Beau Thomas, Kentucky Wesleyan freshman linebacker, dies at 18, school says

Kentucky Wesleyan freshman linebacker Beau Thomas has died unexpectedly, the Division II school said.

The news of Thomas' death was announced on the university's social media pages on Saturday.

"The entire Kentucky Wesleyan family is extremely saddened to hear about the death of football player Beau Thomas. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time," the school's athletic department posted on Twitter.

In his first season with the Panthers football team, Thomas appeared in one game, participating in Kentucky Wesleyan's 31-12 loss to Hillsdale College on Nov. 6 with no recorded stats, according to the school's athletic website. He was 18 years old and no cause of death was announced.

"We join Kentucky Wesleyan in mourning the loss of football player Beau Thomas. Our condolences to his family, friends and teammates," the NCAA posted on Twitter.

Before joining the Panthers program, Thomas was an iron man athlete on at Wyoming High School in Cincinnati, where he played linebacker and running back as his team did not lose a regular season football game throughout his high school career. He graduated from the school in 2021.

“Beau was an incredible young man, a leader on and off the field, and was loved by many. His smile literally lit up a room,” Jeff King, Wyoming assistant athletics director, said in a statement.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky Wesleyan linebacker Beau Thomas dies at 18