.
“Bryce was an outstanding young man and an equally fine student, football player, and friend.
“He was so much a part of who we are as a program and school and was pivotal in our success on the football field and through giving of his time in outreach to our community.
“In every sense, he was the best representative we could have.”
The coach concluded by saying that Stanfield’s “passing is one of the most difficult things Furman football has ever encountered.”
“Our faith and so many wonderful memories Bryce provided us will help sustain us all in the days ahead.”
Stanfield was a native of Acworth, Georgia, and attended Harrison High School before joining the Paladins.
Last season, Stanfield played in all 13 of the team’s games and helped Furman capture a Southern Conference championship.
Stanfield totaled 13 tackles, with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
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