College Football Player, 20, Dies After Collapsing During PickUp Basketball Game Sean NeumannDecember 13, 2025 at 5:05 AM 0 GoFundMe Jeremy Michael Jeremy Michael, a sophomore defensive lineman at Muskingum University, died Tuesday after collapsing during a pickup basketball game with friends Michael died "from natural causes," according to a school official The magnetic studentathlete is being remembered this week as someone who "always had a smile on his face" and "made everyone around him better" A small college community in Ohio is mourning a football player who died suddenly after collaps...
- - College Football Player, 20, Dies After Collapsing During Pick-Up Basketball Game
Sean NeumannDecember 13, 2025 at 5:05 AM
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Jeremy Michael -
Jeremy Michael, a sophomore defensive lineman at Muskingum University, died Tuesday after collapsing during a pick-up basketball game with friends
Michael died "from natural causes," according to a school official
The magnetic student-athlete is being remembered this week as someone who "always had a smile on his face" and "made everyone around him better"
A small college community in Ohio is mourning a football player who died suddenly after collapsing during a campus pick-up basketball game with friends this week.
Jeremy Michael, a 20-year-old sophomore at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, reportedly died after he collapsed during the pick-up basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 9 on campus, according to the local Zanesville Times Recorder and The Chronicle-Telegram.
"Jeremy's presence touched many across our campus community," the school said in a statement announcing his death.
An official cause of death has not been reported, but a Muskingum school official told the Zanesville Times Recorder that the defensive lineman died "from natural causes on Tuesday evening" after collapsing during the game with friends.
"My heart aches for his family," Muskingum head football coach Matt Nardo wrote on social media on Wednesday. "Last night our football family lost a brother. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. He will always be with us! Family over everything!"
Tony Dejak/AP
Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio
Michael's former North Ridgeville High School football coach Bryan Morgan told The Chronicle that he was remembering "the smile" that the 5-foot-11, 260-pound lineman always seemed to have on his face.
"He was one of those guys who not only would have a smile but put a smile on everyone else's face, as well," Michael's former coach told the newspaper.
North Ridgeville teacher and girls basketball coach Amy Esser, who reportedly worked with Michael through the high school's leadership programs, told The Chronicle that he "was just an all-around sweetheart, just an unbelievable kid."
"He was an unbelievable athlete but an even better human being," Esser said. "He made everyone around him better. He was always in a good mood, always had a smile on his face. Jeremy was the type of student you just dreamed to have around. He represented our school and our community in such a positive light."
The Chronicle reported that Michael's former high school community has been rallying around the late student-athlete's family, as a GoFundMe set up for financial support has since raised more than $34,000 while local community members have organized an ongoing meal train to provide food for family members as they grieve.
"Everybody talks about how North Ridgeville is a big school with a small-school feel," Morgan said. "We lean on each and we're always there to support one another."
The GoFundMe, set up by family friend Wendy Reisner, remembered Michael as "a kind, fun, and athletic young man who enjoyed playing all different sports and hanging with his buddies."
"Anyone that knows Jeremy knows he was a wonderful kid and a good friend," Reisner wrote in the fundraiser. "Jeremy touched so many lives with his warmth, humor, and generosity, and his absence will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him."
on People
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: December 12, 2025 at 04:27PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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