5 Tragic Losses: The College Football Players Who Died Recently And The New Safety Rules For 2025

The world of college football mourns a continuous cycle of tragic loss, a stark reminder that even the most elite young athletes are not immune to sudden, devastating events. As of late 2024 and throughout 2025, the community has been rocked by the unexpected deaths of several promising players, with causes ranging from undiagnosed heart conditions to fatal off-field accidents. These heartbreaking incidents have intensified the ongoing conversation about player safety, mental health, and the urgent need for comprehensive medical screening across all NCAA divisions, especially as the 2025 season approaches.

The recent string of fatalities—some occurring suddenly during sleep, others linked to underlying medical issues, and still others resulting from external trauma—serves as a powerful, somber catalyst for change. The focus now shifts to how institutions and governing bodies like the NCAA can better protect their student-athletes, not just from on-field injuries but from the silent, unseen threats that can cut a career and a life tragically short.

The Most Recent and Tragic Losses in College Football (2024-2025)

The college football community has faced a difficult period, marked by the sudden passing of several young men with bright futures. Each player's story highlights a different, often preventable, risk factor facing student-athletes today. Here is a list of prominent recent deaths, detailing their biographies and the known circumstances.

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• Jeremiah Kelly (University of Cincinnati)
  • Position: Offensive Lineman (OL)
  • School: University of Cincinnati (Bearcats)
  • Age: 18
  • Date of Death: April 2025 (Unexpectedly at his residence)
  • Cause of Death: Cardiac Hypertrophy (enlarged heart condition), as revealed by an autopsy and coroner's report.
  • Note: Kelly’s death is a high-profile case of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young athlete, underscoring the challenge of detecting silent heart conditions during standard physicals.
• William Hardrick (Austin Peay State University)
  • Position: Defensive Back (DB)
  • School: Austin Peay State University (Governors)
  • Age: 22
  • Date of Death: Recently in 2024 (Date not specified but recent)
  • Cause of Death: Fatal car crash on I-65. The incident was a result of a drunk driving accident, leading to a murder charge against the driver, John McAdams.
  • Note: Hardrick's death tragically highlights the dangers of external, off-field accidents, particularly those involving impaired driving.
• AJ Simon (University at Albany)
  • Position: Defensive End (DE)
  • School: University at Albany (Great Danes), previously at Bloomsburg University.
  • Age: 25
  • Date of Death: April 16, 2024 (Died in his sleep)
  • Cause of Death: Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), according to the Monroe County (Pa.) Office of the Coroner.
  • Note: Simon was an NFL Draft hopeful at the time of his passing, making his death a shocking loss just before he was set to begin his professional career.
• Jeremy Michael (Muskingum University)
  • Position: Sophomore Football Player
  • School: Muskingum University
  • Age: 20
  • Date of Death: December 9, 2024
  • Cause of Death: Collapsed during a pick-up basketball game. The cause is pending but often points to a sudden cardiac event.
• Izaiah Taylor (Georgia Military College)
  • Position: Junior College Player (Previously at Liberty University)
  • School: Georgia Military College
  • Age: 21
  • Date of Death: Recently in 2024
  • Cause of Death: Found dead in a house fire while at school.

The Silent Epidemic: Understanding Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in Young Athletes

The deaths of both Jeremiah Kelly and AJ Simon, categorized as Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), bring the focus back to the most common medical cause of fatality in young athletes. SCD is defined as a non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected death that is due to a natural cause and occurs within one hour of the onset of symptoms.

What is Cardiac Hypertrophy?

In the case of Jeremiah Kelly, the specific cause was cardiac hypertrophy, a disease where the heart muscle thickens (enlarges). This condition can make it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively, leading to electrical instability and a fatal arrhythmia.

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SCD Statistics and Trends in the NCAA

While tragic, the incidence of SCD among NCAA athletes has shown a positive trend. Studies tracking millions of athlete-years have provided crucial data on this risk:

• The overall incidence of SCD in NCAA athletes is approximately 1 in 63,682 athlete-years.
• The rate is significantly higher in male athletes, particularly those participating in high-intensity sports like college football.
• Encouragingly, the rate of sudden cardiac death has declined by a relative 29% for every five-year period over a two-decade span, suggesting that increased awareness, better screening protocols, and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are having an impact.

Despite the decline, the risk remains. A critical challenge is that in nearly 20% of SCD cases, no clear structural heart abnormalities are found during an autopsy, making pre-participation screening difficult and imperfect.

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New NCAA Rules and Safety Initiatives for the 2025 Season

The NCAA and its partners, including the College Football Officiating (CFO) and the National Football Foundation (NFF), are continually implementing rule changes to enhance player safety and improve the integrity of the game. The tragic deaths of players serve as a stark reminder of the need for these ongoing efforts.

For the 2025 college football season, several notable rule adjustments are being introduced, with a heavy emphasis on player well-being and sportsmanship:

Focus on Injury and Concussion Protocol

The primary goal of many new rules is to reduce high-impact, high-risk collisions, particularly those targeting the head and neck area. While specific details are still being finalized, the general trend is toward stricter enforcement of targeting rules and better concussion management protocols. The NCAA is continuously reviewing data to make practice and game environments safer.

Addressing Feigned Injuries (Rule 3-3-6)

A specific and controversial change for 2025 is the crackdown on feigning injuries. This rule aims to address the practice of players faking an injury to slow down a fast-paced offense or gain a strategic advantage.

• The Rule: The NCAA will not tolerate teams faking injuries to stop the clock.
• The Impact: While primarily focused on sportsmanship and pace of play, this rule has a tangential link to safety. It ensures that genuine injuries are taken seriously and that players are not incentivized to misuse injury timeouts, which could delay attention for a truly hurt player.

The Broader Push for Comprehensive Athlete Screening

The cases of SCD have fueled a renewed push for more advanced and mandatory cardiac screening beyond the standard physical. Entities like the Parent Heart Watch database and various medical organizations advocate for more widespread use of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in pre-participation physicals, especially for high-risk athletes. The debate centers on the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of mass screening, but the human cost of missing a condition like cardiac hypertrophy is immeasurable.

The passing of these young college football players—whether due to cardiac events, tragic accidents, or other unforeseen circumstances—leaves an indelible mark on their respective communities and the sport as a whole. Their legacies will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing evolution of player safety, ensuring that future generations of student-athletes are protected by more rigorous screening, stricter rules, and a deeper institutional commitment to their overall well-being.