The college football world was struck with some horrible news on Monday, as Sacramento City College freshman lineman Justin McAllister tragically passed after collapsing on the field during conditioning drills at just 19 years old.
According to The Sacramento Bee, McAllister took part in a routine 20-minute conditioning drill and struggled to regain his breath, going back to the locker room to try and collect himself.
Unfortunately, he collapsed shortly after, and despite being loaded into the back of an ambulance after it came, could not be revived.
Both teammates and coaches spoke to The Sacramento Bee about the incident, saying that McAllister was not pushed harder than usual during the team drill. He also had no prior medical concerns and had passed a physical prior to the start of the season.
The team held a candlelight vigil on Monday afternoon for their teammate, where they mourned McAllister and spoke about all the memories they had with him.
Sacramento City starting quarterback Sean Nixon spoke about the tragic situation on Tuesday, saying that it was a normal day at practice before tragedy struck.
“It was a normal conditioning day, like we do after every game, and then it became a horrible Monday,” Sac City quarterback and team leader Sean Nixon told The Sacramento Bee. “We didn’t know what was going on, but we knew it was bad. We did a team prayer in the parking lot when the ambulance left, right over there (pointing). It makes no sense. It’s a scary reminder of how precious life is.”
At this point, it is believed that heart failure is the suspected cause of death for McAllister. But according to a family friend of McAllister, there will be an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
