GhLinks Media
Mississippi State freshman offensive lineman Sam Westmoreland has died at the age of 18, the school announced Wednesday.
The school did not provide details in announcing the death of Westmoreland, an industrial technology major from Tupelo who would have turned 19 on Friday.
It said in a news release that it was working with the athletic department, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office and the coroner’s office to determine facts of the death and would not comment further.
Messages left with the sheriff’s office and coroner’s office were not immediately returned.
MSU coach Mike Leach said in the news release that the athletics family was heartbroken by Westmoreland’s death, which he called sudden.
“Sam was a beloved son, brother and teammate, and a tremendous young man with a limitless future,” Leach said. “He will always be remembered and deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him. Our highest priority is the support of the Westmoreland family and our student-athletes during this troubling time.”
Who was Sam Westmoreland?
Raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, Westmoreland played football at Tupelo High School.
He was majoring in industrial technology at MSU.
According to his official bio, Westmoreland earned Region 2-6A second-team honors as a high school senior and was named to the 2022 Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.
After graduating from high school, Westmoreland enrolled at Mississippi State.
The 19-year-old was a freshman walk-on for the Bulldogs football team this season.
He did not appear in a game.
Westmoreland was an industrial technology major.
