College Football Player From Gwinnett Collapses, Dies

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A college football player from Gwinnett County collapsed and died on the field shortly after practice on Monday.

Nicholas "Nick" Blakely, a redshirt freshman linebacker for Stetson University in Florida, was on the sidelines shortly after practice Monday when he complained of not feeling well, then collapsed, according to a statement from university President Wendy B. Libby.

He was transported to Florida Hospital DeLand where he was later pronounced dead.

Blakely, 19, was an academic sophomore and accounting major at the school and played his high school ball at Archer High School in Lawrenceville. There, he was a three-year letterman, helping lead Archer to a 33-7 record in those three seasons, and also ran track at the school.

On social media, friends and former teammates of Blakely's were posting their memories of him, often accompanied by the hashtag #LLN — short for "Long Live Nick."

At Stetson, Libby wrote that Blakely's family and teammates had been notified on Monday. Counselors were on hand at the school's athletic training center to speak with his friends and teammates.

Libby said word on an official memorial for Blakely would be forthcoming, but that an informal gathering in his honor was scheduled at the school's Allen Hall on Tuesday at noon.

Photo via Stetson University athletics