LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) 鈥� Kentucky defensive lineman Nic Smith has died at age 20, the school announced Monday.
School spokesman Jay Blanton said the University of Kentucky Police Department received a call Monday at 10:03 a.m. reporting that a student had been found dead in a residence hall. The university announced Smith’s death in a statement later in the day.
Blanton said the police department was working with the Lexington-Fayette County Coroner, and an initial investigation did not indicate that foul play was involved.
鈥淭oday our hearts are broken,鈥� Kentucky coach Will Stein said. 鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers are with Nic鈥檚 family, friends, teammates and everyone who knew and loved him. This is a tremendous loss for our program and university community. We will continue to support one another and honor his memory.鈥�
Smith, who redshirted last season, was a sophomore in the community leadership and development program in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. His nicknames were 鈥淗appy鈥� and 鈥淏ig Happ,鈥� according to his biography page on the Kentucky athletic department鈥檚 website.
He played football and basketball at Walnut Grove High School in Loganville, Georgia.
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