Mississippi Delta Community College offensive lineman Emanuell Cooks died of medical complications following a game on Thursday night, the school announced Friday.
The statement didn’t provide a cause of death for Cooks, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound freshman from Elba, Ala.
The Thursday road contest was played in Raymond, Miss. Mississippi Delta lost 48-0 to Hinds Community College.
“Our entire Trojan family is devastated by this loss,” Mississippi Delta university president Dr. Steven Jones said in a statement. “At this time, our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Emanuell’s family, teammates, coaches, and friends. We will come together as a community to support one another through this tragedy.”
Mississippi Delta, located in Moorhead, has an 0-4 record. Cooks played in each game.
Hinds president Dr. Stephen Vacik also released a statement on Friday.
“While we as spectators are watching passionately and imagining ourselves as part of the game, it is the players who are giving their all physically,” Vacik said. “Their safety is always more important than any outcome on the scoreboard, and when we lose a student-athlete in the prime of his life, it is a sobering reminder how precious our time here on Earth really is.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Hinds CC go out to Emanuell Cooks’ family as well as the entire MS Delta CC team, faculty, staff and administration.”
Mississippi Delta is currently scheduled to host Itawamba CC next Thursday.
–Field Level Media
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