College Football Player, 18, Found Dead in His Dorm Room After ‘Feeling Ill’ Days Earlier

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:getty

getty

An 18-year-old college football player at Saint Francis University was found dead in his dorm room, according to local reports.

The outlet said that Walker, a freshman defensive lineman, was found in his bed at Saint Francis' Giles Hall dorm.

The Cambria County Sheriff’s Office and Saint Francis University did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

News of the Buffalo, NY native’s death has been met with a flood of tributes from family, friends and former coaches and teammates.

Paul R. Woods Sr., Walker’s former high school football coach at Canisius High School in Buffalo, said the news of his former player’s death “hurt” in aposton X (formerly known as Twitter). “Please send a prayer to my guy and his family..Also the Canisius High School community,” Woods Sr. wrote, adding, “R.I.P KEVON WALKER..LOVE YOU KID,” and a photo of Walker.

Saint Francis University and Canisius High School also posted tributes to Walker on Nov. 5. “During this difficult time, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to Kevon’s family and friends,” Saint Francis’s official X accountwrote.

Canisius High School principal Tom Coppola said, “Kevon was a larger-than-life presence in so many ways in our building," in astatementon the school’s website. “His graduation from Canisius High School was such a great day for he and his family, it was awesome on that day to see him so proud. Our deepest condolences go out to his family.”

source: people.com