Rod Williams was an offensive lineman at Burke County High School in Waynesboro. Coach Eric Parker told the Augusta Chronicle that Williams collapsed a few minutes into practice on Sept. 22 and was hospitalized but never recovered. There was no official word on the cause of death.
MORE: Notable deaths from 2015
“We were initially told he had some drastic sudden event with his heart,” Parker said. “We were hoping and praying he would come back; it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Williams, a junior, was listed at 5-11, 300 pounds. Burke County High School held a prayer vigil in Williams’ memory before school Tuesday morning.
“He was a great kid and a good student,” Parker told the Chronicle. “He was kind of the team clown — just real popular.”
Williams is the third high school player to die from football-related issues in under two weeks. Kenny Bui, a senior at Evergreen High School (Wash.) died on Monday following injuries sustained in a game on Friday night. Warren Hills High School (NJ) quarterback Evan Murray died last Saturday following an injury sustained in his team’s game the previous day..
