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UNLV football player from Chicago found dead in apartment
A University of Nevada, Las Vegas football player and Chicago native was found dead Monday afternoon. Now, several school communities are mourning his unexpected death.
CHICAGO - A University of Nevada, Las Vegas football player and Chicago native was found dead Monday afternoon. Now, several school communities are mourning his unexpected death.
Las Vegas Metropolitan police said they responded to a report of a dead body at 1:10 p.m. Monday. Ryan Keeler was found unresponsive in bed in a studio apartment, according to officials.
Police, on Tuesday night, confirmed to FOX 32 Chicago that Keeler’s death is being considered a ‘medical call’ and that currently, no foul play is suspected.
The sophomore UNLV defensive lineman was just 20 years old, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 275 pounds.
Last season, Keeler played in seven games, and made the academic All-Mountain West team with a 3.8 grade-point average, UNLV head coach Barry Odom said.
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Odom also said Keeler stood out to coaches as "an incredible person, student and teammate."
Prior to transferring to UNLV, Keeler played his freshman football season at Rutgers.
"He was an incredibly bright football player," said Nazarath Academy Head Football Coach Tim Racki. "He was off the charts on the football field."
Keeler is from Chicago and attended Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park – graduating in 2021.
"The mark that he left on this school in such a short time was incredible," said Racki.
Memories of Keeler were shared during an off-season workout at Nazareth Academy on Tuesday, according to Racki.
"When I said, ‘how many of you guys know Ryan?,’ a bunch of hands went up and I asked, ‘how did you know him?’ One was, ‘he taught me how to lift,’ one was, ‘he used to drive me to practice as an upper classman.’ One was, ‘he was really nice to me in school,’ and it just went on and on and on and I said, ‘that’s what it’s all about,’" said Racki.
Racki said Keeler was as a leader on and off the field – with an optimistic view on life.
"He had this smile. Just a kind soul. Infectious. I mean, that’s why all these kids loved him," said Racki.
In a statement, Nazareth Academy Principal Therese Hawkins said:
"All of us at Nazareth Academy are heartbroken by the news of Ryan Keeler's sudden death. As a member of our Nazareth family, Ryan will be missed. We hold Ryan and his entire family in our most special thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."
Keeler's autopsy results are pending and could take several weeks.
Memorial services have not yet been announced.
Associated Press contributed to this report.