Incoming Texas Tech quarterback Luke Gonsioroski has died of cancer at the age of 18, the Red Raiders announced Tuesday.
An inspiration to many and the definition of courage.#TexasTech Football mourns the passing of Red Raider Luke Gonsioroski. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/IT2KZ0xDVt
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) August 8, 2017
Gonsioroski was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2016, before his senior year of high school. A Montana native, he told MontanaSports.com that while he was undergoing treatment, Texas Tech reached out to start recruiting him.
“Texas Tech actually didn’t reach out to me until I got sick,” Gonsioroski said. “Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech, he wrote me a letter – just a handwritten letter. He said, ‘Luke, sorry to hear about what you’re going through. We’re excited to have you healthy.’ He was optimistic. He had seen my tape and said, ‘You’re a heck of a player. We’ll keep in touch. Shoot me a call when you’re better. Let us know how it’s going.’ That’s kind of how it started with Texas Tech.”
After surgery in the summer of 2016, Gonsioroski’s cancer went away, but it came back this spring.
Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury released a statement to the Dallas Morning News.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Luke’s passing,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said in a statement. “Luke was not only an exceptional athlete, he was also an incredible person, great student and leader in his community. He was such an inspiration through his fight and unwavering faith. It was truly an honor to know him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched.”
Gonsioroski was set to be a preferred walk-on at Texas Tech before his cancer returned. He was an all-state quarterback in Montana and reportedly had a 4.0 GPA.
