A twenty-one-year-old football player at the United States Air Force Academy died suddenly while walking from his dorm room to class Monday morning, outlets are reporting this evening.
Hunter Brown was an offensive lineman from Louisiana who collapsed on campus whom emergency personnel could not revive following the sudden medical emergency.
USAF’s Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, said in a statement that Brown was both a “standout on the field” and a “well-respected” member of his squadron.
“Hunter was a standout offensive lineman on the Falcon football team and was well-respected in his squadron,” he said. “The entire U.S. Air Force Academy mourns his loss, and our hearts and condolences are with his family, his squadron, and all who were touched by this incredible young man.”
USAF’s head football coach Troy Calhoun echoed those same sentiments in a statement of his own, noting that Brown’s parents “raised a wonderful son” who made everyone around him “a better person.”
“Our players, staff and entire Academy have been so blessed and fortunate to have Hunter as a part of our lives. He was a pure joy to coach and have as a teammate,” Calhoun said.
“He was tough, a great worker, and no one unselfishly pulled harder for others than Hunter. His mom and dad, Candyce and Dustin, raised a wonderful son who made each of us a better person. We love our great brother, and our thoughts and prayers are with Hunter’s incredible soul and his family,” he continued.With heavy hearts we share the loss of a cadet,” a tweet from the Academy read, alongside a picture of the late Hunter Brown. “C3C Hunter Brown died Monday after suffering a medical emergency while on his way to class. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and fellow cadets.”
The Commander of the Cadets added: ““It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness I share with you that we have lost one of our own. He leaves behind friends, grieving teammates, a grieving cadet wing, and a devastated family.”
Outkick, citing his bio on the Academy’s website, reported that Brown was assigned to Cadet Squadron 16 and was majoring in management, in addition to his football playing.
According to his bio on the Air Force Academy Athletics website, Brown was a sophomore and hailed from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Brown was assigned to Cadet Squadron 16 and was pursuing a major in management and a minor in French.
Outkick added that he [Brown] “was part of an Air Force football team that posted back-to-back winning seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Brown’s death comes amidst speculation around another athlete’s sudden collapse on the field of an NFL game. Buffalo Bills defensive player Damar Hamlin has been hospitalized since a January 2nd game between the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game, Hamlin made what appeared to be a routine tackle and standing up following the play, only to suddenly collapse backwards from a cardiac arrest.