Maryland Terrapins Offensive Lineman Jordan McNair Dies

Maryland Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair died today two weeks after being hospitalized following a collapse during a team workout.

Maryland Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair died today, two weeks after being hospitalized following a collapse during a team workout, according to a letter from the team’s executive athletic director Damon Evans. The 19-year-old’s cause of death has yet to be announced.

On May 29, McNair was hospitalized following an organized team workout. This is not necessarily a new phenomenon within the NCAA, as just last year in June, Kent State lineman Tyler Heintz died after collapsing at a conditioning workout.

McNair was from Randallstown, Maryland and came in at 6’4″ and 235 pounds. He was entering his sophomore season after having played in just one game last year as a true freshman.

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Twice McNair was named a consensus All-State selection during his time at McDonogh School and had received offers from big-time colleges like Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State before his junior year of high school.

Entering his senior season of high school, McNair was the highest-ranked high school player in the Baltimore area and was ranked as the 287th-best player nationally. After receiving more than 20 scholarship offers, McNair chose to join the Maryland Terrapins.

Head coach DJ Durkin had this to say following McNair’s death:

"Our team is heartbroken with the loss of Jordan McNair. Jordan was an incredible young man, and his passion and enthusiasm made him an invaluable and beloved member of our team. Jordan was a hard worker and he always had a smile on his face. He was an extremely talented football player and a humble and genuine human being. He embodied the essence of what it means to be a teammate. Jordan was a fighter. Over the past few weeks, Jordan never gave up with his family, friends and team by his side. Our team will continue to be inspired by the spirit of this brave fighter. Please continue to pray for Jordan’s family during this difficult time."

Current and former teammates spoke out on Twitter to mourn McNair’s passing. Kasim Hill, the redshirt freshman quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins wrote that “words cannot explain anything right now,” adding that McNair was “a great friend, teammate, and a man who was truly a brother.”

McDonogh coach Hakeem Sule—who was an assistant coach when McNair played—tweeted that he will “never forget the impact that [McNair] had in our lives.”

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Similarly, Walt Bell, former offensive coordinator for the Maryland Terrapins who is now the offensive coordinator at Florida State University, said that McNair was “not only a great football player, but he was an unbelievable human being.”